Welcome to
Thrive on 8

Joel believes that proper exercise is the most effective way to promote wellness, strength, and longevity. After seeing the beneficial effects of exercise by competing in strength and conditioning programs for high-school athletics, he chose to build on that knowledge and pursue a degree in exercise science at Illinois State University. Through college coursework and a senior internship working in cardiac rehabilitation at Northwestern Memorial Hospital, he joins the LifeStart team eager to help club members push themselves every day to reach their fullest potential. In his free time he enjoys playing basketball, attending concerts, and spending time with his family and friends.

Amelia is a Registered Dietitian passionate about helping others build their food confidence. Her food philosophy revolves around finding ways to include favorite foods in a balanced approach that provides a sustainable, and positive relationship to food and our overall wellness. Helping others through nutrition counseling has become one of her favorite aspects of this profession. During a nutrition session with Amelia, you can expect to find and make goals that transcend the desire to see a certain number on the scale. She emphasizes that there are so many topics to discover in the world of nutrition! Outside of being a dietitian, Amelia loves to explore new workouts and activities. Her most recent exploration has been beginning tennis lessons! Otherwise, Amelia is out exploring the city, new restaurants, gardening or sneaking in a couple of hours to go enjoy the lakefront.