The Sculpt Club’s Gülüm Kıvırcık on Moving With Your Hormones and Letting Go of the Scale

If there’s one thing Gülüm Kıvırcık believes, it’s that women shouldn’t have to fight their bodies to feel good in them. “No one has to lose weight, be thin, or fit into a specific size,” she says, gently but firmly. As the founder of The Sculpt Club, she leads with that ethos, creating space for women to move, connect, and show up exactly as they are. In our conversation, Gülüm shares her own wellness routines, why motivation is overrated, and how learning your hormonal rhythm can shift everything.

How do you usually start your day? What are the small rituals that anchor your mornings?

I’m naturally an early riser with a lot of energy. First thing I do is drink a glass of water to get my system going. My routines shift with time, but one thing that stays constant is my quiet moment before the world wakes up. I usually make a matcha or coffee, sit in silence for at least half an hour, and map out my day.

 

 

What inspired you to start The Sculpt Club?

Honestly, it grew out of the community itself. The women who came to my classes started asking for more. The momentum, the demand, and this very organic sense of belonging pushed me to create something more intentional. The Sculpt Club really evolved from that shared energy.

You often say The Sculpt Club offers more than just workouts. What makes it different from other studios?

I want everyone who walks through our doors to feel completely at ease, like they’ve just stepped into a friend’s living room. There’s music, laughter, and a lot of joy. We work out, yes, but it’s also about connection and community. Some classes feel more like group therapy than fitness sessions. It’s become a space where like-minded women find each other.

You offer a range of classes—Barre Sculpt, Hot Sculpt, Cardio & Sculpt, Upper Body & Abs, and Tone & Sculpt. What’s the idea behind these sessions? Where should people start?

I always suggest trying them all at first to see what you actually enjoy. That’s key. Especially if you’re new to working out, fun and enjoyment should come first. For toning and shaping the lower body, Barre is great. Tone & Sculpt and Hot Sculpt are full-body sessions that mix mat pilates with functional training, so there are lots of reps and a focus on long, lean muscles. Cardio & Sculpt is high impact and keeps your heart rate in that fat-burning sweet spot. And Upper Body & Abs is great when you want to target specific areas.

Many people struggle with starting a workout routine—or sticking to one. What’s your take on that?

There’s no magic formula. It often starts with commitment and consistency until it becomes part of your rhythm. I don’t believe in relying on motivation. If you only work out when you’re feeling motivated, you’ll eventually stop. Long-term health, both mental and physical, comes from showing up even when you don’t feel like it. Otherwise, it’s easy to fall into a cycle of start, stop, guilt, repeat.

 

What about your own relationship with food—what guides your nutrition?

I love to eat. Like most women, some days I indulge, and other days I’m more mindful. I don’t gain weight easily, but I still focus on protein-rich meals and pay attention to ingredients. I have a weakness for junk food, but I’m picky about it. Fast food’s not my thing—I haven’t had it in years. Occasionally, I’ll do a protein-focused reset just to check in with myself and rein things in a little.

What would you say to someone stuck in a cycle of weight gain and loss?

Start with self-love. You don’t have to be thin. You don’t have to fit into a certain size. When you obsess over weight, your stress hormones spike, which can lead to bloating and inflammation. Women’s bodies go through so many shifts each month. Our hormones are constantly changing, and even a shift in weather can lead to water retention. So yes, love and acceptance matter. But also, learn your body. When you understand what works for you, balance becomes much easier.

Do you have any go-to rituals when you’re just not in the mood?

Music. Loud music. I’ll blast my favorite songs, take a long shower, or go for a run. Running is my therapy. It clears my mind and recharges me both physically and mentally.

What are your go-to skincare products? Do you have a pre- or post-workout routine?

I keep things pretty simple. Rose water, Augustinus Bader The Rich Cream, Eight Color Glow Block sunscreen, and vitamin C are my staples. In the morning, before working out, I just rinse my face and apply rose water. Even when I’m at home, I never skip sunscreen. After class, I always wash my face right away. Then I apply vitamin C, a hydrating serum, sunscreen, and eye cream. I usually wear a CC cream, but if I want more coverage, I’ll use the Shiseido Sports BB Cream.

 

Hormonal shifts can have a real impact on how we feel in our bodies—sometimes day to day. What can we do to acknowledge these effects and learn to live with them?

So many women at the studio have told me their cycles became more regular, their PMS eased up, and their energy stabilized once they started training here. I’ve seen the same in myself. When you align your workouts with your hormones, your body responds. As stress drops, your hormones balance. It really comes down to listening to your body. Right before your period, you might feel hungrier or crave sweets. During your period, you might feel drained. When you become aware of these patterns and adjust your rhythm accordingly, those days stop feeling like a struggle.

It’s often harder for women to build visible abs or glutes compared to men. What advice do you give your students?

Abs are all about nutrition and body fat percentage. You could do crunches all day, but if your diet isn’t clean or your body fat is high, you won’t see results. That said, extremely muscular abs aren’t necessarily healthy or realistic for most women. Lowering your body fat too much can reduce estrogen levels, which isn’t ideal. Glutes, on the other hand, are my favorite to train. With the right combination of movement and nutrition, you can absolutely build a stronger, more sculpted look.

 

What does beauty mean to you?

To me, beauty is feeling at ease in your own skin. When you love and appreciate yourself, that glow comes from within. It’s all about your energy and your presence. And honestly, that kind of beauty has no expiration date.

What’s your favorite flaw?

That word is so subjective, isn’t it? I used to dislike my broad shoulders. But over time, people kept complimenting them, and eventually, they became my favorite feature.