Introducing Our November Member Spotlight: Meet JULIE!

Hi! I’m Julie and I grew up on farm near Kincardine. As one often believes, I thought I would end up growing old there, but life had other plans. I ended up going to Queen’s University in Kingston for my Bachelor of Arts and Education degrees. My only claim to fame from that experience was living next door to the drummer of The Tragically Hip, watching (some might say obsessively) the tour bus show up to pick him up. And occasionally seeing Canadian actor, Dan Aykroyd, show up on his Harley. After obtaining my degrees, I ended up living near Midland and began my teaching career there. This is my twenty-first year of teaching with the Simcoe Muskoka Catholic District School Board. The past 8 of those 21 years I have taught at Our Lady of the Bay Catholic High School in Collingwood. I teach English (which means I mark more essays than I can count!) and I’ve also taught Dramatic Arts, directing and co-directing a variety of student productions. One of which was a full-scale musical with over 40 cast members. Reading and writing are some of my passions, ideally done by the beach. I was also involved in community theatre for many years and hope to find time for that again soon; however, my home life keeps me extremely busy running a farm with my husband and raising our 7-year-old son, running from swimming, soccer, taekwondo and skating, and alternating between reading Harry Potter or Percy Jackson at bedtime. Nothing is more motivating than having a young son (who seems to have the energy of an Olympic athlete!) who you want to keep up with.  Outside the gym, my family loves exploring the Bruce Trail and swimming in Georgian Bay.  

My wellness journey officially began this past January when I made the decision to prioritize my health. Just as I was getting into a groove, I had to undergo emergency appendix surgery in February. Recovery included some complications and took longer than I expected, but despite this life blip I refused to let it challenge my momentum. So, once I was cleared to move again, I knew I needed to take actionable steps, and that’s when I found Lemonade Collective.

I loved the flexibility of gym reservations and access to the pool, which became my main starting points. I started with aqua running, swimming, and cardio, and as I gained confidence, I decided to face one of my fears and try weightlifting. Although I’d lifted before with a personal trainer, a lot of it was done on machines, so the free weights intimidated me. I knew the only way to get over that fear was to ask for help. That’s when I started personal training and nutritional coaching with Leah. Doing that has completely changed the game for me. I walked away (okay maybe hobbled cause my thigh muscles were jello) from that first session both exhausted and exhilarated. And I haven’t looked back! After working with Leah twice a week for about a month, my son asked me, “So does Leah think you’re getting stronger yet, Mom?” Moments like that remind me that my son is watching and how taking care of myself and celebrating my progress is a great life lesson for him.

Since January, I have become 55 pounds lighter (30 of those since starting with Leah in August) and gained strength, energy, and a stronger sense of self. I’ve learned to show up for myself with compassion and commitment. My favourite quote is “Run your own race.” I love the idea that the only person we are competing with is ourselves. I’m proud of how far I’ve come, and excited for what’s next.

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