Julie Stivers sits alone in her family's dining room before a trip to the gym on Friday, March 4, 2016. While some place faith in religion, she places faith in the gym and in her dedication to her body. She can be seen at her local gym in Elizabethtown, Kentucky five out of seven days of the week. Along with her gym routine, she is also on a strict day-to-day diet. As someone who has always struggled with her body image, and still struggles today, she pushes herself to get her body to where she wants it to be. When asked why she pushes herself, she said being healthy is "realizing where you're at and if you're happy with it, and if not, do something about it."
Stivers makes a small salad for a quick meal before leaving for the gym. She bases her meals of a plan she calls the "military diet", which only allows her to eat very specific foods and certain amounts for three days out of the week. "You still have to watch yourself on the off days," Stivers says.
Stivers pushes herself through a workout at her gym, "Etown Swim and Fitness" in Elizabethtown, Kentucky. When it comes to her trips to the gym, she usually goes alone.
Stivers cleans up after her meal as her siblings come into the dining room after school. Although she has been living her healthy lifestyle for some time, her family is just now beginning to take steps to making healthier choices. "We don't even have snacks in the house now," she said.
Stivers look at the single piece of toast with peanut butter that was her lunch. After two bites, she sets it back down on her plate and pushes it away. "I'm just never hungry," she says. Meals this size are common for her, as they are part of her "military diet".
Stivers takes a pause from her workout to take a breath and regain some strength.
Stivers reads the back of her post-workout shake mix after coming home from the gym. This is part of her gym routine.
Stivers and her boyfriend, Mark Anderson, have been together for almost two years. Anderson is in the Army, and spends most of his time now over seas. Even though Stivers works out to be happy with herself, she says that she also works hard because she wants him to find her attractive.