Blog - Keep Fit With Kelly: Health and Fitness

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Are you Body Positive?

5/15/2019

The last email this week in relation to mental health is around body image...

How do you see yourself??? Do you stand in the mirror each morning focusing on all the things you don't like? Maybe you judge yourself by the number that flashes up on the scales each day!

I would urge you to stop if this is the case.......flip it around and this morning when you look in the mirror say 3 things to yourself that you LIKE about your body and the person inside......

Your body has done amazing things and the fact that we are here and healthy should be celebrated but all the time I hear women hating themselves...beating themselves up for eating a biscuit!!!

I am all about eating healthily 80% of the time, moving your body and being active, feeding it lots of water so we are hydrated......taking time to look after ourselves as we only get one shot at this..

I would love to hear your body image stories........have you got more confident and accepting as you get older or maybe not?

So for today lets focus on all the good bits about ourselves.......we should always strive to be the best version of ourselves we can be NOW not 20 years ago!!!!!

Let me know what you think xxxxx

Are you looking after yourself?

5/15/2019

This week we are covering different areas around mental health as part of mental health awareness week..

Today its self care.....

We are all running around working, looking after families, trying to be a great Mom, wife, daughter, sister, friend, colleague that sometimes we get put to the back of the queue....

Anyone agree???

So how about taking a bit of "me time" do you worry that that is selfish?

I am a big fan of taking time out...I am sooooo busy that I would go mad if I didn't ..

So for me it is ....... going to my book club, reading in general, cup of tea in the garden on my own, getting a massage once a month, going to the gym, spa day, meeting a friend for coffee, breakfast with my Mom, mooching round the shops on my own....

Just little things but so important to me..

What do you do in a month that is just for you???

How can exercise affect your mood?

5/15/2019

Carrying on the mental health theme this week...today I wanted to talk about the positive effect exercise can have on your mental health....

I know personally that if I am having a bad day, feeling tired, maybe fed up...then exercise is my go to medicine....I love classes the most as the music and the buzz of working out with other people really lifts me

I know a lot of people get the same feeling from running, walking, playing sports etc

That natural endorphin rush really can help to turn your mood around....plus feeling that your body is strong helps a lot too

When people have things on their mind...coming to a class and spending that time concentrating solely on the class and what they are doing really does take their mind off their problems...I always include a relaxation session at the end of my Pilates and yoga classes as I think meditation is something that people maybe miss from their routines....deep breathing and being silent really helps to calm the mind..

I would love to know your thoughts...is exercise good for your soul like it is for mine or maybe you are thinking after reading this that exercise might be good for you..

Get in touch and let me know xxxx

Eating for Mental Health

5/15/2019

This week is Mental Health Awareness Week and I am going to be basing my blogs and videos around how I think our mental health can be affected by what we put in our body, how we move it, how we treat it and how we view it...its a big subject and I think its great that more of us are talking about this......all the views I am going to give are just my thoughts reflecting on how I feel from time to time and what my clients are telling me on a daily basis (and I come into contact with a lot of women!)

The first one today is looking at food...

Lets start by looking at our body like a car.......your car needs fuel and that needs to be the correct fuel in order for it to run smoothly with no glitches and do the job that it needs to do..

Our body is the same.....if you are not putting enough fuel in or the wrong type how can we expect our bodies to function properly, effectively and without glitches...

I know from my own personal experiences along with all the women that I speak to that if I drink a lot of alcohol, eat takeaways all week, pump myself with sugar that I feel CRAP....(excuse the language)

Yes we all needs treats and life needs to be a balance but when I have days where I drink loads of water...eat veggies and proper food....I FEEL so much better!

So I am not talking about weight loss here necessarily I am talking about how I FEEL..........

Eating junk and drinking a lot will affect your mental health 100%...I have had the pleasure of interviewing people for my radio show and coaching people who have mental health issues and they all say that when they consciously think about their food and making it as healthy as possible there symptoms are more manageable....

So to tie it all up...yes I have a glass of wine and a takeaway sometimes and so do my clients......but I try to have more days that I go booze free and keep my meals healthy not just to keep my weight in check but so that I feel good in my mind..........

I would love to hear your thoughts on this...do you have experiences of your diet or maybe your caffeine or alcohol intake affecting your mental health....I will be doing a live video on this on my Facebook page and my Instagram account today..

Kelly xx
www.keepfitwithkelly.com

PS: Catch me on Switch Radio 12-2pm today where we are covering mental health topics all week

No Social Media?

3/13/2019

Yes for me on Sundays!!!

I decided to give up something a little different for lent....I decided to try out no Social Media Sundays!

This week was my first one....

I really missed it.......that just shows how addicted to it I have become...but I did it and I think it is a really healthy move for me...

I use social media a lot for my work and I do actually really enjoy it...BUT

I dread to think how many hours I spend on it!!!

So lets see how I get on......maybe I will keep it up after Lent!!!??

Are you a social media addict or do you avoid it?

Kelly xx
www.keepfitwithkelly.com

What body shape are you?

3/5/2019

An apple, pear, hourglass or strawberry????

Watch my video to find out what those shapes are and how we need to accept the frame that we were given!!!!

Click HERE to watch the video....

Kelly xx
www.keepfitwithkelly.com

Find A Lifestyle You Enjoy Not Endure!

2/27/2019

Someone said this to me yesterday in the context of work life.....but I think this relates to diet and exercise too...

If you are currently following an eating plan that is restricting you......

Maybe you are cutting out whole food groups
Living off meal replacements
Going hungry
Declining nights out because you can't fit it in to your "diet"

OR

If you are doing exercise that you DREAD

STOP !!!!!

IT DOES NOT HAVE TO BE THAT WAY!!!

You should be following an eating plan that leaves you feeling great...not hungry...enjoying cooking and eating delicious food......making good choices when you go out and still enjoying life

AND

You should be doing exercise that you ENJOY...that leaves you energised and wanting more....

Hit reply and let me know whether you are ENJOYING or ENDURING your eating plan and exercise at the moment????

Kelly xx
www.keepfitwithkelly.com

The Benefits of Quitting Sugar

2/19/2019

Kicking the sugar habit is not the easiest task but if you are considering giving it a try then here is something that may just sway you

Your skin will look more youthful

Cutting sugar can reduce the signs of ageing. Studies suggest that the amount of sugar in the blood sets up a molecular domino effect called glycation, which ultimately leaves skin less firm and elastic.

2. You’ll have less belly fat

This is the visceral or “deep” fat that builds up around vital organs like your liver, pancreas, and intestines. Stubborn and hard to get rid of, it’s also dangerous; visceral fat is a known risk factor for heart disease and diabetes.

3. You’ll feel more energized

BOOST your energy ! Added sugars are simple carbohydrates. This means they’re digested fast and enter your bloodstream quickly, providing that sugar high that helps jump-start your energy and alertness. But as anyone who relies on sugar for a pick-me-up knows, once that shot of sugar is metabolized, you’re in for a crash.

4. You’ll lower your risk of obesity

There is a distinct link to consuming sugar and obesity. Watch the pounds drop off when you cut out sugar!

5. Your heart will be in better shape

A healthy heart helps you power through your day, but the more added sugar in your diet, the higher your risk of heart disease – even if your weight is in a healthy range.

6. You’ll cut your odds of type 2 diabetes

Research shows the link between sugar and developing type 2 diabetes, cut it down and you will cut your odds significantly.

Lets Talk Veganism!

1/29/2019

I would love to hear some views on this...its a hot topic right now...

I asked for some thoughts on it in my Private Facebook group and they were very mixed...

Some people saying they would never consider it...they love their meat and dairy too much..

I had some saying they really wanted to do it for ethical/environmental reasons but find it hard to get their protein in...plus how restrictive it is when you eat out

Comments were made around wanting to try a plant based diet to see how it impacted peoples health...but one lady said it had actually made her snack more and gain weight..

I also had some who want to do it but as they cook for their family they find it really difficult...

I would love to know what you think? Perhaps you are vegan and have been for a while? Maybe you are a new vegan? Do you worry about protein? Has it helped you lose weight?

I would really like to see how I feel on a plant based diet...I don't feel personally that I could go fully vegan so I am thinking about trying a few days a week to see how I get on...

I would love to hear your thoughts..

Kelly xx
www.keepfitwithkelly.com

A Throwback To Last Year.....

1/22/2019

This was a lovely message that Zena sent me last September after she had been following my programme for 6 weeks

Zena has now gone on to lose nearly 3 stone and 32 inches!!!!!!!!

"I can’t begin to tell you how chuffed I am to have lost a stone and 14 inches overall!!!

For anyone thinking of trying PT sessions with Kelly...I had been promising myself to start exercising for longer than I care to admit.

I was feeling down and drinking more often than I should. Then, a few months back, I got taken along to a great exercise class ‘open day’ with my lovely friend Yvette and met the fabulous Kelly. She is so friendly and welcoming that I decided to take the big step of booking some personal training sessions with her. I did have a mild panic before the first session and very nearly cancelled. I am so glad that Kelly gently convinced me to give it a try. I loved Kelly’s sessions immediately! I had 3 x PT sessions with Kelly but got Cellulitis thanks to an insect bite and then came down with Laryngitis/Acute Pharyngitis (Doctor’s diagnosis differed?!). During these few weeks of feeling really poorly, I obviously couldn’t exercise at all but I did manage to stick to Kelly’s clean eating meal plans. Obviously my appetite wasn’t great being ill and I was reliant on my fab friend ‘Katie’s’ homemade soups to get me through the first week of feeling awful but I have found that my whole outlook on what I eat has changed in a very short period of time. The menus are easy to follow and I find shopping for food much less stressful, knowing what my week’s meals are going to be. I don’t feel bloated anymore and I don’t really miss the carbs, I’ve stopped drinking alcohol and now that I’m finally starting to feel better, I can actually get off my sick bed/sofa and get out in the fresh air and gently start to exercise again. Kelly even changed the way we exercise because of my painful cough so that it didn’t aggravate it. My voice is still not fully recovered but thankfully, you don’t have to talk whilst you exercise. Kelly is always upbeat, positive and great fun. I will most definitely be booking another 10 PT sessions.
Thank you again Kelly for making such a positive and healthy change to my life. ❤️ xxx"