Meet Kellye Stellman | Personal trainer, life coach, gym owner

We had the good fortune of connecting with Kellye Stellman and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Kellye, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
My thought process behind starting my own business was solely driven by the fact that I wanted to help people have a better life. Through health and fitness, people can have a better or the best quality of life which affects every area of their life. By opening a gym I have the platform and avenue to do this. My desire is to help people mind, body, and spirit. This is how I approach my interaction with my clients. I do my best to provide guidance in all 3 of these areas.

What should our readers know about your business?
My gym focuses on the well being of people as a whole. Yes, they come into the gym to get physically fit and healthy. But as a life coach I am able to reach out to them on every level and give guidance and help. I started my business in 2013. It grew quickly and by the end of the year I had to move into a bigger facility. The growth over the years has continued and is beyond anything I ever imagined. When I pursued opening my gym I knew nothing about the process. It took a lot of work and sacrifice to get to where I am today. Working with so many diverse clients with so many different needs I have gained so much knowledge through experience. I have watched many people’s lives transform by losing weight. Which is great. But, I have also watched many health conditions reverse because of what they achieved in my gym. I’ve watched people overcome high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, depression, anxiety, arthritis, auto immune disorders, heart conditions ….just to name a few. Not only have I worked with people without any special needs, I have been able to help people with great physical disabilities. I have trained paraplegics, one that continued on to become a wheelchair racing athlete. I trained a client that had a massive stroke and was completely impaired on his left side. He become much more mobile and his quality of life improved tremendously. I trained a client that was shot in the head and left her with many impairments. Her overall physical abilities improved so much and so did her outlook on life. I trained a client that had a rare condition called “Freidrich’s Ataxia”. Her achievements and accomplishments in my gym and through my training was featured in The Huffington Post, we were guests on Fox and Friends, and other newspapers and magazines. When I met her, the dr. had given her 3 months to live. She had been wheelchair bound for 6 years. Within 6 weeks of our training I had her up walking with my assistance. Her health was improving rapidly. Within 3 months she did a .5 K with my assistance. Within 6 months she did a 5 K with my assistance. The physical ailments of her condition were reversing greatly. She far surpassed the death sentence she had been given. This is what makes what I do so fulfilling. To be able to be a part in helping someone become better and their life to change for the better is my ultimate desire. I think what sets my gym apart is that it isn’t just about losing weight and gaining muscle. It is about hope for a better life. And I want to do all that I can to impart that to my clients.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
My town of residence, Covington, is well known for being “Mystic Falls” in The Vampire Diaries. I would take a guest to Mystic Grill for dinner to start. One of my little favorites in the area is Fox Winery. It is a small vineyard. I would take a guest there for a wine tasting and relaxation. Another favorite of mine is City Pharmacy. The food is wonderful and the atmosphere is pleasing. It once was, years ago, an actual pharmacy. It was called City Pharmacy. I would take my guest on a walk down Floyd Street where there are many gorgeous, historical homes, especially beautiful to see during the Christmas holidays. There is also a ghost tour that is offered that is interesting and fun. We would definitely do that.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I have to give credit to Bobby Stokes. He was my personal trainer at the time I decided to become a personal trainer. During my time as his client he asked me if I had ever considered becoming a personal trainer. He saw something in me that he felt would allow me to be a good trainer. It ignited a fire and passion in me. He taught me so much along my journey in becoming a trainer and I took it with me in my endeavor to open my own gym. Through the years I have applied all that he taught me. Without his encouragement to pursue this career I don’t know if I would have ever been on this path I’m currently on. I also have to give credit to my 4 daughters. They have encouraged me along the way and been there as a backbone and “reason” I pursued this path. I wanted to be an example to them of what hard work and determination can do and where it can get you….as a woman entrepreneur. I want them to see that our dreams can become reality. My oldest daughter is now the fitness nutritionist for my gym.

Website: Kellyefitness.com

Instagram: Kpf_kellyepersonalfitness

Facebook: Kellye Personal Fitness