My Story

Easter Monday of 2016 started like any other day, and by mid-afternoon, it was the end of my nearly 30-year career in the community college system. I was an award-winning professor, department head, dean and finally, an associate vice president. Suddenly, it was over. My large department was being reorganized and split into two parts, and my position was gone. I was in a profound state of shock.

I loved my work, and my departmental team was like family. I had excellent relationships with colleagues throughout the college and the college system. I led several large college and college system committees and projects. I sat on three not-for-profit boards, chairing one of them. I was involved in a community organization for nearly 30 years. I also worked 60 hours weekly and was trying to complete my doctorate. I was married with three kids. My husband had a career management job at a local university. He was busy outside of work with his passion for sailing. Our kids were active, and our home was perpetually busy and people-filled. I had a large extended family that I saw often. I kept friendships that started in high school and continued, and I built friendships and relationships with colleagues along the way. My work was very much a part of my identity.

2016

The starting point for my journey, before I was reorganized, I was working 60 hour work weeks. I was exhausted, depressed, overweight, and the thought of “real” exercise was terrifying.

2018

After a year of consistently exercising, focusing on eating nutritious foods, walking, and finally taking care of myself I had lost 38LBS. I had also become strong, fit, and looked and felt 15 years younger.

2019

I continued to focus on my training finding new challenging exercises that I could master. I was also encouraged to get my Personal Training Certification, by my gym community.

2020

Like everyone else, when the pandemic hit, my life turned upside down. My gym community was scattered, and finding the right equipment and access became difficult. Luckily, as the world began to recover, I could train with truly exceptional trainers who were masters of their craft. I learned so much from them, allowing me to combine my decades of education leadership with my new passion.

2022

Our new gym was born out of a want between myself and my co-owner to have a place for those who wanted to come and transform their lives. An open and accepting place that would nurture others in their pursuit of health, happiness, and the ability to get stronger and move better for their goals.

My New Life

My fitness journey has allowed me to travel the world and not be concerned with the steps I have to take, or if I will fit in a small European elevator, or if I will be able to keep up with others.

The Ultimate Gift

My Fitness Journey has given me the ultimate gift, it has provided me with the strength, mobility, and stamina, to run around and take care of my beautiful and amazing Granddaughter.

Always Growing

My fitness journey has given me the strength, balance, mobility, and confidence to experience things I never thought I could have done. From paddleboarding on Lake Ontario to kayaking at cottages to exploring adventure parks in the Dominican Republic, all of these activities add joy and continue to stoke my passion for fitness.

Adventure Awaits

My fitness journey has allowed me to adventure more than almost any other time in my life. I can march around European capitals for hours, my own city, and all with friends and family who saw me neglect that portion of my life for so long.

My Journey Isn't Over

My fitness journey isn't over; it's only just begun. Society often views women over 50 as discardable. I am 70 years old, and I feel better, move better, look better, and live better than I did at 50. I believe age is just a number and shouldn’t stop us from accomplishing our goals. I want to help others transform their lives like I did and get the most out of their lives like I am now.

All of a sudden, it came to a screeching halt. For the next two months, my existence was to get up, see my family out the door, clean up the kitchen, answer emails (over 170 former staff and colleagues reached out to me), retreat to the couch, and stay there for hours reviewing the past and pondering my future until 2 pm when I drove to the nearby McDonald's drive-thru for a small coffee and a mini chocolate croissant. After this, I would wander the house until it was time to start making dinner. (I realize now that this was legitimately PTSD).

My youngest son and my close friend in B.C. would regularly call during my days and ask what I was doing. They both were urging me to get active and join a gym. As a parent with my family, I was active in walking, riding bikes, swimming, skating, sailing, etc.. Most years, I took a weekly yoga class, I walked considerable distances three times weekly with a friend and some years, I managed semi-regular swimming, but I was not a gym goer. I had never really worked out and had not used weights. But here I was, tired out, depressed, and at 5’ 4”, I had reached my record highest weight of 172 lbs.

By June 2016, I had conceded that I needed something and had joined a small personal training studio gym nearby with my youngest son. I was skeptical. I quickly learned I had been wrong about what I would find in that experience. In my first six months, I lost one pound per month. I found encouragement, expertise and instruction, important relationships, new friendships, and a community. By January 2017, I wanted more and made many changes to my nutrition, schedule and habits, frequency of workouts, added back swimming and yoga, and continued regular walks. (I also started my consulting practice in educational strategy, planning and quality assurance, and I had clients from my extensive college network). The weight started dropping off, and by 2018, I reached a total loss of 38 lbs. I was super strong and fit and was regularly told I looked 15 years younger. My trainer and gym colleagues convinced me to get my personal training certification, and I began to take on clients myself. I completed two nutrition certifications as well. I found a new passion for fitness and wellness.

The pandemic ushered in two wretched years. My much-loved gym community was a casualty and had fallen apart. A gym colleague/dear friend and I tried a short time at another gym. It wasn’t a good fit, and then lockdowns came again. In early 2021, when it looked like re-opening was happening, we knew what we didn’t want and decided to open our own personal training studio gym. By July 2021, this was a reality, and we had opened Highland Fitness and Wellness Inc. We endured two more lockdowns but managed to keep our pre-pandemic clients and grow and move into expanded space, acquiring a team of trainers and fitness class instructors.

My fitness journey allowed me to regain my health, significantly improve my confidence, strength, and capacity for movement, and re-center myself and grow. I am passionate about sharing what I have learned to help others, wanting to make health and life changes and move through life’s transitions.

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