Today we’d like to introduce you to Juliet Wilcoxen
Hi Juliet, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
Hello! I’m a mother of two young adult children living in Maryville, TN. I have been married for 20 years and relocated here from Florida over 20 years ago, but I grew up mainly in the Northwest suburbs of Chicago. I started working in the hotel industry at age 18 as a front desk agent and immediately fell in love with the job. I knew then that I wanted to advance my career and eventually become a general manager. Sometimes, life doesn’t go as planned, so you adjust. After the birth of my kids, my career path had to change as it wasn’t realistic for my husband and I to work in the hotel industry. I dedicated all my time and effort to my children and family while juggling a full-time job. This left me no margin to focus on myself or pursue a career I truly loved. Although I held steady and fulfilling jobs, I never seemed to find true happiness in any of them. When my son became increasingly involved in his travel soccer team, requiring me to drive him to Knoxville three nights a week, I made the decision to take a step back from working full-time. As time passed, I knew I would eventually return to full-time work. However, this time around, I was determined to find a role that I was passionate about, one that would bring me joy and allow me to give back to others.
I have always been passionate about fitness and striving to be the healthiest version of myself. My fitness journey began after giving birth to my two children. I gained 70 pounds each time and wanted to be an active parent as my kids grew up. To achieve this, I tried different fitness trends, such as running, and gradually progressed to running 5k races and half marathons. I started going to the gym and really enjoyed strength training, Tabata, HIIT, and circuit-style group classes. As I learned more about the human body, I became more passionate about fitness.
That is how I fell into personal training. In January 2022, I started small and worked out of my home gym garage, holding one-on-one and semi-private sessions. As the demand increased, I focused primarily on semi-private and small group sessions. I wanted the flexibility to encourage more people while providing intimate and personal services.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
During my first year of BUILD, I faced a minor setback that, in God’s hands, allowed me to test my strength and faith. In April, I scheduled my first mammogram at the age of 42, thinking nothing would come about the visit. After my initial visit, I was asked to return for a biopsy, and all went well without any anxious thoughts of anything else. Unfortunately, a week later, I received the news I had stage 1 ductal carcinoma breast cancer, despite having no family history of cancer and testing negative for the BRCA gene. It truly was unbelievable. Although it wasn’t the plan I had envisioned, I embraced it, listened to my amazing group of doctors, and kept faith that God would help me and my family through this. I had to make the difficult decision to pause my training while I underwent a series of surgeries. Once I recovered, I started my chemotherapy sessions. I knew I needed motivation and strength to help me push through the next 3 months of treatment and decided to slowly get back into training a small selective group of clients. I firmly believe that God has a plan for everyone, even during the most difficult times in their lives. God knew what he was doing when I entered training and knew that it would give me the strength to thrive. I am truly blessed and fortunate to have BUILD Fitness and the amazing people God has placed in my life. The training was a blessing that helped me stay active and get through all my treatments.
I always believed that my journey was guided by God and intended to help others. I hope that my story can reach people and inspire them to realize their strength, both physically mentally, and emotionally.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I am a fitness trainer and business owner who offers private one-on-one and semi-private sessions with a maximum of four people. The semi-private sessions are designed to provide individual attention while fostering a sense of accountability within the community. For a more personalized approach, I offer private sessions to curate an individualized plan.
My fitness boutique studio, BUILD, is housed in a stand-alone building in Alcoa, TN. I’m telling you, God is good and always good! July will mark my one-year anniversary in Alcoa, TN, and three years in business this year.
My mission is to inspire individuals to improve their physical well-being and boost their self-confidence. I’m not just a fitness instructor at BUILD, I’m your friend and ally in your journey to a healthier you. I’m here to serve as a source of encouragement and support, helping you become the healthiest and best version of yourself.
My philosophy is reflected in the name: I combine various pieces and materials to create something new, like embarking on a fitness lifestyle change. My focus is to assist individuals in developing and enhancing their physical capabilities while encouraging them to adopt lifestyles that promote physical and mental wellness. As every person is distinct, I strive to customize fitness plans tailored to each client’s unique needs.
Can you share something surprising about yourself?
I honestly can’t think of anything. I am very open about myself, and I always strive to be authentic.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/build_ivebeenjuled
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/IVEBEENJULED
Image Credits
Express Strategic Services, photography Emily Webb. Image credits only to the last 6.
