Hi, I’m Kellie. And I’m on a journey too.
I’ve been there. In fact, I’m still there; it’s a process.
I was put on my first diet at age 8. I spent nearly three decades thinking I was taking good care of myself. Then I got sick. Really sick. Not sick as in the-doctor-can-fix-me-up kind of sick; sick as in completely physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually depleted.
As a working woman, partner and mom I was too busy to really take care of myself. I did what I needed to do to just get by and I was barely doing that. I drove myself sick in a cycle of workaholism, exhaustion and over-caffeination. Rinse and repeat. Rinse and repeat.
I thought I was going crazy. I had tried everything but nothing seemed to stick. I questioned whether I had a willpower problem or if I was inherently broke. I became disillusioned. I knew I couldn’t keep going the way I was, and that I couldn’t be the kind of person I wanted to be without unlearning and relearning how to take care of myself; I just didn’t know how to do that. I knew I wanted a more holistic lifestyle, a way to pay attention to the parts of me I had been long ignoring — nothing too shiny, fancy or new — just something that really worked. The good news is that I found my way, and you can too.
I’m not a Ra!-Ra! kind of coach. I’m not even one ounce Zig Ziglar. I used to think I should be (yuck, shoulds can be so ugly), but I just haven’t found that kind of coaching sticks. I’m about helping others empower themselves — and that is often about realistic conversation, nonjudgmental listening, connecting the dots, gentle affirmation, mindfulness, and meaningful action. My coaching isn’t about me or what I think you should be doing; it’s about you and what you truly want for yourself and your life.
I have credentials, too. I am a Certified Wellness and Fitness Coach with Wellcoaches, a Certified Personal Trainer with the American College of Sports Medicine, and have a degree in women’ studies.
I started Befriending Your Body™ because I believe how we do things is as important as what we do. I was tired of trying approaches that evoked shame, guilt, force, and apathy, and witnessing those around me doing the same. That’s why Befriending Your Body is about treating yourself with kindness and compassion while still working toward your health and wellness goals.
Thich Nhat Hanh said “Our practice is to live our daily life in such a way that every moment, every act becomes an act of love.” That is what Befriending Your Body™ is all about.