About
Hi, I’m Jillian, but you can call me Jill or Jillygrace! I help people build balance in their fitness, nutrition, mindset, and everyday life.
Because health shouldn’t be complicated — it should support your life, not control it.
My Story
Athlete Life
Started high school volleyball and tennis while continuing club volleyball. My schedule was intense: conditioning, sprints, weight training, and 2-hour practices 4 days a week.
I was always sore but ate whatever I wanted because I was constantly moving.
Lockdown
COVID ended my senior year, and suddenly, all structure disappeared. I was stuck at home, my sleep schedule flipped, and I worked out at 1 a.m. just to move my body. It was the first time I realized how much routine affected my mental health.
College
Starting college meant a totally different routine. I still worked out — mostly weightlifting — but not nearly as much as I did before. Dining hall food and late nights caught up with me, and for the first time, I didn’t recognize my body. I felt lost and didn’t know how to rebuild a healthy relationship with food and fitness.
Sorority
I lived in my sorority house where meals were cooked for us, but I struggled with portion control. Leftovers were horrible so I’d eat even if I wasn’t hungry. The gym was far, so I often used that as an excuse. I was just going through the motions.
Rebuilding
I decided to take control again. I started working out in our tiny sorority gym to remove the “it’s too far” excuse. I’d bring my laptop to the treadmill and study while walking — and I realized my brain worked better when I was moving. I added low-impact workouts like Pilates and weight training to avoid pain from old sports injuries. I focused on balanced eating and listening to my hunger cues — and my body started changing again.
Study Abroad
I studied abroad in Barcelona, and my habits were tested again. I enjoyed every meal and experience (wine and gelato), but I also walked everywhere during the week and weekends traveling. Even with fewer gym sessions, I stayed lean and strong because I moved constantly and felt happy in my body for the first time in years.
Senior Year
Senior year brought new challenges — stress, anxiety, and burnout. I was drinking more, scrolling constantly, and mentally exhausted. Dry January helped me reset, and I got back to meal prepping, lifting 3–4 times a week, and reading again. Physically, I looked healthy — but mentally, I was struggling with anxiety, insomnia, migraines, and gut pain. Then came painful cystic acne that crushed my confidence. I was pushing so hard to “do more” that my body was screaming for rest.
Healing
I dove deep into gut health, hormones, and mental health — and realized how connected they are. By combining what I knew about fitness and nutrition with new healing habits, I:
• Cleared my hormonal acne
• Healed my gut
• Calmed my anxiety
• Rebuilt trust with my body
I finally feel strong, confident, and balanced — not from restriction, but from understanding myself.
Building Balance
I created Building Balance to help others skip the years of confusion and frustration I went through. My goal is to help you find what actually works — without guilt, burnout, or extremes. Let’s build a life that feels good from the inside out.
My Coaching Philosophy
My coaching isn’t about chasing perfection — it’s about creating a lifestyle that feels good and lasts. I call it The Jillygrace Method, and it’s built on three pillars:
💪 Movement — finding workouts you actually enjoy
🥗 Nourishment — learning what fuels your body best
🧠 Mindset — understanding your habits and thought patterns
Together, we’ll build structure where you need it and flexibility where you want it — so you can finally feel confident in your body, routine, and mindset.
Why I Do What I Do
Over the years, I’ve learned that health isn’t just about what you eat or how much you move — it’s about how you feel in your body and mind.
I’ve been the girl who tracked every calorie, followed every new workout trend, and still felt stuck. I’ve also been the girl who gave up completely because I didn’t know where to start.
That’s why I started Building Balance — to help others find freedom in fitness and confidence in their routine without burning out or starting over every few months.
My approach combines physical health, mental wellbeing, and real-life sustainability — because your best self shouldn’t come at the cost of your peace of mind.
