Karen Lee is a passionate and dedicated personal trainer and coach based in Singapore. She specializes in High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) and well-being coaching, helping individuals, especially plus-size women, achieve their fitness goals and adopt healthier lifestyles. In 2014, she founded KarenLee.Fitness LLP, driven by a strong desire to support others in their health and wellness journey. Her decision to pursue coaching was deeply personal. Having lost three family members to health-related issues, she realized the critical importance of leading a healthy lifestyle. This experience had a profound impact on her, ultimately inspiring her to leave a successful 15-year corporate career to focus entirely on fitness and well-being. She wanted to create a meaningful impact by helping others improve their physical and mental health. At EliteX, we are proud to have Karen Lee as part of the edition: Transformational Female Coaches to Follow in 2025.
Karen Lee | Founder | KarenLee.Fitness LLP
Karen is a certified Well-being Coach, Lifestyle Medicine Coach, and Positive Psychology Coach. She believes in a holistic approach to health, which means that she does not focus only on exercise but also on mental and emotional well-being. Her coaching methods involve assessing each client’s fitness level and tailoring workout plans to suit their needs. When necessary, she collaborates with accredited dietitians, nutritionists, physiotherapists, and chiropractors to ensure a well-rounded approach to health.
“Health isn’t just about fitness; it’s about mental, emotional, and lifestyle well-being.”
She actively engages with her community through social media, particularly on Instagram, where she has over 1,100 followers. Through her online presence, she shares insights, fitness tips, and personal experiences to motivate and inspire her audience. Her personal mantra, “Give into what you believe in and follow the journey,” reflects her unwavering commitment to guiding clients through their fitness transformations. Her primary motivation for becoming a coach stemmed from her personal experiences. Losing loved ones made her realize how crucial it is to prioritize health. Additionally, after spending years in the corporate world, she felt burnt out and wanted a career that was more fulfilling and aligned with her passion for fitness. She was particularly drawn to helping plus-size women build confidence, improve their fitness levels, and develop sustainable healthy habits. She understands that fitness is not just about physical activity but also about mental resilience and emotional strength.
Her coaching specialty is centered around holistic well-being. She provides fitness training that is inclusive and adaptable, ensuring that clients of all body types feel comfortable and empowered. She also works with elderly individuals, tailoring her methods to suit their needs. Her approach integrates positive psychology, lifestyle medicine, and mindset coaching. She customizes workout plans based on each client’s fitness level, making them practical and sustainable. Additionally, she collaborates with health professionals to provide a well-rounded fitness experience. By using behavioral psychology techniques, she helps clients stay motivated and overcome self-doubt, encouraging small, consistent changes rather than extreme, unsustainable ones.
Karen defines transformation in coaching as a journey that involves not only physical change but also mental and emotional growth. She incorporates positive psychology, lifestyle medicine, visualization techniques, and wellness vision exercises to help clients create a roadmap for their well-being. She believes in helping clients uncover their core values and strengths, ensuring that their health goals align with what truly matters to them. She also emphasizes the importance of a strong support system, whether through friends, family, or community engagement, to foster long-term commitment and accountability.
One of the many success stories from her coaching journey is that of Mai, a woman who had struggled with weight loss for years. Mai had previously tried quick-fix weight loss products like Nuskin, Herbalife, and Amway, experiencing temporary results but no sustainable change. Karen met Mai at a gym and offered her simple, practical advice on clean eating and effective workouts. Their coaching sessions, conducted primarily through Skype, helped Mai lose nearly 10kg in four months. More importantly, Mai gained confidence and developed a healthier relationship with food and exercise. Karen’s personalized approach and regular check-ins provided Mai with the support and motivation she needed. The positive transformation also changed how Mai’s family viewed her, as she no longer faced teasing and criticism. This story highlights Karen’s commitment to sustainable, long-term health transformations rather than quick fixes.
“Progress over perfection—small, consistent changes lead to long-term success.”
One of the biggest challenges her clients face is sustaining healthy habits over time. Many individuals start with motivation but struggle to maintain consistency, especially when life becomes demanding. Often, this is due to an all-or-nothing mindset and unrealistic expectations. Karen helps her clients overcome these challenges by shifting their focus from perfection to progress. She encourages small, incremental changes, using techniques like habit stacking and celebrating small wins to build lasting momentum. She applies positive psychology strategies such as gratitude and self-compassion to help clients stay motivated without guilt. Additionally, she teaches clients how to plan for disruptions, ensuring that their healthy habits remain intact despite life’s unpredictability.
One coaching method that Karen swears by is Motivational Interviewing (MI). This technique allows clients to explore their motivations for change rather than being told what to do. Instead of instructing clients to exercise or eat healthier, she asks thought-provoking questions like, “What would it feel like to have more energy every day?” This method empowers clients to take ownership of their goals and make meaningful changes at their own pace. By fostering a judgment-free and supportive environment, she helps clients build self-awareness and confidence in their ability to achieve lasting transformation.
Karen stays motivated as a coach by continuously learning and growing. She embraces a growth mindset, viewing challenges as opportunities for improvement. She actively seeks feedback from clients and peers, reflecting on her successes and areas for growth. She also pursues ongoing education, earning certifications in leadership, emotional intelligence, and mindset coaching. Engaging with other professionals in mastermind groups and coaching communities allows her to exchange ideas and stay ahead in the field. She prioritizes self-care through mindfulness, exercise, and journaling, ensuring that she remains balanced and energized to support her clients effectively.
Mindset plays a critical role in transformation. Karen often uses an analogy comparing a growth mindset to that of an investigator like Sherlock Holmes—constantly analyzing, adapting, and refining strategies based on new information. Individuals with a growth mindset see challenges as opportunities to learn rather than failures. In contrast, a fixed mindset keeps people stuck in old patterns, preventing progress. By fostering a flexible yet resilient mindset, clients learn to navigate setbacks with curiosity and adaptability, making transformation a natural and lasting process. Balancing coaching, leadership, and personal life is an ongoing process. Karen believes in setting clear priorities and time-blocking essential activities, including downtime. She emphasizes the importance of setting boundaries, saying no to unnecessary commitments, and offloading tasks when needed. Regular self-check-ins help her adjust when needed, ensuring she maintains a healthy balance between work and personal life.
“Give into what you believe in and follow the journey.”
For women aspiring to become coaches, Karen’s advice is to start now rather than waiting for the perfect moment. Many women hesitate because they feel they need more qualifications or experience, but coaching is about connection, empathy, and growth. She encourages new coaches to seek mentors, invest in learning, and set firm boundaries to maintain balance. Owning one’s unique perspective and voice is crucial in making a meaningful impact. One of the most influential figures in Karen’s coaching journey is Bobby Cappuccio. His insights into behavior change and personal development have shaped her approach to coaching. He emphasizes curiosity, self-awareness, and sustainable habits, which align with Karen’s philosophy. His teachings have reinforced her belief in asking the right questions and guiding clients toward their own solutions rather than imposing answers.
A resource she highly recommends is “The Self-Help Antidote” podcast by Bobby Cappuccio. This podcast offers a fresh perspective on personal development, behavior change, and mindset. It challenges traditional self-help clichés, providing practical insights that are both engaging and effective.
Looking ahead, Karen sees the future of coaching and personal development evolving through a blend of human connection and AI-driven insights. While coaching will always require empathy and trust, AI can enhance the experience by analyzing behavioral patterns, providing personalized feedback, and automating repetitive tasks. She believes the best coaches will integrate technology with deep human insight, ensuring that transformation remains both data-driven and emotionally meaningful.