You Got This with Coach Jenn

There was a time I truly thought my world had gotten smaller.

After years of illness, surgeries, an ostomy, and now navigating psoriatic arthritis, I had to relearn what strength looked like for me.

Not the old version.
A new one.

And honestly? Training gave me more than muscle back.

It gave me confidence.
Freedom.
Connection.
Purpose.

It brought me back to people.
It allowed me to support others walking through illness, recovery, and rebuilding too.

Because one of the most meaningful parts of this journey has been realizing that the hardest things I’ve lived through can now help someone else feel less alone.

I move differently now. I recover differently now. But I’m still here living, laughing, training, hiking, showing up, and serving a community I care deeply about.

That means everything to me. 💜

Introvert + big conference + purpose bigger than comfort 😬

I’ll be honest… this is far outside my comfort zone.

Big space.
Lots of people.
A lot of unknowns…

And as an introvert, that can feel like a lot.

But this week isn’t about being comfortable.

It’s about showing up.

For the work I care about.
For the community I’m part of.
For the people I get to support—through coaching and advocacy.

So today I did something simple that made it all feel more manageable…

I went to check out the venue ahead of time.

Walked the space.
Got familiar with the layout.
Took some of the “unknown” out of it.

And honestly? It helped more than I expected.

This is what rebuilding confidence can look like.

Not huge leaps.
Just small, intentional steps that make the next step easier.

Tonight we’re gathering with our chapter and some of the folx from the community, and I’m heading into the next 6 days feeling grounded, grateful, and ready to connect.

Im looking forward to meeting lots of people who, like me, just want to make life better for others.

And that makes stepping outside my comfort zone worth it.

If you’ve ever felt like your body—or your life—has made things feel harder…

You’re not alone.

You don’t have to go from stuck to fearless.

You just start where you are.

One step at a time 💜

——> Are you more introvert or extrovert in spaces like this?

This backpack weighs 16 to 20 pounds most days, and carrying it around downtown Vancouver is one of the clearest reminders of why functional strength matters to me.

Every day I walk and take transit between clients, carrying what I need to coach in different locations.

What I carry is not just gym gear. It is part of the life I’ve built.

Strength is not only about what happens in the gym.
Sometimes it looks like walking across the city with a heavy backpack, moving through long days, and having a body that supports the life you want to live.

That is why I care so much about building real-world strength.
Because capability matters far beyond workouts.

What everyday task reminds you why strength matters?

HealthCoachLife StrengthBeyondSetbacks RebuildStrength CapabilityOverPerfection YouGotThisWithCoachJenn

Sometimes the strongest thing you can do is pause and be present.

A walk by the water. Fresh air in your lungs. Sun on your face.
In a world that pushes us to keep rushing, there’s real strength in slowing down and noticing the little things.

Taking time to be present, to appreciate where you are, and to enjoy simple moments like this is something we all need — not just for our bodies, but for our lives.

Grateful today for this moment, this view, and the reminder to simply enjoy it.

I’m so excited to be attending the WCET–NSWOCC 2026 Joint Congress right here in Vancouver this April.

This incredible international event brings together wound, ostomy, and continence professionals, advocates, and leaders from around the world, and I’m honoured to be part of it as:

• Vancouver United Ostomy Association Visitor Program Coordinator
• Representative at the Vancouver United Ostomy Association table
• Ostomy Canada Ambassador

I’m especially looking forward to the opportunity to learn from global experts, explore new innovations in ostomy care, and connect with the incredible people shaping the future of our community.

If you’ll be attending, please let me know. I’d love to meet up while you’re there, whether at the Vancouver UOA table, during a session, or somewhere on the conference floor.

Vancouver is about to become the heart of the global ostomy community, and I can’t wait to experience it alongside so many inspiring people.

Rebuilding strength after ostomy surgery can feel overwhelming.

You might be wondering:

Can I exercise safely?
Will I hurt myself?
Where do I even start?

And sometimes you’ve even been told you’re “cleared” to exercise…

…but no one has explained what that actually looks like.

What’s safe.
Where to start.
How to rebuild without setting yourself back.

That gap can make it feel even harder to begin.

And underneath all of that…
there’s often a loss of trust in your body.

That part matters just as much as the physical side.

This blog walks you through how to start rebuilding strength in a way that is safe, sustainable, and realistic for your body now.

Not pushing.
Not rushing.
Not pretending nothing has changed.

Just a clear, supportive way forward.

Because strength after surgery doesn’t look like “going back.”

It looks like learning how to work with your body again.

If you’re in that place right now, this is for you.

Comment BLOG or send me a message and I’ll send you the link.

And if you want to share where you’re at, I’m always happy to listen and help you think through what rebuilding could look like for you.

I was invited as a guest speaker to lead a 45-minute session with an ostomy support group based in North Carolina…

And it reminded me how big — and how connected — this community really is.

Not by location.
Not by chapters.

But by shared experience.

We talked.
We asked questions.
We shared things that don’t always have a place in everyday conversation.

And it felt easy.
Like talking to people you’ve known for years.

Because when you live with an invisible disability…
there’s an understanding that doesn’t need explaining.

You can just show up as you are.

And that’s often where rebuilding begins.

Spaces like this matter.

Because not everyone can hold those conversations in the same way —
but when you find people who can, something shifts.

I’m really grateful to be part of this community 💜

And I’d love to do more of this.

If you’re part of a group looking for support around rebuilding strength, nutrition, or returning to movement — I’m always open to those conversations.

What’s something you wish more people understood about your experience?

Survival mode can creep in quietly — especially when you’ve been holding everything together for a long time.

This is your permission to pause.

I created a simple one-page Burnout Reset for overwhelmed days. It’s not a plan or a program — just a place to check in and choose one supportive step.

If you want it, comment or message RESET and I’ll send it your way.