Wellness Goddess: Kelly Ripa

"I try to make my heart beat out of my chest, hard core, once a day for at least a half hour. I think that's very important."
                                             -Kelly Ripa

Kelly Ripa is an amazing woman even before considering her interest and dedication to wellness. However, when you look at the entire picture, she is awe inspiring. For this reason, I have chosen her to be our first featured Wellness Goddess.

As co-host of LIVE with Kelly and Michael it is apparent that she is fun, vibrant, intelligent, loving, and above all, healthy. However, even she will tell you that she wasn't always this way. In the Fitness Magazine article "The New Kelly Ripa" she states that she never worked out in her twenties and she mainly relied on the make-up artists and stylists to make her look beautiful on television. But, when she began to realize how exhausted she got, just after playing with her kids, she realized there was a problem and that she should start focusing on her health. So, she began "walking on a treadmill. Then [she] started jogging on a treadmill. Then [she] began jogging outside. Now [she's] running outside, three to five miles, and taking toning classes."

It was a gradual process for her, as it should be for everyone. Many women/girls believe they can start their workouts at running a few miles, but trust me, you cannot. If all you are able to do is walk for a half hour to begin with, then that's would you should do, and you should be proud of it. That is much more than most people can do. Throwing yourself into running is not a way to get fit. It is likely that after day one you would be so sore that you wouldn't want to work out the next day, and therefore end up losing your determination. Take this tip from Kelly, and start gradually. Kelly even said that for her, it took a month or two to begin seeing results.  This is a lifestyle change, and a process, so keep with it and in just a couple short months you will be more happy with how you look and feel.

Just last week, Kelly tweeted this picture, and while I'm sure most of you are entranced by her rock-hard abs, the quote behind them is the part of this photo I would like to concentrate on. It speaks of a different aspect of wellness, rather than just fitness. The Henry Ford quote "Whether you think you can or you cant-you're right,"  emphasizes how important your state of mind is when it comes to something you want to accomplish. If you believe that from the start that you can accomplish it you will, but if you are doubting yourself, then you don't even have a chance of achieving your goal.

Kelly Ripa's apparent endorsement of this statement just goes to prove that she wasn't always as fit as she is now, and she knows dedication is the only way to get there. Each and every one of us can achieve wellness in anyway we want to, as long as we believe in ourselves. I apologize for how cliche that sounds, but mental wellness paired with physical wellness is necessary to achieving success.

By emulating Kelly's fitness techniques and mental stamina we each can achieve anything we want to. Keep Kelly in mind when you are deciding whether or not to work out, or what you are going to cook for dinner and perhaps she can help you. I know she helped give me motivation to go to the gym this week!

If you have any questions or comments please leave one below. Also, here are the links I used to learn more about Kelly Ripa's fitness.
http://www.usatoday.com/story/life/people/2013/12/13/kelly-ripa-shows-of-killer-abs/4010107/
http://www.fitnessmagazine.com/health/superstars/covergirls/the-new-kelly-ripa/