At 37-years-old and having had two children (and raising three), Kim Kardashian West is in the best shape of her life. We nearly have to do a double-take when she posts a new scantily-clad Instagram post, her enviable hourglass figure etched with muscular definition like a Michelangelo sculpture. KKW’s clearly proud of her gains, though recently, a series of Instagram stories praising her own figure fell flat when the beauty mogul encouraged her sisters to tell her how skinny she was, lamenting over being 119 pounds, which, let’s be real, is a very healthy weight for her 5’3 frame. Sister Khloé also uses the word “anorexic” to describe Kim’s physique, a term that should never be used in any other context other than for what it is—an eating disorder.
The backlash that’s hit since the posts has been massive, and rightfully so. Kim’s clearly put a lot of hard work into her current body, an accomplishment that’s obvious without ill-worded and vapid social media posts. So let’s focus on the science behind her new bod: A healthy (and strict) diet plays a huge role, but her sinewy abs and limbs are thanks to rigorous training with Melissa Alcantara (better known as @fitgurlmel). After becoming obsessed with fitness following a difficult period of depression, drinking, and smoking, Alcantara became “obsessed with results” and not only gained impressive muscle mass, but a huge following on Instagram and YouTube. This audience helped her become noticed by KKW and her producers who reached out to the Bronx, NY-based fitness guru to see if she could train Kim in California. She immediately re-located and has been training Kardashian West five to six days a week.
While we’d all love to have FitGurlMel in our back pockets to help us get into incredible shape every day, the reality isn’t so. But the trainer, who also once had to start from scratch after being out of shape, knows the key is taking that first step to get started. So to help you make the leap, KKW shared Alcantara’s best beginner tips on her app.
Up next, take a look at Kourtney and Kim’s fitness and diet routines.
It’s easy to say, “I’ll start tomorrow,” but tomorrow turns into the next day, then the next, until you’ve lost all motivation. That’s why Alcantara says it’s imperative to choose a day and stick with it. To hold yourself accountable, she recommends writing the date down on your calendar rather than making a mental note.