From Flabulous to Fabulous

Jules or as she’s called on bodyspace.com, (JuloftheNile) is a super-spirited mother of 3 and devoted inspiration.  She thinks she’s inspired by others, but there are so many people who are inspired by her. Julie isn’t the typical weight loss/weight gain inspiration.  There seems to be something much deeper and much more meaningful.  She keeps a journal style blog she writes in virtually everyday.  After reading a few passages you quickly grab hold of her lifestyle.  She has ups and downs like all of us, but she seems to maintain such positivity.

When asked how she got started in weight training her reply was, “I was gaining weight and my coffee and sugar diet wasn’t cutting it!!”  I thought that kind of sensible humor was so delightful.

When asked why do you love weight training she replied, “The progress, the feeling of setting goals and meeting them…all those things are amazing.”  It sounds cliche’ but setting goals is so important in our lives.  Yet it’s the biggest thing most people struggle with.  One look at Julie’s bodyspace progress pics and you will see some serious goal setting achievements.  I’m sure Julie makes mistakes like most of us and often gets side tracked with goal setting, but I’d venture to say she’s a results-driven kind of person.  We can definitely all gain inspiration from that.

Q 1: What is the biggest benefit weight-training has had in your life?

A 1: You know, I have spent my whole life not being happy with my body – which I think most women and some men can relate to.  This sport has helped me to understand that I can change that. I don’t have to be held hostage by the unhappiness of my body image.

Q 2: What has been your biggest obstacle in your life, in the gym, or elsewhere?

A 2: I think I am my own biggest obstacle! I get impatient when I don’t see results and that causes stress and that causes a trip to the peanut butter jar!!!  But there are others too….like the evil scale…anyone who owns one should put it in the trunk of their car for two months and just get a sense of their progress by how their pants fit….and sometimes the mirror…that thing is a simply a reflection of what you think others perceive you as….it is not reality because you are the interpreter (btw, I read that somewhere, not sure where though, but I liked it.)

Q 3: You blog on almost a daily basis. (much like myself)  What makes blogging so important to you?

A 3: For me, writing my thoughts is helpful…one bodyspacer asked me if I just wrote whatever random thought was on my mind and my answer was ….yup….pretty much!!  It is a great way for me to stay connected to my bodyspace friends….especially “The Circle.” I am privileged to be part of this amazing group of supportive friends on bodyspace. They are the ones that keep me going, keep my motivation high and remind me what things are truly important. Wow, I can’t even tell you how amazing and blessed I feel to know that these people faithfully check up on me daily!

Q 4: In the hectic lives we all live it’s very difficult to make time for the gym.  How could you encourage people to make time for the gym who say “they’re too busy?”

A 4: I really feel  for people that say that. I said the same things. The fact is, until a person is ready to make that decision, there will always be something more important to do. For me what worked was starting off slow…a great friend used to get me up each morning (I mean she literally dragged me out of bed some days) to walk.  From there, we started going to the gym and now over a year later….I crave my time with the weights! (Make a decision to make a small change and over time that change will make a big impact!!)

Q 5: Will you ever consider entering a fitness competition?

A 5: I have tried a natural figure competition and will try another once I have developed my muscles a bit more…right now I just want to feel good in my jeans!

Q 6: For those who don’t know, would you mind sharing your June 1st goal, and why it’s so important to you?

A 6: Well, to those who know me… I am very goal-driven and ultra competitive…I can make a competition out of ANYTHING… I noticed there were several bodyspacers doing personal challenges and thought why not.  So, I started a bet with another and now I just have to win!! (because I will…)

Q 7: I, like most people have a “cheat day” once a week in which I eat out and have whatever meal I want (often times pizza and salad).  How do you feel about cheat days?  Do you have one?  What’s your “cheat meal?”

A 7: My jury is hung on this one.  I think cheat meals should be called “earn meals” because when you eat clean for 6 days and work out hard you have earned the right to indulge. Yet, I am the type of person that has a wee bit of a problem ending the “earn” meal. If I start, that meal can last for days!!  LOL! But when I do have that meal it usually involves A LOT of peanut butter!!

Q 8: You mention goal setting and meeting goals as your reason for loving weight-training.  How does setting and meeting goals for weight-training help with setting and meeting goals in other areas of your life?

A 8: You know, actually setting and meeting goals in my field of work, helped me with my weight-training. I believe if you can make a small change in your life (for me it was getting up at 5 am to work out –instead of sleeping in until 7) and keep that consistent, that over time the small differences will amount to a great change.

Q 9: What defines you as a person?

A 9: Absolutely, without a doubt my faith in God.

Q 10: What does the future have in store for Jules?

A 10: First, winning my June 1st challenge (heh-heh), and then meeting all my friends who have deeply inspired me from the Circle this summer! And I hope some extra muscle!!! Long term – maybe become a pt and help moms who are trying to transform their bodies…will have to see on that one!

How to reach Jules/JuloftheNile: (For those reading this post outside of the bodyspace.com community)

- Bodyspace.com Profile:
http://bodyspace.bodybuilding.com/julofthenile/

- Blog:
http://blog.bodybuilding.com/julofthenile

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This entry was posted on Saturday, March 1st, 2008 at 12:41 pm and is filed under Training, Interviews, My favs. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.