Ellie Hoad Shares Her Fitness Secrets and Marathon Journey on Instagram

Steph Claire Smith loves being a mother, but in addition to motherhood, she’s an entrepreneur, and even a co-host for @kicpod + KICBUMP! She embraces the health and wellness journey, and uses social media to inspire others to do the same. “Some running tips from someone who never thought they’d say they could enjoy a run. When I tell you I used to HATE running, I mean I really hated it. I’d get to 200m and wonder why I’m bothering and hate the fact that I was already struggling. So here’s what I’ve learned and what helps me actually enjoy going for a run! 1. Needing to walk or take a break doesn’t mean the run doesn’t count. 2. Your pace does not matter - stop comparing it to those you see online. 3. Following a program helps you build up to your goal distance safely. 4. Starting your journey with friends or a community helps so much with motivation!! 5. Don’t worry about what your body looks like as you run, it’s gonna jiggle, it’s gonna move, it’s gonna get red and sweaty,” she said on Instagram. Here’s what Steph does to maintain her fit physique.

1. She pushes through difficult workouts

She pushes through tough workout routines. “Not every session is going to feel amazing! There are so many factors that can come in to play when it comes to how we feel doing during any given workout. There were many points throughout my workout today where I questioned if I should just stop right there and then and walk out. And if this was because of energy levels, I would have! I think it’s important to tune into our bodies like that… But I knew I had the energy, and I’ve committed to doing three sessions a week for this challenge,” she said on Instagram. “I just had to get out of my own head, and stop worrying about having to regress or rest, I took the pressure off of the workout needing to look a certain way and just kept at it. I’m so glad I got it done, and I’m proud of myself for sticking to my goal! Don’t let these sessions define the next! You’re incredible.”

2. She sets a good example

She loves being a mom, but doesn’t feel guilty prioritizing her health and setting a good example for her child. “Love him seeing his mumma put in time for herself. Finally got my first workout done of our Express Lift Challenge 💪🏼 We were shooting new Kic workouts last week, plus I was a lil under the weather so didn’t want to push it by visiting the gym, but I finally got to it today and even better… I got to get it done in our new STAX. X Kic collection 🤩Challenge enrollments are still open if you’re wanting to start our gym challenge with me!! If you’re not already subscribed to Kic head to the link in my bio 😘 Lettssss go,” she said on Instagram.

3. She’s strong

She wants to inspire others to focus on building strength. “The workouts that have made me stronger than ever are here and I’m so excited for you to try them. For those of you who get into their first Express Lift workout of the challenge, please let me know your thoughts! I can’t wait to kick butt together for the next 8 weeks,” she said on Instagram.

4. She does pilates

She practices pilates to stay in shape. “A question I get asked a lot is ‘what is your fav training style’ and I always get stuck because I think it’s fairly even between Pilates and strength training in the gym! I think what I love about our Pilates in the app is that I can squeeze them in at home when Harvey’s watching the tv,” she said on Instagram. According to Better Health, “the health benefits of Pilates include improved flexibility, increased muscle strength and tone, particularly of your abdominal muscles, lower back, hips and buttocks (the ‘core muscles’ of your body), balanced muscular strength on both sides of your body, enhanced muscular control of your back and limbs, improved [stabilization] of your spine, [and] improved posture,” to name a few.

5. She's confident

In a video she posted on Instagram, she shared photos of athletes with bodies of all shapes and sizes, captioned “just a reminder that elite female athletes look like this!! So beautiful, strong and talented in their own unique ways and we’re here for it. This is your reminder that ‘healthy’ doesn’t look one way.” She wants to spread the word about the importance of confidence and mental strength to her online community.

Ellie Goulding is packing a punch – in her workout ensemble. In a new social media post the singer shows off her incredible body – and impressive strength – during a grueling boxing workout session. “No cap,” she captioned the Instagram video, tagging her trainer, Ruth London. What do you need to know about the Lights singer’s go-to workout and everything else she does to stay fit? Celebwell has the answers.

1. Ellie Has Been Boxing for Many Years

Goulding has been boxing for years. “I start my day training at the gym,” she told People. “Somehow I’m a natural at boxing. Who knew? I feel like constantly sweating is good for getting toxins out. I like to drink and do things that a lot of women do, and that helps counteract that.”

2. She Feels Empowered

The singer explains that the workout also empowers her. “I hit hard,” Goulding added. “The idea of being physically strong and capable of defending myself gives me a real sense of empowerment, which is so different from the profound vulnerability I have when I’m by myself writing music.” She makes sure to hydrate during her grueling sessions. “I sweat like crazy,” she said.

3. Boxing Is a Great Workout for Several Reason

Why is boxing a good workout? Harvard Health maintains that boxing is a great way to build strength, improve balance, posture, hand-eye coordination, boost mood and endurance, and helps increase alertness. "This kind of boxing has many health benefits because it constantly requires you to think, change your position, and change your posture," physical therapist Linda Arslanian, director of rehabilitation services at Harvard-affiliated Brigham and Women's Hospital says."You're swinging your arms, moving the muscles of your arms and shoulders, increasing your upper-body strength. And when you're in the boxer crouch with a wide stance, with your knees slightly bent, you're strengthening your core muscles, back, and legs.”

4. Ellie Also Does HIIT Workouts

Ellie is a fan of high-intensity interval training (HIIT). “I’ll run to Faisal’s class (at Barry’s Bootcamp) in the morning. It’s only about 25 minutes from home and it gets my heart rate up enough to go in and be ready because it’s quite tough,” she told Women’s Health UK. “I’m more of a burst girl than sustained. I like it when the treadmills on dynamic and I do sprints. I prefer using my own body as weight, so press-ups, mountain climbers and burpees.”

5. She Fasts, Eats Mostly Plant-Based, and Avoids Most Carbs

Ellie is all about fasting. “I built my way up to 40-hour fasts over time (started with 12),” Ellie told The Mirror. “It helps blood sugar control and helps fight inflammation – the mother of ALL health problems.” She says she does it “very safely by having a purposefully nutritious food day the day before and after,” she added. “On the fast day, I drink high-grade electrolytes and a LOT of water,” plus tea and coffee. “Fasting is safe and beneficial unless you are diabetic or have serious health issues,” she continued. It gives her “digestive system a break,” she says. She also avoids most animal products. "I eat a lot of things for their nutritional value. The things I love for my taste are sweet things," she told Jessie Ware on her Table Manners podcast.. While she does consume some dairy now, she still doesn’t eat red meat. "I'm all about dairy….I'm not mad about coconut yogurt and all those dairy-free alternatives,” she added. "In the morning, I'll have a messy bowl which is yogurt with lots of goji berries and nuts and I love prunes and dates."

Jaqueline Hooton is a fitness influencer. She makes sure to workout on a regular basis, even on vacation. She recently shared a HIIT workout while on her vacation. Hooton captioned the post, “I always take trainers 👟 @womensbest sportswear, a skipping rope, and a flexible attitude to exercise when I travel ✈️” How does she stay so fit? Read on to see 5 ways Jaqueline Hooton stays in shape and the photos that prove they work.

1. She Does High-Intensity Interval Training

In her Instagram post, Hooton is seen doing an HIIT circuit. She captioned the post, “Here’s a quick and effective summer ☀️ HIIT workout which makes use of steps, a skipping rope, and bodyweight moves.” Harvard Health states that HIIT has a lot of benefits. “HIIT can help to decrease body fat, increase strength and endurance, and improve health outcomes, but it is not necessarily better than other exercise formats. Its main appeal is that it can achieve similar fitness and health benefits in a shorter duration, and that it includes periods of rest.”

2. She Runs

Hooton is seen running in her Instagram post. This has a lot of benefits. ACE Fitness states that running has a lot of mental benefits. “Running for two weeks reduced symptoms of depression in a study published in the journal Cortex; even a 10-minute session on the treadmill was shown to improve someone’s mood, research in Nature found. When researchers compared the mental health of runners and non-runners, they found that runners had lower stress and greater psychological well-being, according to a review published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. Just 15 minutes of running improves memory, a study in the journal Psychological Reports reported, and it can make you more cognitively flexible, meaning you can adapt and switch gears more easily, according to research in Frontiers in Human Neuroscience.”

3. She Works Her Legs

Hooton makes sure to do leg workouts. She shared some of her favorites in this Instagram video. Hooton captioned the post, “📌 The workout: 2️⃣ Sets. 6️⃣0️⃣ seconds rest between sets. 8️⃣ - 1️⃣2️⃣ repetitions of each exercise. ⚪️ Sit to stand. ⚪️ Split squat (modify depth as needed). ⚪️ Seated leg extension. ⚪️ Seated straight leg raises. ⚪️ Single leg calf raises. ⚪️ Hip rainbows. ⚪️ Glute kickbacks. ⚪️ Elevated glute bridge.”

4. She’s Consistent

Hooton makes sure to stay consistent when it comes to her fitness. She talked about this in the caption of this Instagram post. “Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to be consistent. 🙅🏻‍♀️Fitness is not a 12 week transformation 👧🏻👩🏻👩🏻‍🦳👵🏻 It’s a lifelong journey. And you’re never too old 👵🏻 and it’s never too late to start, so start now ⏰ (if you haven’t already).”

5. She’s Comfortable With Herself

Hooton has a lot of confidence in her body. She talked about this in the caption of this Instagram reel. “When you realise you don't need a beach body, You need a body that can get you to the beach! There’s nothing like holidaying on a Greek Island 🏝️ to make you appreciate what functional fitness means! The beaches are beautiful, but most require a steep climb up down and up again to reach them. All this in 34 °C heat ☀️ several times a day, whilst I alternate between beach, swimming pool, my infinity pool room, and forays to find food. So yeah, I’m pleased my legs have the strength 💪 to navigate what feels like a million steps a day, and my lungs 🫁 and cardiovascular system 🫀can keep up!”

Keely Hodgkinson, a rising star in track and field, has made waves on the global stage. After winning silver in the 2021 Olympics, she clinched gold in the 800 meter at this year's Olympics, solidifying her status as a top athlete. Before her triumphant performance, Hodgkinson graced the pages of ELLE UK, sharing stunning photos from the shoot on Instagram with the caption, "This was so fun." Curious about how she maintains her peak physical condition? Read on to discover five ways Keely Hodgkinson stays in shape and see the photos that prove her methods work.

1. She Does A Split 800 Meter

Hodgkinson shared her training secrets with Runner’s World. She says that she splits the 800 meter up. “There's a session I do, which is usually the last one I’ll run before a championships. It’s a split 800m, so a 400m, 30 seconds’ rest, then another 400m. The outcome is very accurate in terms of telling you what you’re capable of. When I was at the Tokyo Olympics, I did that session beforehand and I split a 1:55.3, then ended up running 1:55.8. So it’s a really honest reflection of where you’re at.”

2. She Trains 7 Days A Week

Hodgkinson trains 7 days a week. She shared her routine with Runner’s World. “So, it’s cross training on Mondays. On Tuesdays, I’ll do a session on the cross trainer and then I’ll do a track session. Wednesdays involve a 30-minute run and 40 minutes on the cross trainer, plus some gym work. Thursdays are similar to Tuesdays, but with maybe more of a tempo-type session. I always have Fridays off, then Saturdays in the winter will be a longer session and in the summer a track session. Sundays in the winter will be hills, and in the summer I’ll do a 15-minute run.”

3. She Eats A Pre-Race Breakfast

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Hodgkinson shared her favorite pre-race breakfast with Runner’s World. “It’s probably one of those questions where nearly every athlete has the same answer, but I’d say porridge – and I always have a cup of tea. Then white toast. I’m usually the athlete who doesn’t have the snacks, although there will often be some granola lying around somewhere.”

4. She Enjoys Eating Healthy

Hodgkinson revealed to Runner’s World that she actually enjoys eating healthy. “I eat pretty well. I’m not really a person who craves takeaways or things like that, because they just don’t make me feel very good. My friends will say, ‘Let’s get a Chinese,’ but I’d rather just eat a chocolate bar, to be honest – that’s my thing. So I eat pretty well, not so much because I have to, but more because I like to. I eat a lot of fruit and vegetables and good carbohydrates, but there will always be a chocolate bar, too. I think I need the calories, to be honest.”

5. She Isn’t Bothered By What Others Think

Hodgkinson isn’t bothered by what others think of her. She told ELLE UK, “You can’t get overly bothered about what everyone else is doing. I think that’s good [to remember] in every aspect of life, whether it’s how you look or what job you have – if you’re just comparing, you’re going to be miserable.”

Casey Samsel is sharing some insight into her approach to fitness. In a new social media post the influencer and trainer flaunts her amazing figure while opening up to her followers. “I’m happy to get back to maintenance with my training. I haven’t been in this good of a position since last year🙌🏼 but this is by far my best ever for my overall conditioning and my metabolism alongside of my current aesthetics, but sadly I’m struggling with my mind in the gym right now, here is why 👇🏼I want more out of my fitness journey. All of these things I have done for my body I want to use in my life. I have no other goals but to feel well, sleep well, digest well, and perform well! More rest, more grub. Same amount of focus. Less pressure,” she captioned the post. How does she approach diet, fitness, and self-care? Here is everything you need to know about her lifestyle habits.

1. She Doesn’t Have a “Typical” Training Routine

Casey Samsel/Instagram

When asked about a typical training routine in the gym, Casey revealed she doesn’t have one. “Tough question! No routine is ever the same! My workouts very from heavy, light, fast, slow, with pulses, half-reps, pauses, etc.” she told Hard Fitness.

2. Here Is Her Pre-Contest Diet

Casey Samsel/Instagram

“My pre-contest diet has also changed with every competition. A few things that remain the same are: Water decrease and slow increase along with carb decrease and a sudden increase about two days before the stage. Everything else pretty much remains the same! My pro debut in May will have an entirely different approach to peak week,” she says.

3. She Motivates Herself

Casey Samsel/Instagram

“My motivation is myself. I was never good at much growing up and I certainly found something that I'm good at. Doing well with bikini competitions has made me love the process. All of the dieting, hard workouts, preps, and show preparation keep me motivated! I look up to many fellow IFBB Pro Bikini competitors, but there are also some NPC competitors that keep me inspired to do what I do everyday. One of them is my very own Bikini client and friend,” she told Hard Fitness.

4. Lift Weights and Eat Over Cardio and Starvation

Casey Samsel/Instagram

In a post Casey revealed that she spent her “young adult years” worrying about how she looked. “I drove myself 😵‍💫 with restriction & low-calorie diets, & HOURS of cardio. I skipped class when I hated my body & didn’t want anyone to see me. Instead, I would go for a run until I couldn’t feel my legs & plan a nice little “vaca” from food (for however long I could hold out). This led to a vicious cycle of overeating & “burning it off” for almost 5 months. It destroyed my mind, then destroyed my body,” she said. “I was scared to eat and to stop burning calories. I was terrified of being in my own mind & body for what it would uncontrollably think & do next. It took only less than 5 months of consistent poor eating habits & catabolic activity to completely destroy my mentality, my social life, & my metabolism. My internal health mentally & physically suffered & I spent the next year & a half self-loathing & beating myself up and not knowing how to fix it. I ended up disliking my body more, isolating myself little by little, & losing so much trust for my own judgment in what to do next…Eventually, I had to do the hard stuff. I had to eat more, run less. I had to look my daily fears of food in the eyes & come to the realization that I needed to slowly build confidence in integration of food & calories and ACCEPT what I had done to get to a place where my body had nowhere else to go but up. I had to consume more calories (slowly), I had to re-trust the method (daily), I had to stop thinking about cardio & make sure my body had the energy from the food I was eating in order to heal & adapt to a healthier metabolism. It was HARD, but I committed to having a body I loved on the outside, by revamping what I needed to on the inside. I’m here to tell you that because I have gone through this process of metabolic decline & damage, & gained more body fat, & had less confidence in EVERYTHING than I started with. I went through over a year of metabolic & MENTAL recovery (far longer than the amount of time it took to drag myself to the bottom). A year was a BLIP in time and 1000% worth everything that I possess now. Now I live, eat, & train for sustainability with my future in mind.

5. Hiking

Casey Samsel/Instagram

Casey also hikes. She revealed in her recent post, “we’re hitting the mountains of Colorado in a week! So catch me outside, how bout dat?” According to the National Parks Service, the physical benefits of hiking include:

• Building stronger muscles and bones
• Improving your sense of balance
• Improving your heart health
• Decreasing the risk of certain respiratory problems