Julie Grey, a civil engineer technologist from Calgary, shares her journey with health and fitness. The following is her story in her own words.
Before the pandemic, my life was completely different. I had just moved to a condo in Edmonton and was starting a new job. Since I was new in town and my family and friends were in Calgary, I went to GoodLife at least once a day. The gym became my social outlet as I got used to a new city.
When the gyms were forced to shut down in mid-March, I found out I was also being laid off from my new job. The tenants who were renting my house in Calgary called to say they had to move out. The icing on the cake? My bike was stolen. This all happened within a couple of weeks.
I was in a dark place. The weather was cold, I lived in a condo, I knew no one and all my friends and family were in another city.
Exercise literally kept me sane.
I knew I’d need some equipment at home, so I immediately bought two 15-lb dumbbells. Soon after the gyms closed, GoodLife started offering live fitness classes on Instagram. I jumped at the chance to join in. I started with three classes a week, then as more were added, I attended those ones too.
Soon, I got to know the instructors. I looked forward to the live classes because they made me feel connected and motivated. The instructors were so positive from the beginning. They kept saying ‘You can do this, you’re strong and we’re all here together.’
I counted on the classes to give me a routine and some structure to my days. They helped me realize I wasn’t alone. We were encouraged to communicate and they would call out our names when we signed on. It’s a small thing but it really helped me feel like I wasn’t alone. Those words of encouragement, plus the chance to challenge myself physically made me feel more in control.
I moved back to Calgary around the same time gyms reopened. I lined up the first day and I was so happy to be able to come back. It gives me a sense of purpose and a chance to connect with other people in a positive environment, which makes all the difference on my outlook.
A few months in and I can really feel a difference. I’m more energetic, I’ve lost weight and people at work will tell you, my demeanor has improved.
