Emily Reilly is a passionate advocate for health, fitness, and all things wellness. Living a natural lifestyle is at the core of her being, and she continues to deepen her connection to holistic living every day. A true creative spirit, Reilly channels her energy into writing, where she finds joy in crafting stories that resonate with readers. She blends her love for storytelling with her commitment to wellness. Whether through her writing or her dedication to a balanced, natural life, Reilly inspires others to pursue their best selves.
WHAT IS THE STORY BEHIND YOUR FITNESS LIFESTYLE?
My journey really started with just the realization that I will get old one day. And it may seem silly because we all know this… but one day it just clicked -life is literally ying by And as I dug into my family history, I unfortunately saw a huge trend of almost every woman developing Alzheimer’s or dementia once they reached a certain age. And it terried me because it’s hereditary. There is a HUGE chance that I will develop some sort of cognitive issue as I age. Now there are tests to check for markers, which I haven’t done yet. And to be honest, I will at some point, but right now I’m just scared of the result I’ve watched and continue to watch my grandmother suffer with this awful disease and it pains me to know she has to deal with this. So did her sister, their mother and their grandmother. So, I’ve sort of fallen down a rabbit hole of being obsessed with pushing Alzheimer’s and dementia further and further away from me. And I don’t wish these diseases on anyone, especially my grandmother, but for me it almost feels like this was supposed to happen. It’s as if I was supposed to see the suffering to stop these diseases from spreading even further down my family tree and possibly other people’s as well. It is unfortunately becoming a more common problem amongst us. If there’s a way we can prevent or even slow down the progression of Alzheimer’s and dementia, I want to know and spread the word to others who may feel condemned to this unfortunate destiny.
WHAT WAS YOUR BIGGEST WORRY ABOUT DEMENTIA AND YOUR LIFE AS A WRITER?
The scariest part is the thought of losing my craft all together. There are so many memories and feelings created during the process of writing my stories, and to think all of that can leave me in an instant is terrifying. And then there’s the thought of never being able to create something again… it makes me tear up just thinking about it. Writing is a huge part of who I am. It makes me feel whole. It’s an outlet I’ve used for over a decade and I can’t imagine that slipping from my grip. My grandmother doesn’t even know my face anymore. So, alongside losing the memory of my family’s faces, losing the memory of everything I’ve been able to create in my life hurts just as bad.
DESCRIBE YOUR DAILY WORKOUT AND ANY OTHER MENTAL HEALTH ROUTINE YOU OBSERVE
My routine consists of waking up around 3:50AM, and of course I have to make a pot of coffee! I like to be in the gym no later than 4:45AM. Once I get there, I go straight into lifting weights. I separate my days by doing chest, shoulders and triceps, then back day and then leg day. I repeat twice and Sunday ends up being my rest/cardio day. It’s important for me to wake up in the morning and move my body. It sets the tone for my day because it empowers me to stay physically and mentally strong. When I’m mid set and my body is burning- it’s where I find my purpose. There is strength in that burn and if I can push past that and finish my full set, I feel like I conquered the world- even if it’s just my world. And all of this allows me to feel mentally strong even outside of the gym. Problems will come my way and I feel mentally prepared to handle it with grace because I know how strong I am. If I can push past my entire body feeling like it’s on re- I can handle this issue in my daily life, no matter how big or small. When you tell yourself you’re strong- there is NO stopping you! I’ve also been cold plunging every single day since January 1st. Submerging my body in icey cold water forces me to clear my mind and focus on my breathing. It’s taught me how to remain calm in the midst of difcult situations. And there are a lot of physical benets of cold plunging, however, for me it’s more mental stimulation to keep me sharp. It does also help that cold plunging increases dopamine and serotonin, forcing me to be in a better mood.
HOW HAS THIS ROUTINE AND LIFESTYLE IN GENERAL HELPED YOUR WRITING AND CREATIVE PROGRESS?
The routine and lifestyle changes has allowed me to be better at scheduling my time so I can be better and more consistent with my creative outlets! And freeing my mind and body of bad food choices and bad habits has allowed me to be more clear minded and open minded when it comes to writing and being able to express myself in a better way!
WHAT FACTORS OR CIRCUMSTANCES TEND TO IMPEDE OR DISCOURAGE YOU FROM THIS NEW FOUND LIFESTYLE?
My biggest challenge had to be the change itself. Having to find a new version of myself while still living as the old me made for quite the self discovery. I had to get uncomfortable and do things I never wanted to do before. My subconscious was begging me to go back to sleep, but I had to tune into future me to hold myself accountable. It’s fighting through the burn of pain when all you want to do is stop. There is of course judgement that comes along with such a lifestyle change. Some of the people I’ve spent most of my life with will make comments about how I’m not the same person anymore. “I’ve changed” And I have, but only part of me. This life-style can change the relationships you have with the people closest to you. That’s because your habits change your likes and dislikes change. You notice certain relationships are held together by the life you’re leaving behind. So what once brought you and another person together, could be exactly what breaks you up. Waking up at 4AM was miserable. That stings the most.
DOES SHARING YOUR PROGRESS ON SOCIAL MEDIA HELP YOUR ACCOUNTABILITY TO STAY FOCUSED OR DOES IT ADD A LAYER OF PRESSURE?
The needle may lay somewhere in the middle of the two. I started my journey way before I started posting on socials, so my consistency and habit is there. My love for this new way of life is there. But with sharing comes responsibilities. Multiple times a week I’m getting questions on certain subjects pertaining to workouts or nutrition, and… well I’m not a professional. I’m just sharing my journey and what’s working for me. So I can be a little critical with myself on how I respond. I feel the most under pressure in videos showing new movements. Because truly, I’m new at all of this too! I’m on a learning journey like most, so when I’m posting a new movement, I’m hyper focused to make sure my form is perfect. One, I certainly don’t want to injure myself doing something wrong. But I also don’t want someone else to try it and get hurt because they were following my lead. I do my best to just be real and raw on my page so I don’t start to feel like I’m drowning under pressure social media may bring to some.
HAS YOUR NEW LIFESTYLE INSPIRED ANY NEW STORY IDEA OR A CHARACTER PERHAPS WHOSE LIFE EXPERIENCES INTERCEPTS WITH YOURS?
My main characters are always a reflection of who I am emotionally in that time period of my life. So my writing naturally is a build up and reflection of who I am. So, though I haven’t necessarily changed how I build my characters, parts of me and my new found life style will naturally be woven into who I am creating as my MC. It’s so natural for my main characters to pick up habits I have in real life. So again, I really think overtime I’ll start to see this more in my writing. Writing is a craft that evolves with you, so I’m excited to see where in myself I can dig into and to start seeing these changes!
WHAT ARE THE TIPS OR ADVICE YOU WOULD SHARE WITH CREATIVE PERSONS WHO SEEK TO ADOPT THIS MENTAL AND FITNESS LIFESTYLE BUT STRUGGLE?
It all seems very complicated. Because it’s a hard journey to find yourself on and to stay committed. However, its actually very simple. You need to find your greater purpose behind it all. And the purpose will be different for everyone. That’s why it works. Because it’s specifically meant for you. There is so much of your power hidden in your purpose. You will have days where you don’t feel like working out, or you’ll want to have that fast food…but it’s in those difficult moments your purpose comes into play. When you find yourself slipping, or not following through with your commitments – you need to lean into that purpose. It is remembering why you started. What is more important? The mission or the ten piece chicken nugget? I always tell people it’s important for them to decide who it is they want to be. Who is the future you? Write down who that person is. Write down EVERYTHING about that person. Even details that seem pointless. What do they look like? Weight? Physique? Hair color? What are their habits? Do they read? Write? Watch TV? Eat healthy? Eat fast food? Binge? What do they love eating? What is their job? What are their hobbies? What does their free time look like? Are they married? Who are they married to? I mean, the list just goes on and on. Create the person you would want to be and start living as if you are already that person. Small changes yield big results, so just take it step by step… moment by moment and watch your ‘small changes’ stack up until you look back and realize what a huge difference you’ve made.
WHAT ARE YOU CURRENTLY WRITING AND WHEN CAN READERS EXPECT IT?
I’ve taken a small hiatus from writing, but just recently absorbed back into it. And I’m feeling so excited about it! Sometimes I forget how good it feels to be able to pour myself into the work I’m creating. So, currently I’m working on a contemporary romance. I’m only in the drafting stages, so details are a little shaky. But I’m expecting by the end of 2025, it will be ready for publication!
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