A 38-year-old mother from Northampton who decided to swap weight loss for a life of competitive bodybuilding says the move has given her “more confidence” than ever before.
Sherolyne France, 38, who now has over 1,000 followers on Instagram, lost 83 pounds by swapping fad diets for the goal of building muscle.
Her weight increased from 224 pounds (16 stone) in 2020 to 141 pounds (10 stone, 1 pound) when she took part in her first show in 2021.
The wellness bodybuilder first hired a fitness trainer three years ago with the intention of losing weight – she never expected she would go through such a big change.
Sherolyne told Web: “I can’t describe how much happier I am now – and not just with my body.”
Sherolyne France, 38, who now has over 1,000 followers on Instagram, lost 83 pounds by swapping fad diets for the goal of building muscle
“Building muscle to be competitive takes time and is a process.” You have to look forward to the offseason when you aren’t shredded and weighing several pounds. harder because this is where the hard work is done.
“However, happiness comes from the sense of achievement when you know that the transformation is a direct result of the hard work you put into a session every week.”
“It took me decades to find my “thing,” and the entire time I was unhappy with my body. “So it’s amazing to find a real passion for something at 35 and still love it as much as you do now, at 38. The physique is just a bonus.”
The mother first suggested the idea to her trainer after she was a typical “yo-yo” dieter who “tried everything” and struggled not to gain the weight back.
She told The US Sun: “I’ve always admired bodybuilders over the years but never thought I could do it.”
“Once I lost about 10 pounds, I felt really confident and when I stayed consistent, I saw the changes.”
After seeing great results, she first competed as a bikini athlete at the PCA (Physical Culture Association) in Birmingham in 2021 before realizing her body was more suited to the wellness category.
Wellness is one of the newer categories in the International Federation of BodyBuilding and Fitness (IFBB) league.
The mother first suggested the idea to her trainer after being a typical “yo-yo” dieter who “tried everything” and struggled not to gain the weight back – now she’s never been happier with herself and has a lot Participated in shows and competitions
Sherolyne is currently balancing the glamorous lifestyle with a full-time job in HR, but hopes to transition into the industry full-time in the future
After suggesting the idea to her trainer and seeing great results, she first competed as a bikini athlete at the PCA (Physical Culture Association) in Birmingham in 2021 before realizing her body was more suited to the wellness category
The department is aimed at women with an athletic build who have more body mass in the hips, buttocks and thigh areas.
Since then she has taken part in many shows, one of which is taking place in Milan in a few weeks, after proudly finishing second in her first competition of 2023.
Sherolyne said: “This will be my first time competing abroad and I’m so excited.”
“It’s more than just the competition day, it’s the whole journey – just the thought of being on stage in Milan fills my heart so much right now.”
“It’s been a tough year as my younger sister passed away in July just weeks before her 28th birthday. That’s why I don’t focus too much on the future, I’m just grateful for every day.”
“After Milan and the immediate future it will be about recovery and some time off before I sit down with my coach Erin Thomson to plan next season.”
She currently balances her glamorous lifestyle with a full-time job in human resources, but hopes to transition into the industry full-time in the future.
Bodybuilding isn’t without its challenges either – Sherolyne also has a daughter and a partner, so it can be difficult to juggle everything.
She explained, “You have to work out, daily steps, cardio, meal prep, time with my family and then there’s the housework and full-time work too.”
“I’m lucky that my daughter and partner are my personal cheerleaders and they take more care of the house, especially when I’m about to do a show and fatigue is high.
She explained, “You have to work out, daily steps, cardio, meal prep, time with my family and then there’s the housework and full-time work too.”
The bodybuilder has a show in Milian in a few weeks, which will be her first competition abroad
“I also have a great support network, the people at my gym Dallington Fitness are super encouraging and my colleagues I work with at Billing Finance will literally accompany me on my lunchtime walks and accommodate me at meals and meeting times.”
She added: “My friends and family are also very understanding because they know how much this means to me. They understand that sometimes catching up is a breeze with coffee so I can step in, or they don’t pressure me to do it.” Don’t eat prepared foods.
“It’s normal for me to go to a restaurant with them and either drink a bottle of water or pull out my Tupperware container and eat that instead.”
The 38-year-old couldn’t be happier with her life and wishes she could “bottle up” the feelings she gets from bodybuilding and “spread it out because it’s so hard to put into words.”
She explained: “The changes to my body have had an absolutely amazing impact on my mental health, self-esteem and confidence – it’s like every area of my life has improved since I took control of my physical health.”
The 38-year-old couldn’t be happier with her life and wishes she could “bottle up” how bodybuilding makes her feel and “spread it out because it’s so hard to put into words.”
The athlete said: “The changes to my body have had an absolutely amazing impact on my mental health, self-esteem and confidence – it’s like every area of my life has improved since I took control of my physical health.”
“I feel more motivated to do everything and do it with intention.” I feel lighter, and not just because I’m literally lighter right now because the day of the show is approaching
“Years ago, I gave in to pressure to do things that were considered normal, like drinking alcohol on social occasions or saying yes to cake and pizza at the office on special occasions, because I didn’t seem boring or the odd one out wanted .
She thought about it, “Now I don’t think twice about it, I’ve never really enjoyed evenings out, so saying no is actually like a breath of fresh air.”
“I don’t worry about food for the most part – yes, we all have those days when we crave a piece, and if my schedule allows it, I’ll eat some, but I also enjoy my oatmeal and berries just as much .”
“The lifestyle has given me the confidence to be my authentic self and I couldn’t ask for much more.”
Sherolyne encouraged other women to try it, saying: “Many women may be afraid of what others will think, and I once felt that way too.”
“You have to think about what makes you happy.” People will always have something to say about almost everything you do, so you can’t let that stop you.
“Life is too short and too precious not to try the things you want to do.” Those who lift weights frequently are essentially building their bodies – some people just do it more consistently with a goal in mind than others.
“If you’re worried about this, remove the label and just say you’re working on a career in the health and fitness industry.”