Spotlight: Empowered Strides!
Happy Friday everyone! I hope you had a lovely week! For today’s blog post, I wanted to share a little bit about my friend Kelly and her blog Empowered Strides. I met her at a blogging event held a few months ago and I instantly knew we had to be friends! Not only does she have an infectious personality but she’s just so darn happy! Everything she does, she does with a smile. A devoted wife and mom, her life took a turn when she suffered a stroke a few years ago. However, while it did knock her down, she didn’t let it keep her down. It makes me smile seeing Kelly’s Facebook and Instagram posts because she’s always loving on her husband and kids, getting a workout in, or encouraging others to do the same! Blogger, Crossfit/Health coach, mom, and wife, Kelly truly does it all!
Kelly, thank you for letting me interview you and letting everyone know about Empowered Strides. Tell me a little bit about you!
Hi! Thank you for having me on your amazing blog, you are fabulous and you inspire me! Well, maybe I can shorten this, I am a wife, mom of 2 and crazy woman who is making the most of my second chance. At the age of 32 which was almost 8 years ago I survived a stroke. After initially waiting 2 days to seek medical attention, then a week in ICU and a year of what I call first recovery I was forced to change my lifestyle. In these almost 8 years I have gently stepped out of my skin from pre-stroke Kelly and am snuggling in to the new Kelly, although it is still a struggle sometimes. My new-found love for fitness, wellness has changed my life and I found that this deep passion came to me with helping others in wellness. With the real push coming from my dads untimely passing, learning so much from my own experience and also going back to school to receive my certified health coaching designation my mission is now to help others on this difficult journey of health.
Kelly and her husband!
Why did you pick the name Empowered Strides?
So, one thing that always stuck with me was that it took and still takes small, teeny tiny steps to make a shift in your health-strides. One day something simple like drinking more water, then the next few days getting additional steps in, or in my case NOT eating that bowl of cereal in the morning was a huge deal. Sometimes just washing my face at night was a tiny step to my overall wellness, you know? Then also the Empowered was just blaring at me. As I began to naturally encourage others, especially women, I noticed that encouragement was more than the key, it was a vital part in shifting their mindset.
Kelly doing what she does best!
I see that you’re super involved with Crossfit, what got you interested in the sport?
I would say I am obsessed in the most healthiest of ways (wink). It’s replaced my smoking habit, and yes through depression and survivors guilt I still smoked even after my stroke. I got involved initially in 2012 when I had completed my first half marathon and was looking to try something different. Back in the day when I was around 10, my Dad who was a Houston Firefighter would lift weights in the firehouse, and I of course lifted with him. So I had already this love of lifting in me that I had forgotten. When I bought a groupon (because I am cheap) to try a local crossfit box I went for it. It was the most fun, torturous, glorious and scary thing I had done and for whatever reason I came back for more. It’s lead to so many great things in my life and my families life and I now hold a Crossfit Level 1 certification and I assist at a fantastic box TTR CrossFit in Spring, Tx. I coach our new athletes in the introduction classes and assist in other classes.
Do you find any correlation in giving it all in your workout and how you view obstacles you face?
Girl yes! Sometimes we as human beings don’t realize just how amazing our own bodies are, how they are meant to move, meant to be strong and more than just sufficient. Crossfit made me realize very quickly that the negative voices can just sit down and shut up. When you walk in, see the task (workout), formulate how to do it, warm up, get nervous, 3.2.1 Go and then boom…you are in the fight, the fight that your mind said there was no way you were going to finish, but you find yourself moving, pushing the negative voices out and finishing the task! You feel proud, you feel fabulous because you just accomplished something you never thought you’d be able to do. I love that because when you face obstacles in life, and you will, it’s comforting knowing that you can put your mind to whatever you want and accomplish it with guts, sweat and maybe a few tears.
Describe this current season of your life in five words.
Season of transition and empowerment.
What’s one Bible verse that you lean on when times are tough?
Isaiah 41:10 Do not fear for I am with you. This one was the verse I kept repeating in my head while in the hospital, and pretty much every day since.
Kelly’s beautiful kids!
If you could go back and tell teenage Kelly anything, what would you say?
Oh wow, so much. And that fact that I have a daughter now really makes this question hit home. I would say, Kelly. Your size does not determine your worth. Be yourself unapologetically and stand up for what you believe in.
May is National Stroke Awareness Month. What’s one thing you would like to share with people?
That a stroke can happen to anyone. I used to think it was for the elderly. So learn the signs and symptoms F.A.S.T. (Facial drooping, Arm numbness, Speech difficulties, Time). Be also aware that sever vertigo is a symptom as well. Don’t be stupid and wait 2 days like I did to seek medical attention. You can make a difference in your life or someone you love.
Isn’t Kelly amazing?! Seriously, she’s such a gem. I want to thank her for taking the time to share a bit about her journey with us. If you’re in the Houston area, I would stop by and catch her doing her thing at TTR Crossfit in Spring. Check our her blog to see more about what she’s passionate about!
