We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Julia Stevens. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Julia below.
Julia, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today How’s you first get into your field – what was your first job in this field?
I began my career in the exercise field, not nutrition. I was hired as a personal trainer at a local gym. I loved working with people inividually and in small groups and seeing them progress toward their goal. I loved that every day was different, but it was hard just talking to people about exercise. I wanted to fill in the gaps that would help them get to the finish line of their health goals. Just talking exercise was selling them short. So I went to grad school (while still working as a personal trainer) to become a registered dietitian. I was able to start working as a dietitian at the same gym once I finished 2 years later. Putting these two fields together really showed me how much a more whole person approach to health and wellness really mattered! From then on, I’ve used nutrition and exercise together to help my clients improve their overall health.
Julia, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
Preventive health care has always been at the heart of what I do and the business I’ve built. I absolutely believe that medication or surgery is needed for some individuals to get to where they need to be, but most individuals can make a huge impact by focusing on lifestyle and prevention of chronic disease. Unfortunately, our health care system has created a reactionary culture where we don’t change until we’re already sick. I work to help clients prevent illness. Let’s change some eating habits, get more active so you don’t have to go on blood pressure, cholesterol, or blood sugar meds in the first place! Most of the work that I do in prevention revolves around weight loss. Creating a comfortable, judgement free space where clients can openly discuss their obstacles and challenges to begin the change process is my goal for these sessions. Clients meet with me individually or in a group setting. The group classes are amazing! Its so wonderful for people to realize they aren’t alone in this. Others do share the same struggles. And then for them to cheer each other on throughout the process is even more amazing. Some of my clients in the long term support group have been together for over 3 years! Before covid started! They’ve gone through some big moments in life and continue to put in the hard work that it takes to truly change their habits and change their lives. This is what I’m most proud of. I’m so blessed to get to do this work with these amazing individuals that I call my “people” not my “clients.”
If you’re ready to get serious about your health and want to improve or prevent future illnesses, look into my Foundation Group Class or one on one services. Its really hard work, but it is so worth it!
How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?
The medical field is one that is continuously changing. Research and updates to protocols are constantly coming in. To stay up to date in all of it could be a full time job! So when covid came and we had to completely change the way we provided our services to keep our doors open, it was quite a pivotal moment as a solo-preneur. I had already been using some electronic/virtual visit software, so I just dove right in and moved the rest of my business online. It wasn’t perfect, there were a lot of mess ups. But the alternative was hanging the closed sign permanently and I wasn’t ready to do that. The largest lesson learned from this is that sometimes you have to dive in and let go of the perfection to just get it done!
Putting training and knowledge aside, what else do you think really matters in terms of succeeding in your field?
Empathy is what sets apart a good health care provider. You can have all the training and knowledge in the world, but if you can’t openly listen to the client and respond in an empathetic way that helps them to feel comfortable and heard, you won’t make it very far!
Contact Info:
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