363: How to Build a Sustainable Workout Routine, Break Up with Calories & Macros and Get Mentally and Physically Stronger with Kelsey Wells
Dec 4, 2024
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Fitness trainer Kelsey Wells, known for her transformative Redefine Fitness Method, shares insights on overcoming disordered eating and the pressures of online fitness culture. She discusses the importance of breaking free from calorie counting and embracing self-acceptance, emphasizing mental wellness as the key to personal growth. Kelsey also reflects on the impact of aging, the significance of community support, and the journey toward embracing a balanced, holistic approach to health. Tune in for empowering strategies to strengthen both the mind and body!
Kelsey Wells discusses the immense pressures fitness trainers face regarding body image and societal expectations, highlighting the need for self-acceptance.
She emphasizes the importance of healing one's relationship with food and exercise through joy, self-care, and empowerment rather than strict rules.
The podcast addresses the societal stigma surrounding aging, promoting a mindset shift towards embracing authenticity and self-acceptance at every life stage.
Deep dives
The Journey of Fitness and Community
The conversation centers on the origins of Kelsey Wells' fitness career and her deep-rooted connection with the Bikini Body Guide (BBG) program. Both she and the host reflect on their experiences starting out in the fitness journey, emphasizing the community and opportunities that emerged from BBG. They discuss how many influencers and trainers launched their careers through this program and how it provided a sense of accountability and connection among participants. This discussion illustrates the evolution of their careers as intertwined paths that saw them both grow as fitness professionals while at times acting as cheerleaders for each other.
The Pressure of Appearance in Fitness
Kelsey opens up about the immense pressure fitness trainers face regarding their physical appearance and the expectations that come with their roles. She candidly discusses how her body image issues and disordered eating have been influenced by her professional life, noting that her worth seemed tied to how her body looked, a concern that many trainers often experience. This pressure can sometimes lead to unhealthy habits, such as over-exercising and compulsively counting macros, which Kelsey has worked to overcome. Such honesty sheds light on the struggles behind the polished images presented on social media, urging women to hold space for each other's vulnerabilities.
Healing through Self-Acceptance
The episode delves into Kelsey’s journey toward healing her relationship with exercise and food by focusing on acceptance and self-care rather than strict rules and numbers. Through discussions about experiences with disordered eating and the realization that the quest for perfection can be toxic, she highlights the importance of emotional healing in finding balance. Kelsey explains that true fitness and wellness should serve as tools for empowerment rather than sources of stress. Finding joy in exercise and learning to listen to her body was part of reclaiming her well-being over time.
The Impact of Aging and Femininity
The dialogue transitions to the societal pressures surrounding aging and femininity, discussing the stigma that often accompanies women as they grow older. Kelsey references a powerful quote from an older artist that life begins at sixty, emphasizing how this perspective can shift one's mindset toward self-acceptance as they age. It underscores the notion that many women spend their youth preoccupied with societal expectations and that true liberation only comes when they learn to embrace their authenticity. Both speakers express a commitment to reframing these narratives to help women feel empowered at all stages of life.
The Challenge of Navigating Online Spaces
Kelsey and the host candidly talk about the realities of interacting in online spaces where negativity can often overshadow positivity. They examine the toll that hateful comments and judgmental attitudes can have on individuals, especially public figures, and emphasize the need for kindness in community interactions. The conversation highlights the personal struggles both have faced concerning online criticism, reinforcing the importance of mental health and emotional resilience. By sharing their experiences with online challenges, they encourage others to cultivate supportive environments that foster connection rather than division.
Kelsey Wells is a trainer on the Sweat platform and creator of the Redefine Fitness Method—and a long time friend! She joins the show to have an extremely candid conversation about the intense pressures of being an online fitness personality, overcoming disordered eating and exercise habits, breaking up with counting calories and macros, religious trauma and how to unwind a lifetime of internalized diet culture. We also discuss aging and how to embrace wherever you are in life, with powerful reminders to enjoy the present moment and more!
This episode may contain paid endorsements and advertisements for products and services. Individuals on the show may have a direct, or indirect financial interest in products, or services referred to in this episode.