New in town: Katie Breard
Age:
Late thirties.
Status:
Married with three kids – eight, six, and two.
Current location:
Mount Pleasant, SC.
Moved from:
Boston, MA.
Rent or own?
We own. It was a pretty stressful process because my husband and I had to take multiple 30 hour trips to Charleston alone, while the other parent stayed home with the kids. Each time we came we would spend the day with our realtor looking at 8-10 houses a day. When we put an offer down on the house we live in today I had never seen it in person!
Name of the realtor who helped you:
Bambi Magraw Elstrom: eXp Realty.
What made you move to the area?
My husband Kent and I actually met working in advertising in New York City. In 2016, we moved to Boston—he continued in advertising while I went to graduate school for fitness and nutrition. That eventually led me to launch my own fitness and nutrition business, where I now coach women all over the U.S. and Europe. For a while, we were both working out of our tiny townhouse—me training clients in the laundry room, him on Zoom calls in the living room.
By the time I was pregnant with our third baby three years ago, we knew it was time for a change of scenery and a slower pace of life. We explored different parts of the country, but Charleston kept calling to me. I grew up on the water in Maine, so I love that Charleston is by the ocean, but with more warmth, charm, and culture. Plus, it’s an incredible place for small business owners and content creators to thrive.
Ultimately, we chose Charleston because it’s beautiful, family-friendly, and offers the kind of childhood we want for our kids. We’re so excited to finally be here!
Was this move planned or spontaneous?
We had “planned” on moving for a few years, but got really serious in November of last year.
Did you know anyone in town before moving? Were you able to make new friends?
I was lucky to already know a handful of women through coaching them on my app—some I’ve trained for years who’ve become true friends—as well as a couple of mutual connections. One of my best friends from Boston actually moved here at the exact same time, which felt like such a gift. Beyond that, we’ve been slowly meeting people. Since we only moved a few weeks ago and my kids just started school, most of my focus has been on helping them settle in and make friends. Everyone I’ve met so far has been so welcoming, and I’m really looking forward to building more connections here!
Cost of living here compared to your previous location:
Charleston is definitely not inexpensive by any means (especially housing) but Boston is insane! I’ve found some things to be less expensive (groceries, gas, childcare, etc) and some things to be the same or more. I think that like anywhere it’s up to you to find ways to save money where you can and I try to be savvy about that.
Community and culture here compared to your previous location:
As an adult I’ve lived in New York City, Boston, and very briefly Charleston. I have found:
People in NYC are very focused on where you work/have worked.
People in Boston are very interested in where you went to school/your education.
People in Charleston are very interested in your family, who your friends are, and how you spend your time.
I love it!
Traffic situation:
I’m a HUGE walker, so I was nervous about living in the car in general when I moved. So far I haven’t found it as bad as it sounds “on the facebook threads.” But…I haven’t been here long 😉
One thing you wish someone had told you before moving:
Charleston is a very word of mouth town. Being kind, friendly, and doing good work goes further than any kind of marketing etc.
Advice for the town mayor:
Not a ton of cell phone service in Mount Pleasant…:)
What/who would you bring from your old town?
My mom.
Do you call this place home?
I’ve only been here a few weeks but I really hope to.
Favorite restaurants:
I’ve had great meals at Post House, Five Loaves Cafe, Sullivan’s Fish Camp, The Obstinate Daughter, and Basic Kitchen.
Hobbies:
My number one favorite thing to do is travel with and without my kids. I also love active hobbies such as walking and listening to podcasts, paddle boarding, kayaking, and riding bikes. I’d love to say I read more….but I have three kids.
If you could live anywhere, where would it be?
I would be a traveling nomad with my kids.
Tell us about your business.
Methods by Katie Breard is my fourth baby — my own fitness and nutrition business. I work with women through every stage of motherhood — from pregnancy and postpartum to the busy years of raising young kids — as well as women in perimenopause. I specialize in core training for these transitions but also create personalized fitness plans for anyone looking to feel stronger and more balanced.
My business has a few different sides. Through my online coaching app, I work with women all over the world, creating personalized fitness and nutrition programs they can do from home.
I also offer in-person personal training and small-group sessions a few days a week.
What inspired you to launch your business?
Before launching my own business, I spent 12 years as an art director in the fast-paced world of advertising, creating campaigns for brands like Mercedes, BMW, and Pringles. It was a dream career in many ways, but fitness was always my side passion—I taught group classes whenever I could.
Everything changed in 2018 when I went through a life-threatening pregnancy with my now six-year-old son. My water broke three months early, and I spent two months on hospital bed rest before he arrived prematurely.
Recovering after that experience was humbling—but also life-changing. It pushed me to leave advertising behind, go back to school full-time, and dedicate myself to fitness and nutrition. I went on to specialize in pre- and postnatal fitness, as well as perimenopause and menopause coaching. Shortly after, I launched my business to help other women navigate these pivotal stages of life with strength and confidence.
How has your creative background in advertising benefitted your business?
I LOVE to incorporate my advertising background into my business. First of all as a business owner you are selling yourself and your brand every day. I bring in the majority of my clients (especially on my app) through instagram, so having a creative background really helps there. I also have a small part of my business where I work with brands in an affiliate capacity, and do some collaborations with brands that align with my health and fitness beliefs. This helps me flex my creative muscles!
I do have a dream someday of helping others in the fitness and nutrition space with their branding etc.
Fitness and nutrition go hand in hand, but which one is more challenging for people to master?
Consistency for both is the hardest part. A huge part of my coaching style is helping people realize they don’t need to spend hundreds of hours a week in a gym if they are following a specific program with great form, as opposed to going to a random class with no purpose! But if i had to pick….nutrition is the hardest to stick with for most people. Especially moms!
Dish you’d eat endlessly if calories didn’t count:
More Pizza Please!
Try a free week of the Methods by Katie Breard app.
Book a free personal training interest call with Katie.
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