Julie Jensen has a smile that can light up the whole YMCA. And, she has lots of reasons to smile these days - from crushing her goals and finding a community of friends in group fitness to being featured on Food Network this holiday season in several baking challenges.
Whitaker Family YMCA operations director Amber Serres says that Julie "just jumped right into our group fitness classes after she joined." Indeed, she did; Julie attends classes six days a week and has been closely monitoring her nutrition, resulting in a forty-two pound weight loss in the six months she has been a Y member so far. But when you talk to Julie about her experience, you'll hear about so much more -- she shares enthusiastically about the community she has found at the Y.
"The energy and friendliness of the staff from the moment you enter the building is refreshing! Everyone's always so upbeat and positive," Julie explains. "I like being around people that match my energy, that's something that I appreciate having there."
And energy she has! She stays busy spending time with her family, attending classes with friends and slaying goals at the Y, and honing her craft as hobbyist-turned-professional award-winning cake artist. In fact, she says her three passions in life are family, friends, and cake - in that order!
With her business Cakes by Julie, Julie has has been featured in a top cake-decorating magazine and enjoys competing on Food Network cake competitions. It's no wonder that convenience and variety were the two top criteria Julie was using for selecting a fitness facility; she wanted classes offered a different times through the day, and she wanted close proximity to her home. She found both of those in the Whitaker Family YMCA and the rest of what has come, you might say, is the icing on the cake.
"The thing I enjoy most here is the community! I've made so many friends in the short time I've been a member, it's amazing!" When Julie recently celebrated her birthday, "both staff and members celebrated me with fun classes for over a week," she remembers with a laugh. "The instructors are hands down the best! It's like one big family and I'm proud to be a member! I get to have a fun workout, catch up with friends and how lucky I am to have it located so close to my house!"
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