A fitness blogger has explained that devoting herself to working out hasn’t just transformed her body — it’s changed her mental state, too.
Kelsey Wells recently posted a pair of transformation photos for her one million Instagram followers, showing what she looked like shortly after giving birth to her son four years ago, compared to how she looks now.
But while the 28-year-old’s physical changes are obvious, in the caption she explained that there have been more changes you can’t see — including how exercise helped her overcome postpartum depression.
Changes: Kelsey Wells shared an Instagram post showing her transformation from shortly after giving birth (left) to now, four years later (right)
Fitness journey: The 28-year-old said that before she started her weight loss journey, agoshe battled depression (left four years ago, center three years ago, right last year)
Fit: She revealed to her one million Instagram followers that when she gave birth to her son Anderson four years ago she was dealing with postpartum depression (pictured May 8)
‘Four years ago this week, I went to a postpartum doctor checkup and broke down in tears as I filled out the survey to assess mental health and postpartum depression and anxiety,’ she wrote in the caption of the photo.
She had just given birth to her son Anderson and was not coping well.
‘I knew I was not okay. As we discussed treatment options, I was told regular exercise might help. So it was four years ago this very week that my fitness journey began, out of desperation. Desperation to help myself cope mentally and desperation to again recognize my body in the mirror.’
Kelsey admits that her mind was not in the right place immediately after her pregnancy, and even though she wasn’t overweight, she didn’t view her body in a positive way or treat it well.
Admitting that it took her a while to get on track with her fitness regimen, she said she stopped and started many times before she finally settled on committing to exercise.
That commitment has changed her life in different ways, and way before she saw physical results, she started to feel them.
Journey: After giving birth four years ago when she was 24 (left), she weighed 145lbs and started her journey ‘out of desperation,’ she said (pictured right 140lbs one year later)
Body image: When she went to a doctor about her depression, he suggested exercise (left eight weeks post-baby, right 84 weeks later)
Changes: Kelsey admitted she stopped and started many times before finally committing to exercise and felt results before seeing them (left nine months pregnant, right 40 weeks later)
‘I slowly began to gain confidence and appreciation for my body and manage my anxiety in a holistic and healthy way. Simply, the more I cared for my body, the more I began to love myself and believe it was worth caring for.
‘I empowered myself through fitness and happened to find my greatest passion in doing so. Those small consistent efforts to exercise and eat well were so hard back then and I failed a lot but I never gave up and the longer I pressed forward the easier it became. I had no idea where life would take me or where my efforts would lead,’ she confessed.
Kesley went on to share that finally, after four long years of hard work, consistency, and ‘believing in and being true to myself, I am who I am and where I today. I am immensely grateful for my struggles and every part of my journey and you should be too’.
‘Live healthy,’ she advised. ‘Take care of yourself. Be true to yourself. Only you can change your life. No one can do it for you, but no one can stop you.’
Many other mothers chimed in on Kelsey’s heartwarming post, saying how much it meant to them that another mother finally spoke up about postpartum depression.
One woman commented, ‘I have been quite depressed during pregnancy and this encourages me to know it is possible to recover.’
Strong: She said that she failed a lot but never gave up and the more she pushed, the ‘easier it became’ (pictured last week)
Inspiration: Many mothers chimed in on Kelsey’s post saying how much it meant to them that another mother finally spoke up about postpartum depression (pictured May 2018)
Advice: ‘Regardless what stage you’re at in life, you can empower yourself through fitness,’ Kelsey admits (pictured May 2018)
‘I feel so close to this story,’ another woman admitted. ‘I know if I can get my butt in gear it’ll help me get my mind right! Very, very thankful you shared this.’
As for how Kelsey even began this journey, she admitted that ten years ago people would laugh in her face if she said she wanted to be into fitness because she was always a ‘girly girl.’
However, she says that now she ‘truly cannot imagine doing anything else. I have never been more “me” and never been so happy as I am now doing what I do and helping women empower themselves through fitness.’
Besides working out, Kelsey also maintains a nutritious lifestyle, and although she makes sure to always eat clean, her diet is not restricting — since she admits to enjoying treats once in awhile.
‘If I really want something, I’ll have it,’ she admits. ‘But the difference is that now I enjoy those foods in moderation, and in addition to – not instead of – the nourishing and nutrient rich food my body actually needs.’