At 38, she found herself in the busy world of competing on international stages in bodybuilding events.
Now, with 20 years’ coaching and weight-training experience and a string of competition titles, she is focused on helping women closer to home.
She said: “I found my love for weight training and never looked back.
“I was 38 at the height of my competition career, so quite late, and there were so many other women who were a lot younger than me.”
Following her focus on personal training, she has worked across a number of gyms, before settling at her own studio at the Colchester Business and Seedbed Centre off Wyncolls Road.
She said: “I wanted to create a safe space for women.
“In most regular gyms, I have found that they do not feel confident.
“I also saw there was not a lot of training available for women, and most things you find online do not consider that women need different things than men.
“We have to deal with hormones differently, and especially at an older age, with menopause, there are a lot of factors that play an important part.”
The majority of her clients are between 40 to 65, but Kelly has created a welcoming environment for all women.
Kelly said: “It feels great to see these women grow in their confidence.
“There has been this misconception of when women pick up weights, they are going to look bulky and ‘like men’.
“But that is not the case.
“Weight training is incredibly important and brings so many benefits with it.
“I love offering this space for women to just focus on themselves, for them to feel better and stronger, without having to worry about being judged.
“While I’m not a nutritionist, I also help with tailored food plans.
There are so many diets out there, and women are being told they can’t eat certain things if they want to lose weight, but that is another misconception.”
Kelly offers small classes, as well as one-on-one training, individualised workout plans and food plans.
For more information and to get in touch with Kelly, visit her website or Facebook page.
