Kate-Emma Portlock Personal Trainer

20 months of breastfeeding… and today this chapter closed for me and my girl 🤍

River never had formula or bottles, every single feed was me. When I was pregnant and people asked if I’d breastfeed, I always said I’d love to try, but I won’t put pressure on myself if I can’t. I never knew my body and heart would carry me this far.

River latched straight away, but wow… breastfeeding has been one of the hardest things I’ve ever done. The pain, the tears, the cracks, the teeth 😵‍💫 the constant adjusting of her latch, the exhaustion that felt never-ending. The nights felt long, the days felt blurry, and sleep deprivation nearly finished me off 😅 Thank goodness for silver cups and my amazing sister-in-law’s advice.

Up until a few months ago, River was still feeding to sleep for nights and naps. Slowly, gently, we reduced feeds until we were down to just one a day. A week ago I had a moment and thought… I’m ready now.

I once hoped I might make it to 6 months. Then 12. Then 18. And suddenly we reached 20 months 🤍

Since finding out I was pregnant in Dec 2023, I haven’t had a single drink, so I think a Baileys at Christmas might be waiting for me (although I’ll probably be drunk after one sip now 😂)

I am so proud of myself for not giving up. For being resilient. For giving my girl the very best start I could. However you feed your baby, breast, bottle, or both… parents are incredible. We give so much of ourselves to these tiny humans… and somehow we’d do it all over again in a heartbeat.

I’m not sad this chapter has ended. I feel proud and ready to feel fully like me again (because the hormones when you stop are honestly wild 😅)

And to any mamas breastfeeding and feeling like you’ve lost yourself, you can still move your body, train, get strong, and find pieces of yourself again. I’ve lived it. And now I’m excited for the next chapter 🤍✨

After two years of zero practice in a studio in Shanghai I had my first taste of the yoga here and it did NOT disappoint 😅😅😅

The yoga teachers here had me doing things I’ve never done before and chose absolute violence 😂 and I LOVED every second of it!!

I felt extremely out of practice and very stiff! BUT… I am looking forward to getting back to my old yoga ways 🙏❤️

Big THANKYOU to my lovely friend for introducing me to this beautiful little studio with outstanding teachers 😍

18 months postpartum
18 months breastfeeding… nearly finished now!
Zero time away from our daughter since she was born
Living in China with no friends or family for support or help
Minimal time in the gym
No yoga classes
12k steps a day come rain or shine

Extremely proud of how hard I worked for this holiday to feel comfortable in my own skin and a bikini again 🥹

Consistency over perfection 🔑

Just keep showing up and it’ll pay off.

I miss practicing in a studio
I miss teaching people

Some things are only temporary so make the most of them.

So for now I’ll headstand in our apartment in China whilst River sleeps 😊

sleepingtoddler

I’d lost these for a bit… they’re slowly making a return 🥹

When your client takes what you give them and literally runs with it to the letter! Including two holidays, concerts, meals out and still enjoying life! We navigated every social occasion made adjustments and Natalie has literally smashed this past 16 weeks!

Stronger, lighter, more confident, a better understanding of the gym, training and nutrition.

you are an absolute PLEASURE to coach and I’m truly grateful you put your trust in me!

The pictures speak for themselves regarding your journey!! You should be incredibly proud of yourself, your consistency, your determination and super positive approach to this entire process!! 🙏🏻

If you are looking to level up your training and nutrition like Natalie don’t hesitate to drop me a message 👌🏻

13 months postpartum 😅🙃
So I will admit I did hesitate to post this as I literally can not even bear the first pictures 🙈

I then have to remind myself:
I made a whole tiny person ❤️
My body was changing for 9 months.
The before picture was taken a week after I gave birth.
I was 1 week post C section.
I was learning to breastfeed.
I was massively sleep deprived.
My body did not feel like my own.

Fast forward 13 months I finally feel comfortable and confident in my own skin again.

I gave myself 12 months to be happy with what I saw in the mirror, I didn’t want to rush or put pressure on myself.

So this is me in my rawest form, no poses, no making shapes with my body, no fancy underwear, still breastfeeding 😂 it’s literally how I look right now and I am SO bloody proud of myself 😭

My strength is coming back and so is my sparkle ✨

I’ll be 42 next year and now I feel ok with that ☺️

I was a woman on a mission. 9 weeks apart.
For most people they will see a transformation/weight loss, “what you can achieve in 9 weeks” but for me it was so much more! In coming back to the UK for the summer with my little girl I was extremely fortunate to have the support of friends and family around me which Nathan and I just don’t have in China. This allowed me to once and for all get to the gym consistently 4 times a week and to actually start to feel happy about myself again.

I know hate is a strong word but when I looked in the mirror I literally hated what I saw. I didn’t recognise the person staring back at me, I felt weak, alone, and completely overwhelmed by this feeling of helplessness regarding my own body.

No one warns you that in giving birth you will LITERALLY never be the same again! Maybe I was naive to this and I’m not ashamed to say I really have struggled. I even get emotional writing this down to say out loud!

These past 12 months with my beautiful perfect little person I would not change for the world!! Even when I was not ok in myself I still did what I could to make those small changes! This past 9 weeks I have FINALLY felt happier in my own skin. Even on days where the previous night I’ve had no sleep due to still breast feeding or River is teething, I still got up and showed up at the gym for myself! When I was offered food that I knew wouldn’t help my goal of feeling more like me again I didn’t eat it. I was SO hard on myself in the beginning but I just kept plugging away!!

I know this was long winded and if you made it this far these are the ramblings of someone who felt very insecure and no longer confident in herself or body till literally a few weeks ago. I’m grateful for everyone who chats to me in the gym showing support! I’m grateful to my mom for having River so I can go to the gym, I’m grateful to the boss man for listening to me harp on about how I feel, and I’m grateful for Nathan for always being my biggest hype man ❤️

If you’ve been feeling crap you’re not alone! Just keep plugging away! If you’ve need any help or support then I’m here x

10/07/23 ➡️ 11/08/25

PLAYING THE LONG GAME!!

In 2 years Nathan gained:
10KG 💪🏻
A wife 💁🏼‍♀️
A daughter 👶🏼
A new job 🥊
AND a new country to live in! 🇨🇳

Yes he is my husband but Nathan is by far the most consistent person I have EVER trained! Two years ago I thought he was actually joking when he was like “Kate do me a program” 😂

Nathan is a man of routine and without fail he trains 5 times a week! Literally without fail! There is a lot to be said for someone who when facing challenges outside of the norm you still get up every day and just get it done! This has had massive long term positive effects on Nathan’s injuries from his previous fighting career and now coaching. Obviously he looks IMMENSE… but his strength has tripled in numbers! Nath won’t blow his own trumpet 🎺 but I think he should be so proud of what he has achieved during this time training and as his wife I’ll say it for him!! ❤️

This is absolutely proof that the long game is always the winner! There are no quick fixes no 6/12 week challenges that will get you long term results! Get yourself a decent coach, do a 16 week cycle and go again… and again! Put in the time and effort and they will 100% get you where you want to be!!

Since transitioning to online coaching I myself have become a better coach and I see so many more clients with long term results, achieving what they want and then sustaining it!!

BIG UP TO ALL MY CURRENT ONLINE CLIENTS!!
Each and every one of you is SMASHING IT!!