PHOTO CREDIT : RXd PHOTOGRAPHY
SPORTS PERFORMANCE
THE IRON LADY the day ’) such as Murph , which is an epic battle of a workout where athletes can choose to wear a weighted vest .
ML : How does Murph work ? SM : It goes like this - 1 mile run to begin , 100 Pull Ups , 200 press ups and 300 air squats , then another 1 mile run to finish .
Anyone who has seen the ‘ Fittest on Earth ’ documentary on Netflix will be familiar with this one and it ’ s one of my favourites .
ML : How quickly can you do it ? SM : My best time to date has been 47:50 with a 7kg Vest if you fancy a challenge ...
ML : I ’ ll check my diary and get back to you on that ...! Why is it that women in particular should not be worried about lifting weights ? SM : I ’ ve been lifting weights and doing resistance training for around 3 years now . Anyone who has seen my Instagram profile (@ CFsheli ) will know that when I started I was 75kg and about a size 14-16 . I ’ m now 64kg currently and a size 8-10 thanks to lifting weights and CrossFit .
My physical strength is a real asset and has always been my best feature as an athlete though I ’ m not particularly big at all . Yes , my arms are defined , my stomach is flat and toned , and I have a curvy set of legs , but I still have a long way to go and many more years of lifting weights before I would be lucky enough to develop Arnie ’ s curves .
For all those people thinking about trying resistance training it is important to understand that gaining muscle takes years of tireless effort and dedication , as well as seriously heavy weight sessions and high calories on a regular ( probably daily ) basis . It doesn ’ t just ‘ happen ’ and there is no way you would achieve an athletically muscular body without deliberate and serious hard work .
For those ladies who want to firm up some of their softer areas , develop curves in all of the right places and confidently stand naked with the lights on ... resistance training and lifting weights are well worth investing time into . But start off under the guidance of a coach or trainer .
ML : Finally , what changes are you noticing with the perception of ‘ body image ’ for females ? SM : Body image for females , particularly the evolving athleticism of women within sports , has been a hot topic lately and I ’ ve been asked about it a lot . There are so many conflicting views . Traditionally women are seen as these slim , fragile and precious creatures . But there are some revolutionaries , who I ’ m proud to be one of , who envisage females as potential warriors of our time , who are sculpted to stand beside the many male heroes that dominate throughout history and within modern popular culture . Watch out boys , because the girls are coming and we mean business .
As a female athlete within sport it really is a psychological battlefield , and one where I have found myself caught between wanting to be the best athlete I could be and the incessant need to conform to the current socially acceptable realms of ‘ beauty ’. It took a long time for me to reverse this negative self-talk and to really start to own my physique and stand confidently with my ever changing body shape . Ronda Rousey ( UFC fighter ) once said that her body was ‘ femininely badass as f ** k ’ because every single muscle was developed for purpose . I really believe and admire this . I believe that I can be strong , independent , purposeful and a badass athlete , whilst still maintaining my feminity . Strong is the new sexy .
Weightlifting and resistance training is not for everyone , granted , but it is for anyone . The associated health benefits speak for themselves , not forgetting the psychological benefits , and the figure you can obtain is one to be proud of . ________
You can follow Sheli ’ s journey on social media (@ CFsheli ) see her presenting on stage in person at BodyPower in May or watch her compete at many CrossFit competitions up and down the UK .
110 MUSCLE & FITNESS / MARCH 2018