We were lucky to catch up with Julien Stoutt recently and have shared our conversation below.

Julien, appreciate you joining us today. How did you get your first job in the field that you practice in today?

I spent roughly a year unemployed due to the Crash of 2008 as I graduated college towards the end of that year. I was really struggling and concerned about keeping my family’s head above water. I actually fell into a depression as a result. I had to work my way back through those roller coaster of emotions. Fear, worry, defeat, demoralization, shame, and guilt were all emotions I felt around this time. I just wanted to work in or around the field of fitness. Sales, child care, maintenance, or simply Personal Training. I was desperate. So, one day waiting to pick up my daughter from school I became incensed. So with a box of my resumes in tow, I drove to the nearby 24 Hour Fitness (who I applied to several months prior because they were “hiring”) and asked for the Fitness Manager. As he approached, he introduced himself, as did I, and I asked him, “Why haven’t you hired me yet?” Taken aback he asked, “Excuse me?” I repeated my previous question and explained that I was tired of seeing that they were supposedly hiring but I have never received a phone call for at least an interview. He asked for my name again and was about to go look for my application and resume. I stopped him and said, “I have one right here.” Eventually I landed the job in June of 2010. I am happy with it because it put me in the very position I wanted to be in as a Fitness Expert.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I was 12 going on 13 years old when being ridiculed by my sister and cousin for being skinny fueled my desire to be in shape. I did not know what the process was. I thought people just wake up looking like that. Something that puberty solved. After an encounter with some bodybuilders at the local Boys and Girls Club I knew exactly what I needed to do…sort of. I quickly understood that lifting weights would make you muscular. I did not know the other details as well as one should. It followed me from High School to the military (I exceeded the maximum score of 300 on 3/3/99 [341]). I eventually went to college to study Athletic Training. For those that don’t quite know what an Athletic Trainer is, it is a profession that straddles the fence of Sports Rehabilitation, Performance Enhancement and Injury Prevention. Studying Biology, Biomechanics, Kinesiology, and Epidemiology as well as First Aid, Professional Rescue, and Nutrition. As previously stated, I started at 24 Hour Fitness 6/22/2010 and was there until 5/3/13.

I am an Elite Personal Trainer. Which means I am skilled in multiple facets in Fitness. Performance Enhancement, which improves well, performance. Run faster, jump higher, lift more, get quicker. Corrective Exercise, alleviate pain and musculoskeletal issues through evaluation and exercise specific to correcting muscular imbalances and improving flexibility. Weight Loss, Achieving an ideal weight for one’s body through exercise and nutrition. Lastly, Physique and Body Building. There are a few other skills I have through the National Academy of Sports Medicine that further supports these skills. Through Mindset, Encouragement, Accountability and Nutrition (M.E.A.N.), I incorporate a system that would help others overcome their limitations like I did mine.

Along with my skillsets, I also provide Group Exercise and provide online training. I am actually the first one to do it back in 2015 when I began helping a friend get in shape who lived in my hometown. I am most proud of the impact I have made on the impression I have had on numerous women to accept their bodies and still work to meet the standards that align with their body type as opposed to a number on a scale. While everyone has a numerical representation of their best shape, it is not the same for everyone. Yet many fight to achieve that “number” that isn’t realistic to many. I educate my clients and followers on where the standard of beauty are both right AND wrong.

Have you ever had to pivot?

Ironically, not only am I an Elite Personal Trainer, but I am also a licensed Physical Education and Special Education Teacher. In 2016, I trained the daughter of a client who then demonstrated no knowledge or understanding of movement. When I inquired about why this was, or better yet, “What are you learning in school?” She could not explain so that is when I decided to expand myself to children who may not be able to afford Personal Training. I have been teaching since 2017.

Do you think you’d choose a different profession or specialty if you were starting now?

Absolutely! Because I was positioned to be where I am. God doesn’t put you where you are by accident. I have a gift to break things down to people where they can reach it. So much so, my favorite teacher in High School (who is the ONLY teacher from NYC in the National Teacher Hall of Fame.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.stouttfitness.com/
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/stouttfitness
• Facebook: https://facebook.com/stouttfitness
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/julien-stoutt-1b7
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@StouttFitness

Image Credits

Walt Johnson (fitness photos)