Becoming the best version of herself: Meet Kellie

Even if it’s just 1kg more on the barbell, or seeing her muscles ‘pop’ when she flexes, Kellie says it’s such an amazing feeling to know that every day she is getting stronger, fitter, and more confident in the gym, and within herself. A member at our Fernwood Cairnlea club, Kellie joined in 2017 after returning from living and working abroad, with her main focus on weight loss. She dropped 15kg in body fat, and while she was happy with this physical change, she noticed her attention shifting to focus on exercising and lifting weights to get stronger, rather on weight loss.

“I have become so much stronger – both physically and mentally. I have grown into a woman who is comfortable and confident in her own body. When I first joined Fernwood, I refused to go anywhere near the weights section and would only ever do cardio because I didn’t want to “get bulky” or “look manly” because that’s what you get told lifting will do to you, which is the furthest thing from being true.”

“The best advice I have is that we’re all at the gym to become the best versions of ourselves, nobody is there to judge you because once upon a time they were a beginner too. If you’re unsure of how a machine works or if you have the right form the Fernwood ladies are always there to help. I love seeing new people come into the gym, knowing they’re about to change their lives for the better; it’s great to watch.”

Four years on from joining, we are beyond delighted to announce Kellie as one of our Fernwood Ambassadors for 2021, and know that her lust for healthy living will motivate women across Australia to put their best feet forward this year – both at the gym and in their everyday lives.

“When I got the call, I was over the moon. I feel so honoured to be able to represent such an amazing gym. Fernwood is nothing like any other gym; you walk in and feel a sense of community you don’t find elsewhere. It’s like you belong there,” she says.

In a typical week, Kellie aims to hit the gym three to four times, with one or two weight lifting sessions and a personal training session, adding a 10-minute HIIT workout on the treadmill after each strength session.

Beyond the gym floor, Kellie loves to indulge in yoga, particularly yin yoga, which is a form of restorative yoga for deep stretching and relaxation. She initially began practicing yin during 2020 while working out from home, and now aims to do at least one class in club each week paired with daily yoga poses in her spare time.

The extended poses help her to find complete relaxation, a welcomed contrast to her high intensity and strength training gym sessions, as well as a quiet escape from the busyness of day-to-day life. Welcoming wellness practices into her regular health and fitness routine has supported Kellie to balance her yang with yin. Complementary to yoga, Kellie also finds solace in meditation and journaling.

Did you know Fernwood offers meditation sessions via our Fernwood Pulse program? All members get access to these online sessions, as well as at-home workouts, hundreds of recipes, yoga flows and more!

“Mental health is just as important as physical health – you can drink all the water in the world, work out 5 times a week and eat healthily but if you aren’t taking care of your mental health none of that matters,” Kellie says.

“Meditation and journaling help me to stay grounded and remind me of all the things I am grateful for in this world. Sometimes it is hard to remember because daily stresses get in the way but taking that time to yourself (even if it is only 15 minutes a day) really does make a massive difference in the way you view everything around you. Yoga works in the same way, in that it helps to relax and ground but it also has so many other amazing health benefits including strengthening, helping with balance, flexibility and pain relief.”

Committed to long-term sustainable health and fitness, Kellie pairs her fitness with balanced nutrition, always looking for new ways to nourish her body. Four years in, she still loves seeing the small changes in her body and mind when she reaches a new personal best.

“I love looking in the mirror and seeing the progress I’m making as well. Things like watching my calf muscles get bigger or my lats pop when I look in the mirror is such an exciting feeling.”

“I actually enjoy going out and exploring everything the world has to offer now, I’ll do things like take the stairs instead of the elevator because I am grateful that my body allows me to. I was always really shy and lacked confidence because I didn’t like how my body looked but I have grown mentally and matured into a woman who knows that my worth is not based around the number on the scales or the size on my clothing,” Kellie says.

Such an inspiration, Kellie! Meet another inspiring Fernwood member and ambassador, Katrina.

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