Jennifer Axilbund
I am passionate about fitness, nutrition, and overall wellness. I love to help people nurture their nature and make informed and confident decisions regarding their personal wellbeing.
I am a genetic counselor by training, and spent the first 16 years of my career in clinical cancer genetics at Johns Hopkins. In 2016, I left the hospital setting to work for a series of commercial laboratories in various medical education, training, and marketing roles. One chilly December day in 2021, I said goodbye to my stable job in biotechnology with absolutely no plan. Some might call it a midlife crisis — I now know it to be a rediscovery of purpose.
My path to wellness actually started in 2008 when I began working with a personal trainer. I quickly recognized the advantages of having a fitness professional help design a program that worked for me while also holding me accountable. I will do cardio on my own, but I only weight-train under direct supervision and bribery.
Like many people, my weight has fluctuated, with my blood pressure and other health metrics bouncing up and down right along with it. In 2020, I lost 25 pounds, only to gain it back rapidly when 2021 proved almost unbearable. With the help of my personal trainer, I came to appreciate that a great exercise program, alone, was not sufficient for me to make changes that would carry me through life’s challenges. So, in my “fun-employment” free time, I focused on nutrition and learned that little changes can have huge benefits. By adjusting my dietary pattern and adopting stress management techniques, I took those 25 pounds back off… and also discovered a new sense of wellbeing. Healthy behavior that used to require careful thought and planning became habit. Along the way, I realized that fitness, nutrition, and wellness are my passion!
When I tell you, “I understand how you feel”, or “I have been there,” it is true. I am a single mother with a teenaged son, a ridiculously needy dog, and a mortgage. For over 20 years, I worked outside the home full-time, including in positions that required weekly travel. And then, in my late 40’s, I started over by pursuing additional education and building my own business from the ground up.
I understand busy and exhausted.
I understand inconsistent motivation.
I understand not sure where or how to begin.
And I understand how to help you nurture your nature and improve your wellness.
Coaching Philosophy
As a coach, I believe that with support, guidance, and accountability, anyone can thrive. The people I work with desire balance — they seek improvement but not perfection. My values include authenticity, autonomy, respect, kindness, and self-compassion. I do this work because I love helping people make the best decisions for themselves.
My vision of wellness always reflects the values of the individual. I follow a core set of health and wellness guidelines, but each program is unique to the individual client and is developed and facilitated without judgment. I trust my clients to know their limits, but challenge them not to underestimate their abilities and potential.
For my clients, transformation may be physical, mental, or both. Improved wellbeing may reflect changes in body composition or health metrics, or it may be newfound appreciation for how one currently looks and feels. Regardless of the coaching outcome, I want clients to feel heard, understood, and supported.
Certifications
- Certified Wellness Coach — National Academy of Sports Medicine
- Certified Nutrition Coach — National Academy of Sports Medicine
- Behavior Change Specialist — National Academy of Sports Medicine
- Certified Genetic Counselor — American Board of Genetic Counseling
Education
- Bachelor of Science, Biology; Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
- Master of Science, Molecular Biology & Genetics; Northwestern University
- Master of Science, Biophysics & Genetics; University of Colorado
Prior Roles
- Genetic Counselor & Assistant Professor of Oncology, Johns Hopkins
- Clinical Science Liaison, Invitae
- Senior Medical Science Liaison II, Genomic Health
- Director of Field Medical Affairs, Personal Genome Diagnostics
- Director of Medical Marketing & Education, Personal Genome Diagnostics
I offer a complimentary 15-minute introductory phone conversation to help you decide if I am the right wellness coaching partner for you.