How To Empower Yourself Through Fitness

Your fitness journey can (and should!) be used as a powerful tool for self-empowerment. I empowered myself through fitness, and I want to help you understand that YOU CAN TOO. 

If you want to achieve a healthier body and mind, you have to take ACTION. Set yourself up for fitness success with small, sustainable changes, made just one at a time. Know what you want to achieve, both physically, mentally and emotionally, from your fitness journey. 

I know, because I've been on my own fitness journey to get where I am today. It didn't happen overnight! I want to share with you what I've learned along the way so that YOU can live into your power.

It’s NEVER too late and you’re NEVER too old to take action and improve your health. It’s NEVER too late to change your life!

Only you can change your life

The truth is, only you can change your life. At the same time, that also means no one can stop you! You have the right and responsibility to cultivate self-love and care for your HEALTH — that is what fitness is for.

Caring for your mental, emotional, and physical health is your responsibility. No one can do it for you. But that doesn’t mean you have to go it alone! I’m here to TEACH you how to weight-train, help you understand fitness, and ENCOURAGE you every step of the way

Begin from a place of positivity

The power of positivity is REAL. Choosing to practice positivity in your life, especially in regard to your fitness journey, will be your superpower of success.

Before every PWR session, I take a moment as I warm up to feel grateful. Now, I’m not saying this is easy or that you should always feel positive and that your road won’t be challenging — that’s unrealistic.

But when your efforts in exercise and nutrition are stemming from a place of positivity and gratitude for your body — as opposed to looking at exercise as a punishment for something you ate or a method to change because you dislike something about yourself — you’ll begin to love and appreciate yourself.

And that is your first step in uncovering your inner strength and power.

Make a plan and commit

At the beginning of my fitness journey my biggest goal was to get active and incorporate exercise into everyday life. My plan was very simple: to exercise five times a week for at least 30 minutes.

Initially, I would exercise with my son at home, or push him in the stroller. Later along it meant getting up at 5am to workout before my husband left for the day. 

By doing this consistently (and having lots of times when I didn't meet my exercise goal!) I have completely transformed my mindset from where I was back in 2014! 

These days, I continue to motivate myself by setting goals — they keep me on track and empower me at the same time. 

You’ve probably heard that success in fitness requires balance, and that’s absolutely right. However, many misinterpret this to mean rigid structure, when in reality the key to balance is FLEXIBILITY.

You need to make a plan and commit, but give yourself grace and be flexible in your methods. 

It doesn’t matter if you workout in the morning, late at night, on your lunch, or during precious nap time — set your goal to get it in and do it whenever you can. 

Give your goals your best effort each day, and then be PROUD of that effort.

Food is fuel

I really believe nutrition is fuel for your body. I try to take a holistic approach to my diet and focus on a healthy, wholesome balanced options with the occasional treat. I don’t believe in completely cutting out food groups or depriving yourself. It’s SO important to find the whole foods you enjoy!

There’s NO one size fits all approach — it’s all about what works for you. I know that’s not want people want to hear, but it’s the TRUTH!

I have many women training with me using a macro-based approach, some intermittent fasting, some low carb, keto, plant-based, vegan or vegetarian, and (the vast majority) simply eating intuitively, and ALL ARE SEEING RESULTS! 

Personally, I eat breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks throughout the day as I find that’s what works best for me. I follow a diet high in protein, with most of my carbs coming from fruits, vegetables and whole grains such as quinoa and oats. I try to limit refined sugar or fried foods, although 

I absolutely love things like cake, donuts and French fries — and still have those less-nutritious foods on occasion.

Instead of wanting a quick fix, educate yourself and learn how to fuel YOUR body so that you can feel YOUR best long term. Let your efforts in nutrition be a form of self-care. Celebrate your body in every phase and stage by fueling it to grow stronger. 

Your diet should be about taking care of your HEALTH and feeling GOOD!

Ditch the guilt!

I want to talk about going on a holiday or indulging over the weekend.  It’s important to rest and relax and make memories with friends. It’s just as important to be present with family and enjoy our favorite treats. You absolutely WILL miss a workout, overeat, and ‘fall off the wagon’. 

First things first, don’t beat yourself up. You’re allowed to relax and have fun and if that means not following a clean diet or plan for a few days, that’s totally OK! I’m all about enjoying treats and less-nutritious foods on occasion, especially on holidays. 

I promise you that nothing you’ve eaten is worse for your body than the stress you put on yourself when you feel guilty and beat yourself up over something you ate.

The same goes for a workout missed. Remember fitness is about caring for our HEALTH. As much as it’s important to push yourself through your workouts and make healthier choices, it’s important to be KIND to yourself. 

The key is to GET BACK UP. There’s no need to waste your precious energy compounding a negative with a negative and beating yourself up. Simply make your next choice a healthier one. 

 Be proactive and prepare!

I workout almost every day. It’s my form of self-care and something I prioritize! As far as day-to-day workouts go, I love to exercise solo, whether that’s at the gym or at home. It’s my time to connect with and EMPOWER myself. Although, as a trainer, one of my favorite things is leading a group workout!

It’s important to find the things that make YOU excited to workout. For me, it’s a gym outfit I feel good wearing and an upbeat, fun workout playlist. Music is so powerful, and having a killer workout playlist ready to rock helps me level up and SLAY. For you, it could be completely different. It’s about finding what motivates you and makes you feel empowered. 

Most days I go to the gym to workout, but if I can’t make it for whatever reason, I do a workout at home or the hotel room (if I’m travelling). PWR at Home only requires a pair of dumbbells, a chair or step and recovery bands which makes it a super easy workout to do when the gym isn’t an option or you would prefer to work out from home! 

I workout to the best of my ability every single day, but this doesn’t mean I’m at my peak every day! Not every workout will be high energy or will you smash your personal best. Listen to your body and do what feels right. 

Discipline over motivation

It needs to be said that sometimes MOTIVATION IS FLEETING. 

It’s imperative to realize that you CAN still workout even when you don’t feel like it! You’ll never always feel motivated, but you can always CHOOSE to exercise discipline. 

Remember that all of your little efforts COUNT. Success in fitness is achieved through small, simple (not easy but simple!) efforts compounded over time through discipline and consistency.

Go get it! 

Fitness isn’t a race, it’s a lifelong journey to care for ourselves, our health and wellbeing. You cannot fall behind and you cannot fail. You can only CHOOSE how you are going to go forward TODAY. 

Care for your body because your body is a beautiful gift that is, AND ALWAYS HAS BEEN, worth loving and caring for. 

There’s nothing to lose and no way to fail. There’s only inner-strength to uncover and self-love to gain. 

Internalize and incorporate these thoughts into your fitness journey, and watch as you start to see how STRONG you really are. 

Kels xx