Jennifer Bitner is a GoodLife Fitness Member and former Associate who discovered how much her brain loves to exercise. This is her story in her own words.
When I started working for GoodLife, I was a post-grad student who had lost her way. I began in sales and became the top Membership Consultant in my first year. I then became the first-ever Club Opening Sales Specialist and went on to a General Manager role at the age of 23.
I spent the next nine years as a Manager at various GoodLife locations, usually being sent to Clubs that needed major culture boosting. I spoke twice at the GoodLife Top 500 event, was nominated numerous times at the GoodLife Awards Gala and was recognised as a top achiever within the company. I was a self-proclaimed overachiever and worked hard to be the ’best.’
What most people didn't know was that being ‘best’ took a major toll on my mental health. In my first year of working towards being the top in sales, I was also diagnosed with severe anxiety and panic disorder. I had upwards of five panic attacks a day, which I hid from everyone.
I didn't want anyone to see what I saw as a weakness, and I feared it would jeopardise my chance to move up in the company. I would spend the weekend indulging in alcohol, trying to forget the pain I was in I drank copious amounts of coffee during the week to pull me through the adrenal fatigue caused by the panic attacks. My body was shot, and I spent a decade in this turmoil.
After a lot of self-education and a holistic approach to my mental wellness, I started getting better. It took years to reverse the damage that had been done. I wound up starting a blog, My Mind Fitness and became a huge advocate for emotional and mental health.
I wrote and published my first book, Just A Girl With Anxiety, this past June, which details my story and the mental health condition that took over my life.
Unfortunately, I had to step down from my role as General Manager when I knew that I needed less hours, stimulation and quotas to heal. I stepped into the HR Department as a Recruiter until I went on maternity leave in 2016. I now teach others how to empower themselves with their own health.
After leaving GoodLife, I became quite sedentary, and last year I knew something needed to change. I started doing Pilates with an instructor, then this year, I could feel my body begin to crave strength again. I went into my local GoodLife and signed up.
After only two visits in two months, I decided it was time to go back in and get a Personal Trainer. I have been working out with an awesome trainer, and the improvements I’ve experienced have reminded me why I loved selling fitness so much. For people like me, who need exercise for their mental well-being, it’s so important we make sure it’s part of our routine.
I am now incredibly successful in my role. I own two businesses and am booked for speaking engagements all over Canada, but most importantly, I never compromise my mental wellness.