A woman who decided to take up weightlifting on a whim has won her first-ever muscle contest.
Samantha Egan, 24, from Bolton, only started pumping weights in November to train for her bodybuilding contest at the North West regional heats of the UK Bodybuilding and Fitness Federation (UKBFF) in Warrington, Cheshire last Sunday.
The judges were impressed with her muscle-bound 5ft 9in body and she beat off competition from 14 others to win a place at the nationals in October.
And the car rental sales assistant insists that it’s all thanks to her lean diet, which is full of sprouts.
Speaking about her regime, Samantha said: ‘I’m dead boring – I just eat all day. My friends at work are always asking me how I can just eat sprouts all day without getting sick of them.
‘But I am always starving.’
Samantha, who has ditched alcohol in her quest for the perfect body, decided to enter the North West regional heats of the UK Bodybuilding and Fitness Federation after being inspired by her coach, Josh McHale.
Despite hitting the gym for the last eight years, Samantha ramped up her training and slimmed down from 11 stone 4lb, with 14 per cent body fat, to 9st 9lb with six per cent body fat.
She undertook rigorous gym sessions every day, concentrating on weights for five days with one day off a week. She also followed an intense morning cardio routine.
And the grueling regime paid off after the underdog won the competition in Warrington.
Speaking about her coup, Samantha said: ‘In the run up to the contest, people were saying “you look really good and you’re going to win” but I never thought I could win.
‘I let myself celebrate with a pizza after the regional – I was tired because I had been waiting to go on for 11 hours – but then I was straight back training.
‘I’m really excited for the nationals in October now but I just want to see how I do in the final then see how it goes really.
‘I’ve just qualified as a personal trainer so hopefully if I do well, it can spur on my clients and motivate them.’
Samantha’s Daily Diet
Breakfast – White fish, eggs and spinach
11am – Sprouts and nuts
Lunch – Chicken and sprouts
4pm – White fish, sprouts and coconut oil
Dinner – Protein shake
Supper – Greek Yoghurt
Courtesy of: Daily Mail