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Fitness blogger reveals why she wasn't happy at size zero

It would be no surprise to find out that most of us probably have a ‘goal weight’. But apparently it’s not all that it’s cracked up to be.

International fitness trainer Kelsey Wells has revealed she was actually unhappy, and unhealthy, when she reached what she thought was her goal weight.

The 27-year-old mum, who has over 1 million followers, shared an inspiring post about how she realised that being a size zero didn’t mean that she was going to be happy and healthy.

“Once upon a time my fitness goals were to weigh 54kg, wear size 0 jeans, and be thin and NOT muscular, because being muscular, well that’s ‘manly’,” Kelsey wrote on Instagram.

Kelsey reveals how she thought eating healthy meant extreme cleanses and calorie restriction, and admits she dreaded exercising.

Photo: Instagram/Kelsey Wells
Photo: Instagram/Kelsey Wells

The biggest problem? I honestly believed that once I hit those goals, I’d be happy with myself. I’d have confidence,” her post continued.

However when she eventually reached her ‘goal weight’, Kelsey says she still wasn’t happy.

“I still picked myself apart. I still didn’t have a sense of self-love or confidence. I. WAS. NOT. HEALTHY,” she wrote.

Kelsey shared a side-by-side image alongside the post, both taken on the same day, one where she is flexing, and one where she is not.

Once upon a time my fitness goals were to weigh 120 lbs, wear size 0 jeans, and be thin and NOT muscular because being muscular, well that’s “manly”. I thought eating healthy meant extreme cleanses and severe calorie restriction and I viewed exercise solely as a dreaded chore to reach those goals. The biggest problem? I honestly believed that once I hit those goals, I’d be happy with myself. I’d have confidence. . Well once upon another time, it happened! I hit my “goal weight” of 120 lbs! I fit into size zero jeans! Guess what didn’t happen? I wasn’t happy. I still picked myself apart. I still didn’t have a sense of self-love or confidence. I. WAS. NOT. HEALTHY. . Flash forward, these photos were both taken today! Now, I am 140(ish) lbs, wear size 2-8 jeans (depending the brand😂), and am PROUD to be strong and muscular and simultaneously feel more feminine and confident than ever.💪🏼💁🏻‍♀️ I nourish my body with around an abundance of calories a day and I lift weights because I LOVE IT. Best of all I no longer give a damn about those numbers — my focus is on my HEALTH. Physical, mental, and emotional. . Listen to me. FITNESS IS MORE THAN PHYSICAL. If your happiness or sense of self worth is predicated upon physical aesthetics YOU WILL NEVER BE HAPPY. Throw away the crap filling your mind about how your body “should” look and stop viewing exercise as a punishment or food as a source of guilt. Instead of setting goals to look a certain way or be a certain weight, SET GOALS TO BE YOUR BEST SELF. Find a way to move your body you enjoy! Nourish your body with proper nutrition! Work towards being the best version of YOU because healthy looks different on everyone. Focus on taking care of yourself mind, body, and soul. THAT breeds confidence. Treat yourself with love and watch self-love start to grow. . www.kelseywells.com/app . #pwr #pwrprogram

A post shared by KELSEY WELLS (@kelseywells) on Aug 2, 2018 at 9:11am PDT

Now weighing a healthy and strong 63kg, wearing a size 2-8, Kelsey says she is “proud to be strong and muscular and simultaneously feel more feminine and confident than ever.”

“I no longer give a damn about those numbers – my focus is on my HEALTH. Physical, mental, and emotional.

“Listen to me. FITNESS IS MORE THAN PHYSICAL. If your happiness or sense of self worth is predicated upon physical aesthetics YOU WILL NEVER BE HAPPY.”

Kelsey regularly shares motivational and inspirational messages with her followers and says she feels a huge responsibility to be open and honest with her community.

I was surprised how many asked if I had any “before” photos, how long I’ve been on my fitness journey, ect. I’ve been sharing for so long that I forget many of you are still new around here.🤗 . The photo on the left is a few months after I had my son, taken when I first began my fitness journey. Dealing with post-partum anxiety coupled with a very poor mind/body relationship, I was in a dark place and unhealthy not just physically but mentally and emotionally. I had NEVER been a “health” person growing up and never exercised consistently in my adult life. I viewed exercise as the ultimate chore and thought “healthy” eating meant severe restriction or extreme fad diets. I desperately needed to make a change and a doctor suggested daily exercise may help with my anxiety. That seemed far too simple to be true, but within weeks of consistently being active I felt an immense difference. FAR BEFORE I SAW CHANGES IN THE MIRROR I FELT CHANGES IN MY MIND. Self confidence and self-love started to blossom and THAT WAS EVERYTHING. Don’t get me wrong, I STRUGGLED at first. I started and stopped many times. I could not complete one push-up or Leg Raise and felt weak and utterly overwhelmed. But every time I “quit”, I began again. I had NO idea implementing an active lifestyle would lead me to find my true passion in fitness, eventually switching my career to become a professional trainer and pour my heart into writing programing and motivating women all over the world to help them on their own journeys to live healthier and love themselves. But now I cannot fathom doing anything else. And I am SO PROUD of that girl on the left. drowning in anxiety, insecurity, and self-doubt, I made the choice to DO. To work every damn day and help myself no matter how impossible it felt, how long the road seemed, and how heavy the weight on my chest. I know it may not be the popular answer or what you want to hear but THERE IS NO SECRET TO MY “TRANSFORMATION”. There is simply four years of hard work and consistency. Of trying and failing and learning and pushing forward. You don’t need hours in a gym or extreme diets. You need a healthy mindset and to never give up on yourself.🖤

A post shared by KELSEY WELLS (@kelseywells) on Jul 20, 2018 at 7:17am PDT

“Something i’m very passionate about is being open and transparent,” the Instagram star tells Be. “I’ve been blessed with this platform to share my story and influence the lives of many women around the world, but with that comes a lot of responsibility.

“I am beyond grateful to be in a position where I am able to spread my message of healthy living and women empowerment globally.

Every women deserves to take care of herself. Every woman deserves to feel healthy and happy.”

Photo: Instagram/Kelsey Wells
Photo: Instagram/Kelsey Wells

Kelsey often speaks up about the stigma against women doing weights, this latest post another example of her message that building muscle isn’t just for men.

She is constantly amazed by some of the ignorant comments she receives from people that believe weightlifting ‘isn’t feminine’.

“The thinking that weight training is manly is absolutely ridiculous,” Kelsey previously revealed to Be.

“I am very proud to be changing the dialogue because weightlifting is an incredible form of exercise with so many benefits.”

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