Our Spotlight Member this month is Julia! She is fun-loving, hard-working and her positive energy brightens up every training session she is in! In her interview, Julia shares about how back pain was disrupting her life, and how she is feeling now after training at Breakthrough for over two years.
BREAKTHROUGH: You have been a member with us, Julia, for over two years. Tell me what brought you to us in the first place?
JULIA: Well, for sure my lower back has been an issue. I am a musician, obviously, and I always suffer on travels, and planes. But I have had my lower back issues for years since I was younger. And, you know, carrying the bass and walking in the airport, carrying bags and instruments… My back would be beat up, and I felt like I needed to exercise. But a regular gym was never really an option for me because I was always lost, and I didn’t know what to do. I ended up hurting myself way more. Until I met Jeff and then he introduced Breakthrough to Richie. And he said, well they can train you. They are aware of what they are doing so you don’t hurt yourself, and they will help you with the strength you need. So that is kind of how I ended up here and wanting to work out again.
BREAKTHROUGH: Right…
JULIA: Because I had quit before …
BREAKTHROUGH: Well, of course. When you are trying to do something good for yourself, but you are feeling pain it can be so frustrating. We get that!
JULIA: I hurt myself too many times trying on my own. When you are not warmed up, you start pushing harder without knowing that the next day you are going to be hurt.
BREAKTHROUGH: You get excited. I know. We have all been there. So, now how are you feeling in terms of your back?
JULIA: Well, it is funny. During quarantine, I pinched my back, and I couldn’t work out or do anything. I was stuck for months! I was crying. I was in a dark place because of that. I didn’t have any help. I went to all sorts of doctors to try to fix my back and it was just a disaster! It did not work. So, once I got Covid, I spent three weeks in bed, and I fixed myself!
BREAKTHROUGH: Just rested instead of trying to keep pushing through…
JULIA: Just rested and when I started training here, we started super slow. I remember, I was noticing, slowly but surely, an improvement. It’s funny, my husband keeps telling me I don’t hear you complaining about your back – ever, ever! I might feel something here and there, but it is not something that is in my life anymore that I am always thinking about. Before I couldn’t walk; go on hikes. Every step would be a pinch in the nerves. It would be like I was miserable. Nobody ever really knew, but now after, what two or three years, I feel like there is no complaining anymore!
BREAKTHROUGH: That’s how it should be!
JULIA: Yeah! I know! It’s a relief. I walk my property and I think wow, a few years ago, I couldn’t even walk my house, my property! You might take it for granted sometimes because you forget. But I remember because that is just amazing. And an amazing achievement to be here now, lifting weights!
BREAKTHROUGH: I know! Earlier today you were just doing 120 pounds on a deadlift. That is amazing!
JULIA: That would never be possible years ago! Never!
BREAKTHROUGH: So, are there other things that surprised you like that? Other things that you didn’t think you could do?
JULIA: Well, yeah! I mean, how do you call that?
BREAKTHROUGH: The chin up?
JULIA: The chin up! I was like that is not going to be something that I can do. But now I am doing three sets of three reps! And that is a lot for me!
BREAKTHROUGH: That is huge!
JULIA: I am doing nine chin-ups! Ha, ha! Lifting weights in my arms, I knew I could because I was always strong in my arms. But my legs, my glutes were always pretty weak, and my core. I know that was a big problem for me because you need those muscles to be strong.
BREAKTHROUGH: Core muscles to help support your back, for sure.
JULIA: So, for sure the chin-ups, and the fact that I am doing squats and lifting 120 pounds there, is something that was not possible at all for me – not achievable in the past. So that is pretty surprising!
BREAKTHROUGH: Awesome! What do you notice outside the gym? Obviously, walking around your house and your property at home.
JULIA: Oh, absolutely! I remember some mornings, sometimes, it was because of how I slept… I would go try to brush my teeth and I would have to put a hand on the sink because I couldn’t support my body to go down to brush my teeth or wash my face, for example. Or opening the lid of the toilet! I am 41! Ha, ha! I have to hold the side of the toilet?! Little things like that got way better because now I have more support.
BREAKTHROUGH: Sure!
JULIA: And yeah, walking for sure. Walking with my instruments and my bag, traveling for hours. All of this is just easier on my body now because my body is more conditioned. So, it feels easier to live! Truly!
BREAKTHROUGH: You’re stronger. When you are stronger, you can do more stuff!
JULIA: Yes! And mobility too! I remember certain things that I couldn’t do that I didn’t even realize. Like hip mobility is a big thing for me. So, I feel like I am way better with that too.
BREAKTHROUGH: I always find it crazy how people don’t really recognize what a physical job being a musician is. I bet you notice having more stamina to do things you have to do on stage too?
JULIA: Oh yeah! The stage changed a lot too because, also I have a little bit of a bad knee on the right side. I play an instrument that is about 10 pounds. I play rock music, so I am running on the stage. Jumping! I am head banging! My neck? I used to twist my neck a lot too and I would pinch my neck. That doesn’t happen anymore, so the instrument feels lighter. The breath on stage is easier. So, when I run and come back to sing, I still have more air!
BREAKTHROUGH: Yay!
JULIA: So, all those little things. Yeah! I feel way more trained! Because as a musician we are kind of like athletes …
BREAKTHROUGH: YES!
JULIA: But we don’t retire young like athletes!
BREAKTHROUGH: Ha, ha! That’s true! No, it is a very physical job.
JULIA: It is! It is!
BREAKTHROUGH: Okay. So, the last thing I want to ask is what is your why. What is the thing that keeps you motivated to do all of this stuff to take care of you?
JULIA: It’s a combination of things. For sure, with my work as a musician, I have to be in the best shape. To live my life. I have an 80-pound Doberman. I have a big property that I want to take care of. I want to take care of my house, my job and of course, I want to be able look good in a bikini and feel good in my body no whatever stage of my life I am. When I was a 20-year-old, I was super unhealthy body-wise. Now I am 41 years old, and I feel like I am in my best shape ever!
BREAKTHROUGH: I love that!
JULIA: Even though I am not 20 anymore. That motivates me a lot too! And I know there is no age or body condition that you cannot decide to start working out.
BREAKTHROUGH: No, definitely not!
JULIA: That is my motivation, it is never too late. And you have to do it for yourself first. Not just for looks but for health.
BREAKTHROUGH: I agree. absolutely! Thanks so much for sharing all of this!
JULIA: Of course! Thank you guys for training me and making me not in pain anymore. I am excited for the next phase!