Now if you are having a hard time figuring out which person is Lori Kelly (in the photo) and which of the others are her children, you are not alone. Lori is on the far right of the picture. Honestly, any photo of Lori and her family and can never decipher where she is in the photo because she looks like one of the kids.

I’ve been friends and Lori’s trainer for a very long time. I feel honored and blessed for both our training sessions and our friendship. Lori has 5 children, they are all terrific kids, smart, and all super athletes, which with a Mom like Lori, I would expect nothing less of her children.

(This is only 4 of her 5 children in the picture)

I have to say Lori Kelly doesn’t show up to a workout without her A-Game. She could be very sleep deprived, hungry, not be able to stay the entire hour of a workout, but she shows up and grinds.

When I asked her what motivates her to get to the gym this was her response:

“Working out truly feels like the one thing I can do for myself. It is just a workout but it so much more than that. Our community we have all built feels like a family. The gym fills two purposes: maintaining my health and filling my soul with a community that cares for one another.”

Lori strength trains with me once a week but now she also does a workout that is like strength/running/and CrossFit all rolled into one. She workouts on several other days as well.

Lori is a geriatric nurse practitioner so she is very familiar with what chronic disease management looks like and that is a motivation for her to stay as healthy as possible. She says her day is always better when she gets a workout in both physically and mentally. Her nights are filled with running kids around to sports and attending all of their games.

I asked her what some of her tricks are to show up to the gym.

“Just try your hardest to stick to your routine and when you do you will find your mood will change and your workout will make you feel so much better.” Lori grew up on a dairy farm, she milked cows from the age 10 and drove trackers by age 12. When I say she brings her A-Game I mean A+-Game SHE WORKS SO HARD IN EVERY WORKOUT NO MATTER WHAT!!

I asked Lori what advice she would give someone who wants to add working out to their life, where would she tell them to start?

“We all start somewhere and that is the hardest step. Just get to the gym!! Some of us get caught up in the chaos of kid activities; remember, we need to put ourselves first. For some of us busy Moms, this workout might be the only time we get to ourselves during the day. You will be a better Mom, friend, and wife if you prioritize YOU.”

A few summers ago I started a run group once a week and Lori carved out time to show up. A Mom of 5 children, no Nanny, has been able to make workout 4-5 times a week, so can you.

I hope Lori is huge inspiration for you, because she is for me. There are many days when I’m not training other people and the last the thing I want to do is workout…and I think of Lori and get my stuff on go!!

Thank you Lori you’re a true rock star!!