Most of us are no strangers to having a lazy day - or a lazy week. However, when Lyndsey Kelly, a mother from Bolton, Greater Manchester, noticed her ‘lazy days’ were going on for longer than expected, she decided to make a change.

Geared up with renewed motivation, she began her journey of working out to become fitter, only to find herself knee-deep in the world of bodybuilding. Now, she inspires others with her incredible transformation journey.

Kelly’s past lifestyle might sound familiar to many - eating out every week, drinking every weekend, and avoiding the gym. One simple decision changed everything for her. On a typical morning, the 47-year-old mom-of-one decided to hire a personal trainer to work out at 4 am every day, opting for cardio work on a static bike or the Stairmaster, along with heavy dumbbell weight training in the evening.

“I work 12-hour shifts, so I get up at 4 am and do 40 minutes of fasted cardio, then I walk to work and do a weights session in the gym after my shift finishes,” she said, as per Manchester Evening News.

Before long, she found herself in love with bodybuilding. Of course, she admits that the journey was grueling in the beginning.

“At first it was agony, but after a couple of weeks you get into it, and it becomes routine. I quite enjoy it now because I like the structure and the discipline, but that only comes with time,” she admitted.

She also took control of her diet, which made a significant difference in changing her energy levels as well as her physique.

How Lyndsey Kelly changed her diet to transform her life and physique

Kelly’s journey began in January 2024 when she entered an online competition on a whim. The winner of the competition would win three months of training with a personal coach.

Although she lost the competition, the coach, Craig, personally reached out to her, asking if she still wanted to work together, and she said yes.

With Craig’s help, she not only discovered her love for weight lifting and bodybuilding but also made immense changes to her diet. For starters, she swapped her regular chicken kebabs for five balanced, nutritious meals a day.

Every meal was carefully weighed out and proportioned to help her build muscle and lose fat.

Her typical daily meals included-

• Sourdough bread with peanut butter
• Minced meat with potatoes and vegetables
• Chicken and rice
• Chicken wraps
• Oats and yogurt

With Craig’s guidance, she entered the 2026 NABBA North West bodybuilding competition, finishing second in the  Over 45s Open Figure category.

Kelly’s journey is nothing short of inspiring, especially for other busy mums who find themselves hard-pressed for time to work out.

Have you developed a workout routine and diet for yourself yet, or did you take the help of a personal trainer too?

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Written by

Avantika Das

Edited by

Yash Kotak