Welcome back to my blog. It's been awhile since I've written a post so let me take a moment to re-introduce myself and tell you my story.
My name is Kellyn and I’m a wife, mom, and health + fitness professional. I’ve always been an active person, but I’ve fallen into fad diets and exercise programs in the past, fluctuated in weight, and had an unhealthy body image for a long time. It wasn’t until my late 20s that I discovered fitness was more than a way to lose weight and be “skinny”. I started to see how good I felt mentally after a long run or a hard workout and my confidence started to improve.
When I was 31 I gave birth to my first daughter. I worked out my whole pregnancy and went for my first run straight from my 6 week appointment where I got cleared to workout again. At 8 weeks post partum, I went back to work and my workouts fell lower in priority. Mom guilt is a very real thing and I felt so guilty going to the gym or more time away from my family when I wasn’t at work. For almost a year, I let myself fall lower in my priority and it started taking it’s toll on me. Have you ever heard the saying, “You can’t pour from an empty glass”? Well it means, if you don’t take care of yourself, you can’t take care of others. By me not taking care of myself, I couldn’t show up for others - my daughter, my husband, my job.
It was around this time that I joined a mom’s fitness group and started pursuing my Group Fitness Certification. My initial goal with the certification was to learn how to develop my own workouts that I could do at home. As I got more involved with the mom’s fitness group, I decided to pursue a part time instructor opportunity. As I got better at prioritizing my needs, I was excited to help other new moms who were finding themselves in the same struggle I had been in.
I was still working full time and teaching stroller fitness classes on the side when I got pregnant with my second daughter. I had a growing passion for fitness and after my daughter was born, I decided to leave my full time job to focus more on my family and my fitness career. I obtained certifications in health coaching and personal training.
In 2020 I learned the importance of online training and I believe it’s here to stay. There is a place in the fitness industry for it. While many have gone back to live classes and training, the convenience we’ve found in the online space will keep it around. Especially as someone who's husband leaves early for work, it's nice to have virtual or online workouts to do at home when the kiddos sleep.
Early in my fitness career, I believed I needed to be a “Yes Lady” and take whatever classes were offered to me. I believed I needed to have a hand in all areas and know everything. Something I’ve learned is that it’s okay to say no, to know my strengths, and stick with my niche. My area of expertise is anyone wanting to live a healthier lifestyle, get stronger, gain confidence, and fit health + fitness into a busy lifestyle. I don’t believe in an all or nothing approach because life is all about balance. If you’re into body building or extreme fitness, I’m not your girl. However, I do deliver challenging and intense workouts that will push you out of your comfort zone and see how strong you can be.
Currently I am a fitness instructor and coach at Life Time Fitness and I am working on building this online health + fitness business on the side. Outside of my professional life I’m a wife and mother, Girl Scout Leader, and Cheer Coach. I like to stay busy in life and there’s never a dull moment around here. I’m excited to kick off this blog and share health, fitness, and all things mom life with you!