Strength Over Stress: Do More than You’ve Ever Done Before
She had already competed in an earlier event.
For the entire ten minutes, first-time Kettlebell Sport lifter Kelly Boaitey finished with 159 repetitions in lifting Jerk, not once setting down the 8 kg kettlebell. But this was just the first lift out of two. When she was going up to the platform for Long Cycle, Boaitey kept telling her teammates that she was already tired and wasn’t sure how she could go on. As the announcer counted down the seconds to begin, she couldn’t complain anymore (or maybe she did a little). At the end of another ten minutes, not once did Boaitey set down her kettlebell. And like the first lift, she had reps in the three-digits, achieving a personal goal of 101.
As a self-employed, single mom of three, fifty-year-old Boaitey is no stranger to stress. Her occupation involves miles and miles of being on the road. Despite needing to be at a different place at different times during the week, Boaitey makes time to go to Innovative Results, Orange County’s Fitness Playground. She said, “I find ways to get there, 3 days a week, at 5 a.m.” For Boaitey, there are definite results each time she shows up to a training session. As Boaitey said,
And with every hour that Boaitey has put in at Innovative Results, she rarely ever says “I can’t.” Her recent success as a novice Kettlebell Sport Lifter is the next level in her health and fitness journey. She admits to surprising herself: “I never imagined to be where I am only because I never tried to go there. I used to say I can’t a lot..but I’ve done things that I’ve far surpassed I could ever do.”
Beat Stress: An Even More Important Reason to Stay Active
Many health and fitness experts have highlighted how stress impacts us all, regardless of whether or not we are at our ideal weight or need to lose a few pounds. In fact, everyday stress can exacerbate health challenges we already struggle with. According to Aaron Guyett, Innovative Results Owner and Head Coach:
“Stress is a part of our life. Either we feel stressed or we feel lazy. Yet we can mitigate the tension of stress by preparing our bodies and minds with the daily routine of exercise. The victory and mindset-improving exercise designed into each Innovative Results workout, prepares our clients to realize their best, and deliver that ‘best’ in every area of their life outside of the gym.”
Boaitey has said that she’s “stayed with Innovative Results for my mental well-being.” In addition, she goes because “as I get older, wanting the core strength to prevent the things that happen to older people. I’m only 50 so better start now.”
Strong Never Gets Old: Uplift Yourself By Lifting Kettlebells
Innovative Results has hosted a few Kettlebell Sport competitions. Innovative Results even has a Kettlebell Sport Team. Earlier this year, Boaitey was a spectator at the Cali Open and cheered on fellow Innovative Results members. Boaitey has said of the experience: “There’s such a diverse group of people that do it – thin, heavy, muscular, not-so-muscular, old, young, really young – there’s something in it for everyone. If you wanted to do it, you could do it….After going to the competition, I’ve not only said to myself I could do this, but I said to myself, I think this would be fun. And it is!”
Besides attending Innovative Results signature hour-long training sessions, Boaitey has added kettlebell lifting progressions to her regimen. She now can perform all the technical lifts in Kettlebell Sport: Jerk, Snatch, and Long Cycle. She has been happy to share her athletic journey. She said, “The world kind of tells you that you’re old for certain things and your body tells you too… but in terms of peers outside of Innovative Results, they ask me ‘So what do you do?’ In the past, I would’ve just said, I go to the gym. But now I say, ‘I do Kettlebell Sport!’”
Stress Loses When You Go Social
There is no room for feeling stress when the social atmospheres of both the hour-long training sessions and the Kettlebell sport competitions are friendly, encouraging, and fun. It’s no wonder that Boaitey commits to improving her quality of life. As she said, “There’s always someone at Innovative Results to encourage you. It’s not just the trainers.” There may be physical challenges. There may be struggle. But everyone overcomes all, together.
The team environment at Innovative Results is a health benefit with immediate results. Not only do workouts engage body and brain, but working out as a team creates connections that are as important to health as strong muscles. People smile. People give high-fives and pats on the back. No one is ever alone in going through something difficult. Getting fit while getting social can only feel good. Feeling fit and healthy isn’t just about physical well-being. It’s also about emotional health. When your body feels good from the outside-in and the inside-out, stress doesn’t stand a chance.
