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Kerrie Lee Brown: World Leading Authority On Health & Wellness Reveals Her Workout, Diet & Beauty Secrets

Namita Nayyar (WF Team)
KERRIE LEE BROWN

Kerrie Lee Brown

Kerrie Lee Brown is a speaker, journalist, radio host, judge and author. She has a passion for health and wellness that spans almost two decades. Her prior roles and savvy perspective on the fitness industry has positioned Kerrie as a sought-after spokesperson and expert on maintaining a healthy, balanced lifestyle. Through her media work and personal experiences, she has spoken at numerous women’s events, camps, schools and business symposiums about the importance of keeping it all in perspective and making your health a number one priority.

Kerrie is the previous editor-in-chief of Oxygen Women’s Fitness, founding editor of American Health & Fitness magazine, and most recently, the executive editor of Today’s Parent. She has written hundreds of articles on weight-loss, nutrition, beauty, active aging, Pilates, motivation, parenting and marketing; and has interviewed some of the fittest celebrities in Hollywood and professional athletes. Today, she is an avid freelance writer and editor (with articles published in over 150 magazines), motivational speaker, and heart-health ambassador.

Kerrie has been featured on various radio and talk shows including: The Marilyn Denis Show, CityNews, Breakfast Television, The Montel Williams Show, Extra!, 680 News, The Performance & Nutrition Show, Fit & Firm TV, and Flare TV. She has also been a guest judge at international fitness and modeling events – as well as a cast member in Ed Mirvish’s stage production “Needfire” in Toronto, Canada.

Other career highlights include launching new consumer magazines, working for the biggest media-communications company in Canada, organizing the largest Pilates Class for the Guinness Book of World Records, appearing in television commercials, and writing a book entitled A Woman’s Guide to Rapid Weight Loss which retells her personal weight-loss journey. The book received accolades throughout North America in the fitness category.

Shortly after, Kerrie moved to the corporate world where she held the position of vice-president communications for a global health and wellness company overseeing the marketing and communications function.

Kerrie has a Bachelor of Arts, Communication Studies and Political Science from Wilfrid Laurier University in Waterloo, Ontario, and a Bachelor of Applied Arts, Journalism from Ryerson University in Toronto. She also studied International Relations and Foreign Policy at Moscow University in Moscow, Russia, and was a National Model United Nations Delegate at Harvard & McGill Universities.

Kerrie Lee Brown Work History

Publishing & Communications Professional

Journalist & Magazine lead

Book Author

A Woman’s Guide to Rapid Weight Loss (Amazon ©2006)

Cast Member

Needfire, Royal Alexandra Theatre, Mirvish Productions (Toronto, Canada)

Kerrie Lee Brown Special Appearances

All content on this site is copyright of Women Fitness and no part of any article found on this site may be reproduced without an express permission and highlighted, do follow link crediting http://www.womenfitness.net/ or preferably the original page as the source. This interview is exclusive and taken by Namita Nayyar President womenfitness.net and should not be reproduced, copied or hosted in part or full anywhere without an express permission.

All Written Content Copyright © 2016 Women Fitness

Kerrie Lee Brown a world leading authority on health and wellness. She is a speaker, journalist, radio host, judge and author. She is in conversation with Namita Nayyar, President Women Fitness.

Ms. Namita Nayyar: You have selected a profession of health and fitness journalism that requires a lot of hard labor, correct knowledge about different health conditions and excellence in updated information about fitness industry to finally succeed, how do you achieve that?

Ms. Kerrie Lee Brown: Physical fitness has always been a big part of my life. Growing up I played various sports and competed at a high level in Irish dancing—eventually becoming a National champion and 3x representative at the Worlds’ in Ireland. I learned at a young age that hard work, discipline, and pushing myself physically and mentally would ultimately reap rewards—and that’s how I started to live my life. When I entered the work force after graduating from journalism school, I landed my first editorial position at a fitness magazine, which couldn’t have been a better fit for my interests and lifestyle.

Health and wellness has been an integral part of my life both professionally and personally. In the fitness industry (as with any industry being reported on) it is essential to stay on top of the latest advancements and health discoveries—a journalist’s job is to be relevant and informed in order to maintain trust with readers. I’ve been fortunate enough to do this over the years through my various roles in publishing and corporate communications—all have required countless hours of research with industry professionals and experts. But the real learning comes from real-life experiences.

Ms. Namita Nayyar: You have a Bachelor of Arts, Communication Studies and Political Science from Wilfrid Laurier University in Waterloo, Ontario, and a Bachelor of Applied Arts, Journalism from Ryerson University in Toronto. You also studied International Relations and Foreign Policy at Moscow University in Moscow, Russia, and you were a National Model United Nations Delegate at Harvard & McGill Universities. How has this varied and spectacular set of educational background helped you in becoming one of the most accomplished female with a career and an authority in health and fitness journalism, radio and television talk shows?

Ms. Kerrie Lee Brown: Before I decided to become a journalist—my plan was to pursue a career in law. However, after spending time studying abroad, I gained a new perspective on what I wanted to do in life. I realized I wanted to reach people in a different way. I wanted to write stories that would impact people and make a difference in their lives. During my time in Moscow, I was mugged by the militia (police), and I witnessed a very different culture to my own. It was a turning point in my life. When I got home, I decided to complete a second major in Communication Studies, which led to my interest in Media Studies. News reporting became my passion as it provided an outlet for me to research unfamiliar topics and bring awareness to the public. After a long, intense application process, I was accepted into a prestigious Journalism school in Toronto. Not only did we get our first “real-life” experience working as junior reporters at radio and television stations and publishing houses, but we also learned about the inevitable perils of working in the media field. It was very exciting and the challenge I was looking for. I decided to specialize in the Magazine Stream (because I’ve always loved magazines and long writing was my preferred writing style), however I did spend ample time studying broadcast, radio and newspaper reporting as well. My portfolio began to grow and I started offering my services as an assistant editor and features writer at a prominent city magazine—which led me to becoming the entertainment reporter for a national radio show. All of my experiences working in the media have led me to where I am today and my education has played an integral role. But there has been a lot of change in media over the past few years—especially in regards to online platforms and the demise of print. I am still learning. We all are.

Ms. Namita Nayyar: What exercises comprise your fitness regime or workout routine you shall like to share?

Ms. Kerrie Lee Brown: When I worked in the fitness industry, I spent a lot of time in LA on set with gorgeous, buff models (men and women) for our cover stories. I also interviewed a lot of high-profile athletes, sport-conditioning coaches and Hollywood celebrities about their exercise and nutrition routines. When I think about it now, it was quite daunting working in such a physically dominant world—but I loved every aspect of what I did as a magazine editor and relished the behind-the-scenes work. I also admired the fact that people in the fitness business were extremely passionate about what they did for a living—whether it was competing on stage in front of thousands of spectators, pushing their bodies to the limits for their sport, or inspiring others to lose weight for health reasons and feel better about their lives. People with passion surrounded me in the boardroom, in the photo studio, at the conventions, and at the magazine interviews. So naturally I was inspired to lift weights regularly (not that it was a requirement for my job—it was just the lifestyle I was living and working in at the time). I would do circuit training 4-5 times a week and cardio in the mornings before I went to the office, or during business trips I would make sure hotels had a gym. I even won an in-house weight-loss contest at work against several other staff.

Several years later I was asked to appear in a national ad campaign for a nutritional supplement company after my first son was born. My weight-loss success story appeared in various magazines and television commercials, which provided me with the opportunity to inspire new moms to gain back their self-confidence after having babies. I have always loved motivating others with their fitness goals and my own personal experience (and struggles) has allowed me to reach many women. However expectations were high for my transformation, so at that time I was doing cardio twice a day and weight training with my trainer every day.

Today I have more realistic goals to suit my lifestyle (now that I have two children). I hit a cardio combat (kickboxing) class or Zumba class each morning—and then Body Pump weight class with a trainer (each workout consists of targeting all large body parts-low weight/high reps) at least 2-3 times a week. I stay very active on a regular basis, and enjoy hiking and running the stairs at Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Denver, Colorado (where we live now) with my husband and kids.

All content on this site is copyright of Women Fitness and no part of any article found on this site may be reproduced without an express permission and highlighted, do follow link crediting http://www.womenfitness.net/ or preferably the original page as the source. This interview is exclusive and taken by Namita Nayyar President womenfitness.net and should not be reproduced, copied or hosted in part or full anywhere without an express permission.

All Written Content Copyright © 2016 Women Fitness

Ms. Namita Nayyar: Do you take some special diet or have a strict menu that you follow to remain healthy and physically fit?

Ms. Kerrie Lee Brown: I try to eat as clean as possible—however I am also very realistic. My family knows the importance of balanced meals and staying hydrated for increased energy and muscle recovery. I eat a lot of salads, nuts, and bright-colored fruits and vegetables with antioxidants. I also take daily vitamins including magnesium, iron, omega-3 etc. to ensure my heart health and circulation.

Ms. Namita Nayyar: You have glowing skin and gorgeous hair. Do you take some kind of skin treatment to keep it young and glowing and secondly what you do to your hair to make them look so stunning?

Ms. Kerrie Lee Brown: I am a huge advocate of taking off my makeup at night before bed. It’s essential for the skin to breathe while you are sleeping and recuperate from daily toxins. I am pretty minimal when it comes to makeup regimens but I do use a night cream and eye gel roller to eliminate fine lines and wrinkles. I always use a good moisturizer during the day and only wear foundation on special occasions—and never to the gym!

Ms. Namita Nayyar: Advice and motivational words for our inspiring and budding women health and fitness journalists and broadcasters who all are your fans, what should they do for their climb to the ladder of success in health and fitness journalism?

Ms. Kerrie Lee Brown: I love speaking to aspiring journalists and health/fitness writers. I like to set realistic ideals of what the media is really like behind-the-scenes and the level of competition. The exciting thing about working in the media is that it can lead to other incredible opportunities. Knowing that I’ve helped someone land a job in the industry, or giving advice on what to expect or what not to expect in a particular role is very satisfying to me. I still have many former staff members come to me for guidance on article queries, book reviews, job interviews and recommendations on advancement. I hope that in some small way I’ve been able to help them achieve their professional goals and encouraged them to make new ones to strive for. My ultimate advice to young journalists is: “Always be realistic about your goals, take one step at a time, and keep things in perspective—the same can be said for this business as in life. And value the time with your mentors. Learn from them and then teach others.”

Ms. Namita Nayyar: You found out that you were born with a heart condition called PSVT. You had surgery to rectify your heart’s electrical problem. How you were able to overcome such a physical medical setback and what advice you can give to fellow professionals in a similar situation?

Ms. Kerrie Lee Brown: Finding out I had a heart problem was a huge wake-up call. It never crossed my mind that anything like this would ever happen to me as I was not overweight, not a smoker and very active. Although my problem was something I was inevitably born with, it was getting progressively worse (and more obvious) as I got older. I believe stress played a huge role in this. The biggest lesson I’ve learned is to listen to my body when it tells me to slow down. I am certainly more aware of the power of the heart now—not only as a vital organ but its capacity to gage when your body is at a tipping point mentally and physically. I was unaware of the daily stressors in my life—especially at work—and I’ve since learned to control these situations and say No when necessary. Everyone is different and our bodies are unique, but when our body starts to show signs of shutting down, my advice is to stop and listen and get help.

Ms. Namita Nayyar: Tell us more about your book entitled “A Woman’s Guide to Rapid Weight Loss” which retells your personal weight-loss journey?

Ms. Kerrie Lee Brown: “A Woman’s Guide to Rapid Weight Loss” is my personal weight-loss transformation story of losing 35 pounds after my first baby. That time of my life was a double-edge sword—I was at the top of my career (editor-in-chief of Oxygen Women’s Fitness magazine) and I was elated at having my first child; however I felt I needed to prove to myself that I could lose the weight on my own as fast as possible. The book documents what I did to achieve this and soon a television commercial and several appearances followed. I was extremely proud of myself for reaching my goal, but it was very tough to do with a newborn baby. Luckily my husband and family were a wonderful support system and I have inspired hundreds of women around the world to take time to focus on their own needs, wants and desires as well. After all, my motivation was my newborn son—I wanted to be healthy and happy for him.

All content on this site is copyright of Women Fitness and no part of any article found on this site may be reproduced without an express permission and highlighted, do follow link crediting http://www.womenfitness.net/ or preferably the original page as the source. This interview is exclusive and taken by Namita Nayyar President womenfitness.net and should not be reproduced, copied or hosted in part or full anywhere without an express permission.

All Written Content Copyright © 2016 Women Fitness

Ms. Namita Nayyar: You help spread awareness about heart attacks and strokes as well as the importance of listening to your body. Tell us how you have been able to achieve and quench your thirst of giving back to the society through this endeavor of yours?

Ms. Kerrie Lee Brown: I think it’s important to give back to the community when you have the means (and experiences) to do so. My heart issues have given me the opportunity to speak to women’s groups and at media conferences; as well as appear on various News channels and morning lifestyle shows to promote Heart Health Awareness Month. Without sounding too cliché, I truly believe that my wake-up call was one of the best things that could have happened to me. I have grown physically, mentally and spiritually from my experiences and I am honored to be able to spread my story to help other women realize the facts about heart disease and what stress can do to the body. I have been asked to write about my experience for various national magazines including Chatelaine and Best Health and have reached thousands of female readers with my message.

Put it this way, if the ultimate goal is to be happy and healthy for our families, jobs, loved ones, and ourselves—then not listening to our bodies is one of the worst things we can do. I learned this first-hand. The mind-body connection is extremely powerful and my new role is to help serve the community the best I can with my message about health and wellness.

Ms. Namita Nayyar: You have been on many radio and talk shows including: The Marilyn Denis Show, CityNews, Breakfast Television, The Montel Williams Show, Extra!, 680 News, The Performance & Nutrition Show, Fit & Firm TV, and Flare TV. Tell us about an experience about anyone of them you still remember and wish to share?

Ms. Kerrie Lee Brown: I have been very fortunate to appear on various television shows and radio programs throughout my career—as well as a guest judge at several international modeling competitions. I remember all of my appearances as they have included discussions on everything from health and fitness, weight loss, stress solutions, parenting tips, beauty and nutrition, celebrity interviews and heart-health. One of the most memorable times was appearing on The Montel Williams Show in New York when I was asked to be on his judging panel for a viewer weight-loss contest. But even more interesting was how I was introduced to Montel in the first place. At the time I was the founding editor and editor-in-chief of the men’s magazine, American Health & Fitness (AHF). The magazine was the first of its kind to feature top sports professionals and celebrities for their fitness and athletic endeavors. We featured Montel on our cover not only because he was extremely fit for his age but also because he had inspired millions of people by talking about his illness Multiple Sclerosis (MS). Montel soon became a friend of mine after the shoot, and when I was invited on his show it was like things had come full circle. He was (and still is!) a true inspiration.

Ms. Namita Nayyar: You are leading women health and fitness journalist and broadcaster, TV presenter, motivational speaker, radio host, judge, author, work-life coach and a mother. How are you able to manage such a remarkable multi-dimensional, multi-faceted lifestyle?

Ms. Kerrie Lee Brown: It’s true, I have been all of these things, and I am proud of all that I have achieved in my career and personal life. However these titles have also come with a lot of hard work and struggle. When I look back I realize that managing such a prominent CV has come with certain setbacks too. Each new experience has allowed me to learn more about who I am and what I can achieve if I put my mind to it—and therefore “managing” to uphold all of these credentials often means living an unbalanced life. Today I am more aware of my priorities and I have learned to accept what life has thrown at me. I love what I do and that’s very important to stay happy and healthy. Each role has taught me something.

Also, I believe that everything happens for a reason and I intend on using these experiences to better myself and inspire others. Today I am at a new stage in my life. My family and I have moved from Canada to the United States and I’m focusing on new professional goals like writing my next book series and joining a motivational speaking tour. I am also at a stage where my health and family are the most important and my career aspirations have changed, for the better. I am hopeful that my future projects continue to inspire others to lead the lives they deserve filled with balance and happiness.

Ms. Namita Nayyar: What you wish to say about the website Womenfitness.net and message for its visitors?

Ms. Kerrie Lee Brown: In this digital age, it is so important to have reputable resources online for women to seek health and fitness information. This site has a breadth of knowledge in these areas and allows women from all walks of life to share their stories and inspire others. Whether you’re a celebrity, professional or stay-at-home-mom, you can learn something from those featured on Womenfitness.net.

Kerrie Lee Brown contact information:

Kerrie would love to hear from Women Fitness visitors!

Women Fitness Team thanks Kerrie Lee Brown for giving her valuable time for this interview and quenching the thirst of her fans to know more about her and made this interview happen.

Photos by: Paul Sewitt

All content on this site is copyright of Women Fitness and no part of any article found on this site may be reproduced without an express permission and highlighted, do follow link crediting http://www.womenfitness.net/ or preferably the original page as the source. This interview is exclusive and taken by Namita Nayyar President womenfitness.net and should not be reproduced, copied or hosted in part or full anywhere without an express permission.

All Written Content Copyright © 2016 Women Fitness

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