If you are anything like me you are finding the world a little bit of a scary place at the moment.......I have spent the last few weeks with my head in the sand a little bit...I am very much a carry on as normal person until I absolutely cannot...
 
I have taken the attitude that it is being sensationalised in the media and that if you are healthy you don't have to worry too much...
 
But even I in the last few days have started to become a little worried....
 
I couldn't get pasta or toilet rolls when I went shopping yesterday...I don't get the toilet roll thing...if someone could enlighten me?
 
But I do feel that as long as we follow the advice being given ....... be vigilant about hand washing etc then I am going to carry on as normally as I can....
 
One thing it has drawn me towards though is the need to stay as healthy as we can, we know that those with underlying health conditions as well as the elderly are at greater risk
 
So what can we do to stay as healthy as possible and keep our immune systems good? This article by Arianna Huffington about the healthy habits we can add to our lives...sums it up very well......have a read HERE .
 
These are always habits we should adopt but even more so at this time.....
 
We need to
 
Focus on sleep.....research shows from tests done that people who are tired are more likely to get colds etc..chronic lack of sleep causes a reduction in our immune system
 
Staying hydrated and avoiding processed foods....avoiding sugar can help us reduce chronic inflammation which contributes to the conditions that put us at greater risk of viruses
 
Finally avoid stress...this greatly impacts our immune system
 
So my message today is that I recognise this is an uncertain and worrying time for us all........but I think there is a need to keep calm, follow sensible precautions that we have been given, be vigilant about hand washing etc and try to continue with following a healthy lifestyle as much as possible
 
As I write this my classes are continuing as normal....people are still attending as normal and just making sure that they wash their hands and be sensible...the need to be healthy has never been greater..
 
Lots of love
 
Kelly xx
www.keepfitwithkelly.com
 
PS: Please drop me a line back and share your feelings around all this...I know it is a testing time for many

So many people seem to be struggling with sleep for so many reasons...how do you sleep? Is it a concern for you?
 
We ideally should be getting 6-8 hours a night for optimum health...sleep is so vital for your wellbeing......mental health...energy levels...loads of important things...
 
Here are some tips for you if you are struggling...
 
1. Cut down on sugary processed foods...
 
2. Watch your caffeine and alcohol intake
 
3. Get some exercise
 
4. Try to establish a bedtime routine....bath, good book, room dark etc
 
I think sleep is not something that should be underestimated so maybe try some of these tips if you are lacking sleep and it is making you feel rubbish..
 
In my 30 Day Weight Loss and Wellness group we work on self care and sleep is one of the things I try to help them with..with good success usually...just some small tweaks can help loads...
 
Let me know if you try any of this..
 
Kelly xx
​​​​​​​www.keepfitwithkelly.com

Today is National Stress Awareness Day..this is something that the charity MIND arranges each year on the first Wednesday in November and it is just to get us talking about stress and what we can do to reduce it..
 
I did a poll on my Instagram story yesterday and simply asked the question Are you Stressed?
 
It was a pretty much 50/50 split on answers so that is half of us that are stressed currently.....
 
I had a great guest on my radio show yesterday to talk about this...Faye is a hypnotherapist and also is an expert in reflexology and massage and she shared her top tips...you can listen back HERE
 
She advised speaking with your GP as a first point of call but then these pointers may help as well....
 
1. Get some exercise.......staying active whilst it won't get rid of stress in our life will help us handle it better
 
2. Spend time with family and friends and talk to them about how you are feeling and don't bottle things up
 
3. Me time...making time to just do something for you...be that a bath, getting your nails done, meeting a friend for coffee...I chipped in that having a cuppa and watching Loose Women helps me!
 
4. Challenge yourself...trying a new hobby, doing something new
 
5, Reducing unhealthy habits, so watching your caffeine and alcohol intake
 
6. Volunteering apparently is a stress reliever as we are doing things for others
 
7. Be positive...every day look for the 3 things that have happened that day that have gone well......always look for the positives
 
I hope that has helped if you are stressed at all.......get in touch and let me know
 
Kelly xx
www.keepfitwithkelly.com

​It can be hard to stay motivated when the nights draw in....the temptation to just stay on the sofa rather than go out to exercise is HIGH..I get that!!!!
 
Also the shops are already starting to fill their shelves with the Xmas goodies.......soon the coffee shops will have their specialty drinks in......I was behind 2 ladies in a queue in Aldi this week both buying mince pies....
 
BUT IF WE START EATING ALL THE GOODIES AND HIBERNATING NOW.......WHAT WEIGHT WILL YOU GAIN AND HOW WILL YOU FEEL BY THE NEW YEAR
 
I love this time of the year...this run up to Xmas is my ABSOLUTE favourite and I am no party pooper...
 
BUT
 
If I start on the mince pies and baileys now then I will gain a stone by January...FACT!!
 
And I do not want to do that!!!!
 
​​​​​​​So my message today is stay motivated.....make good food choices.......avoid the SUGAR and rubbish and keep up with the exercise routine...it only takes 2 weeks for your fitness levels to start to decrease!!!
 
 
Kelly xx

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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

​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???

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

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

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

Yes today I start my weekly regular show on Switch Radio 107.5....I will be live on air every Tuesday 12-2pm.......talking about loads of different subjects each week PLUS I already have some GREAT guests lined up...
 
Switch Radio is a local Birmingham community radio station but you can pick it up online via their website as well if you want to give me a listen....
 
Wish me luck!!
 
Kelly xx
www.keepfitwithkelly.com
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