20/20 fitness vision for Kesi Gardner
WHETHER IT’S coincidence or fate, fitness enthusiasts and wellness experts have begun filling the gyms for the new year with aim to stay on track to a healthier and happier lifestyle. Long before this new year’s resolution, Kesi Gardner made the decision to transform her life. Now 20 pounds lighter, she shares her story of strength, determination and newfound confidence, as she aspires to lose 20 more.
Gardner tells Lifestyle, “In 2023, I started working with a trainer who goes by the name Pierre Domville of Fit 360 by Pierre. I lost 20 pounds, gained muscle and definition in the process.”
The journey, she says, was a difficult one, and this made her even prouder of the positive outcome. “It was rough at first, hitting at about 180 pounds at a height of 5 feet 1 inches. It was difficult to lose the weight.”
But understanding the mission at hand, she did not rest until she accomplished her goal. “After a while, I was doing more. And it helped that I was seeing results. The thing about seeing results is that you get inspired and motivated to want to push forward.”
Having achieved that incredible milestone in 2023, her aim for 2024 is to step up the ante by integrating health and fitness into her lifestyle and lose an additional 20 pounds.
“I’m making sure I get 10,000 steps a day. I have a Fit Bit that keeps count of that. I’m trying to eliminate bad eating habits. Before, I would eat fast food all the time; I was addicted to sodas. Now, my plan is to drink two litres of water per day as well as working out every morning,” she revealed.
After Christmas, she noticed that certain foods made her feel sluggish. Realising those effects led to Gardner taking a fruits and vegetables approach to life.
“Some days, I fast, depending on how I am feeling as well,” she added. Starting out the day with some quality exercise is great to get the PR specialist moving for the tasks ahead.
Since noticing a plateau in her fitness efforts, she recently incorporated walking in the afternoons. “I feel like being outside and walking really helps me, generally speaking.”
Gardner hasn’t neglected other aspects of her wellbeing. So, in addition to nutrition and exercise, she is working on her stress management.
“I’m also trying to integrate more movement overall; more stretching, hip mobility exercises like pilates and callisthenics. As we age, we lose more muscle mass and bone density, so I will also be doing strength training and lifting heavier weights to help out with that,” she said.
Gardner is of the view that everyone should strive to be better than they were the year before. As this is a rubric she proudly subscribes to, not just in the fitness department, but from a holistic standpoint as well.
“I don’t think it should only be about fitness. It ought to apply to setting life goals too. The new year is a good marker. But we should always strive to improve on ourselves as time goes on,” she highlighted.