Kirsty Strandberg, 34, a UK native, is a personal trainer, health coach, pre/postnatal trainer, and a hormone health specialist running her business Got Vitality. She started working with women from the beginning of her career and decided to specialize in helping mothers after giving birth. Kirsty is the mother of a one-year-old and a three-year-old having moved to Stockholm from Dubai when during her first pregnancy.
I got to know Kirsty through online platforms joining her Facebook group The Mum´s Village where she shares postpartum exercises, power food recipes, and organizes live videos. I was beyond amazed that another female in the same shoes as me – with two tiny kids at home managed not only to find the energy for exercising and making her own power food but also to share her motivation with other females!
We met one sunny afternoon downtown Stockholm. Glowing with her lovely smile and energy, she opened up about her journey to becoming a strong confident female she is today.
Have you always thought of becoming a personal trainer?
I was actually studying Mathematics both during my Bachelor’s and Master’s. I started my career in Ernst & Young in Oman but felt I wanted something different, so I came back to London to become a teacher and went to Dubai to work. I obtained my personal training degree from a UK company based in Dubai and the health couch profession through the New York-based Institute for Integrative Nutrition. Recently I just obtained a hormone health specialist diploma!
How do you manage to find time for studies with two small children and running your own company?
My husband is a pilot, so I am used to being a lot on my own since the beginning of our relationship. With the first child, it worked fine due to a strict routine. It was much harder when our second child was born, I tried to find time whenever I could, therefore, my business is like my third baby. I really wanted to start this company and I am proof that it can be done. One should have the systems and strategies in place. I feel like I had to go through it myself to be able to help others in my work, and I never had a nanny. But it is never perfect! I do not think balance exists, it is more harmonious.
I truly believe it is important to teach women to love their bodies after giving birth, their new selves.
Could you say that starting a business is possible when having small children?
One has to be really passionate about it to make it work and have “Why” behind it no matter the industry. For me it was never about money, it was always my lifestyle. I am currently rebranding as I want to reach a lot more women. I also started a Facebook group to share my knowledge with those interested.
Do you feel that the type of your business – helping other females – was your
motivation?
Absolutely, I get such a hype from helping another person. When I start my health coaching program with a client we begin with a six months period. We track all the achievements and progress. Seeing how the woman felt in the beginning and how much she grew during the program is very inspiring. Their success is the best reward for me. Sometimes my clients start the emails saying: “Maybe this is too much information, but…” There is no such thing as too much information after having a baby, our bodies and minds change completely! In the tough moments, someone would reach out to me saying how much I helped them and how much they appreciate my work. This always kept me going – realizing the importance of what I do.
I never had a problem with lifting up other women.
Is it difficult to set up your own business in a foreign country?
It took me some time to understand the whole tax system, I kind of had to learn it the hard way. I feel it is my responsibility to learn the language, but I get by. We like living in Sweden and will probably settle here. I want my children to have a home base, as well as to know English culture. It is sad that they will not have a relationship with my mother as I had with my grandmother growing up, but that is the price to pay when living an international lifestyle.
Has the pandemic affected your business?
My husband lost his job due to the pandemic, so it has been more challenging financially. I had a few people living abroad pause as they were working less which decreased their income. I find it quite sleazy to sell now during the pandemic. I was told that health specialists will be very important after it passed, but we will see what the future brings. I hope for the best, of course.
How are health coaches perceived in different countries where you lived?
In Dubai, there are probably ten times more health coaches than in Sweden, mainly as people have so much more disposable income due to great salaries. Also, it is very trendy to have a health coach there, so the competition is pretty high. In Egland, the market is still growing. In Sweden many are interested, but still a bit hesitant. The expatriats are very curious, as probably I am someone they can relate to.
When I got pregnant I felt that it was a sign and a universe was telling me to slow down.
Where do you get the energy yourself?
I think my mother has always been a great role model for me. My parents separated early and it was only me and my mother for a while, later my brother was born, but my mother was pretty much-taking care of us on her own. I remember her studying in the evenings and always being very active. Being a mother now I know they will be looking up to me and I want to teach them the importance of always staying true to oneself.
Is it important for women to support each other?
I never had a problem with lifting up other women. I feel there is some worry in promoting another female as she might end up as a competitor to oneself. I think each of us has our own individual journeys and strengths, something to give to one another, therefore female mentorship is very important.
I get upset about the posts selling “get your abs back in 4 weeks postpartum.” They spread the message that “having abs” is the definition of being fit and attractive.
How has motherhood changed you?
After getting married I had a new definition of myself, when I became a mother it also added a new role for me having my family members telling me who I am. But I often stop for a minute and think what is it that I really want myself. Becoming a mother has calmed me down. I was actively training for a triathlon waking up at 3 am in the morning to work out, as it was so hot in Dubai. I would wake up, weigh my food, count calories, and exercise. That was my life! When I got pregnant I felt that it was a sign and a universe was telling me to slow down. It made so much more patient and calmer listening to my inner self. I stopped running, but continued going to the gym until 36 weeks of pregnancy. That might be quite challenging when one is used to training intensively. “Am I going to listen to my body or am I going to push through the pain?” I realised I should stop, because it was not only about me anymore, but also about the baby inside.
How does your exercise routine look now after having children?
I started training for triathlon again, but when the races were canceled due to pandemic. If there is no goal, I do not want to be away from my children training. I am doing some ballet classes and home workouts. It is natural for my kids to see me working out. I met my husband through triathlon as well, so it is great that we both share a passion for an active lifestyle.
You post many healthy food recipes, is that a passion of yours as well?
When I was in my early twenties studying at university I was anorexic. I only survived on eating Skittles and Haribbo being obsessed with the perfect body image. I would get on scales every morning checking my weight. Prior to that I was eating a lot of carbs and received some harsh comments about that, I did not have the knowledge about healthy nutrition. These comments from coursemates and housemates were really hurtful. I always had a sweet tooth and after battling anorexia my skin was really problematic, many things were not right. I realized that if I still want to enjoy sweets I have to find an alternative. I found some recipes and started making my own nutritious desserts knowing they do not harm my body.
What is your opinion about social media and how does it affect body image for mothers after giving birth?
There is a lot of content out there on social media that is neither aspirational nor motivating. Sometimes it just makes you feel bad about yourself because you don’t look like the perfect image on the screen. Everyone is so individual and looks different pre and post babies, and we should embrace that. I get upset about the posts selling “get your abs back in 4 weeks postpartum.” They spread the message that “having abs” is the definition of being fit and attractive. After giving birth females need support and help to get back into exercise safely. I am one year postpartum and I do not have the body I had and I never will, and that is absolutely okay! Yes, it was a journey to acceptance and I truly believe it is so important to teach women to love their bodies, their new selves.
Thank you, Kirsty, for this inspiring interview! Check out her webpage Got Vitality and reach out to her for her amazing coaching.
* Pre/postnatal – the period before and after giving birth.
