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What/Who motivates or inspires you in life and your fitness?

Cancer. A couple of impressive friends of mine got cancer and died but grabbed life by the balls and owned it. That has had an impact on my adult life. You can live a long life or short life. It can be boring by playing it safe or you can take risks and win big or learn from your losses. Risk it for the biscuit and don't regret any day! If you want something find a way to make it happen.

As a younger person I learned real quick if you

want a six pack and to have impressive strength and development you have to get

out of your comfort zone. Same thing applies to life and can be transferred

from what you learn in the gym. If you enjoy and perfect the

process then every day becomes enjoyable.

GASP is the lifestyle I identify with and SF Group has the "why" as a company I want to pour my passion in. If I didn't love what we stand for I couldn't be a part of it and want it to succeed exponentially on every level. SF Group fosters passion, independence, goal setting and attaining through fitness on a global level. I'm down with that for damn sure!

Hobbies outside of work are finding ways to improve production value. I have a thing for cameras and story telling. I get a kick out of people getting motivated or feeling heightened human emotions from my work.

Meet The Team - Nick Del Toro

More in Events

We are happy that so many came to hang out with us this sunny Saturday at Gymmet, Stockholm for our Better Bodies Ambassador Meet-Up

It was so much fun to meet old and new friends within the Better Bodies family - training together, hanging out in the gym and out in the sun, catching up and enjoying this Saturday with likeminded people!

We'd also like to thank Nocco, Barebells and Snack Bros for supporting our Meet-Up with drinks and snacks.

Check out some of the pictures from the event, and make sure to stay tuned for the next one!

Saturday Fun at Gymmet!

More in Training

Carina Isaksson has been in the game for a long time. She has competed in pretty much every division within SKKF (equivalent to NPC in Sweden) and she is also an SKKF judge. If anyone knows training and how to get, and stay in shape, Carina does! Check out her summer training tips below.

This is summer training that works whenever and wherever. For example in a park or in the yard at home.

20 Shoulder lifts to the side with rubber band

10 Triceps press (towards chair or bench)

Start over 5 times and do each round faster and faster.

Sometimes when I travel I can simply lay down on the floor or in the grass etc. and do the following:

Stay In Shape This Summer

More in Ambassadors

Silvia Kovaskowa and Daniel Fletcher have been loyal to Better Bodies for years. They run a successful training business in Australia where they thrive from helping people change, improve and transform their lives through fitness.

This summer Daniel and Silvia took a trip to the US for vacation and for Silvia to compete. They decided to make Dallas one of their stops where they got to meet the Better Bodies Team and hang out with CEO Michael Johansson.

CEO Michael Johansson making sure Silvia and Daniel gets a taste of real Texas BBQ.

Better Bodies: Why did you choose to visit ...destination Dallas?

Silvia: I competed in Las Vegas 2015. We told each other that next time we'd come to America we would stay longer and see more. We also said we would come to Dallas to see you guys. It was always our dream to come here to ...destination Dallas.

Better Bodies: When and how did you guys meet?

Daniel: We met in 2010 at a bodybuilding competition. We were both competing on the same day. We started talking and formed a relationship from there, and I also started training her.

Better Bodies: Silvia, your accent is different. Where are you originally from?

Silvia: I moved to Australia from Slovakia in 2009. I moved for a better lifestyle. I was a bit bored in Slovakia since things to do and opportunities are limited there. I have always wanted to come to Australia and especially Sydney. Then I met Daniel and decided to stay forever.

It is a very different lifestyle in Australia compared to Slovakia. The business opportunities are way better, especially with my interests in fitness, health and bodybuilding. People are just so much more into fitness in Australia with the weather being so beautiful and warm and people living the lifestyle. I love looking after people and helping them live a healthy lifestyle. To get in to the fitness industry was the best thing I could do.

Better Bodies: How did you get in contact with the brand?

Daniel: We got in contact with the brand about 4-5 years ago through a distributor in Australia. We fell in love with the Better Bodies right away. All the clothing is very comfortable and fits perfectly. If you're looking for good apparel Better Bodies is the way to go.

Silvia: I love everything. Even older items still fits perfectly despite being washed hundreds of times. I love the quality, the colors and I just really love Better Bodies.

Better Bodies: Where did you compete the past few weeks?

Silvia: I competed in the Pro Battle of The Desert in Vegas and then again in the Chicago Pro. It is a lot more competitive in America. If you want to compete as a professional we only have one show in Australia. So if you want to compete more and do more as a professional athlete you have to come to America because you have so many shows all the time.

Better Bodies: What are the biggest differences between competitions in USA and Australia?

Daniel: I didn't compete this time, but I competed in the Arnold Classic in Columbus Ohio a few years back. That was my first experience competing in America. It just seems to be a lot more people that travel from all over the world to compete here while in Australia it is pretty much just Australians competing.

Silvia: Also most of the athletes here are very nice as well so we are kind of connecting a little bit as well. That's the best part; we are meeting new people and making new connections. It makes you feel like you belong in this sport when you are around these kinds of athletes.

Better Bodies: What is next up for you guys competition wise?

Daniel: I'll be competing in Classic Physique in Australia in October. It used to be Classic Bodybuilding in 2013 but now the structure has changed and is called Classic Physique. Sylvia will be re-setting her goals as well.

Silvia: I am just thinking about what will I do in the future. Either I will be staying in the Figure division or switching to Bikini division which for my frame might be better. But I still did not decide yet, I am just thinking about switching because I kind of like the bikini look now. I think the girls look a little more solid now and fuller. It's something I would like to aim for in the future.

Better Bodies: Tell us about your company, 5 Star Physique

Daniel: We started 5 Star Physique after we'd met about 2014. We designed it because we are very passionate about the industry and we love changing peoples lives. There's nothing more rewarding than seeing a person who is very overweight very unhealthy at the beginning doing a complete 180 to walk away being fit, being healthy and completely confident in themselves. Our contest prep work is extremely rewarding as well. Watching people transform their body completely in only 12-14 weeks and then they do so well and perform so well on stage is amazing.

Better Bodies: What is one of your favorite transformations with your company 5 Star Physique?

Silvia: We do a lot of transformations that are outstanding. One of my favorite transformations is one of my clients that is 55 years now. She started with me when she was 49. She was a chubby woman who had a personal trainer for years and years but her body never changed much. We started with a 12 weeks transformation and she changed a lot. Then she decided to compete, so were got ready for her competition and in another 12 weeks Ronnie changed even more and she won her competition. She was 50 years at the time and since then she has competed every year or sometimes twice a year.

She is addicted to Better Bodies as well. She loves the brand and the sport. I changed her life so much. She is stronger mentally and physically. Every woman at her gym is inspired by her. She is 55 years old and her body looks lie a 25 year old because she is beautiful and toned and slim. Her transformation is really close to my heart and she is almost like a second mother to me. I appreciate her as a client and as a friend as well. It is beautiful how close you can get with a client when you do so much for them and just enjoy the lifestyle and the whole process when you get into these transformations.

Daniel: It is weird because when you do change someones life like that, in that process you build a bond that lasts a lifetime. They become very special to you. With Ronnie, she traveled all the way to America to see Silvia compete this time. She was here with her husband. It is amazing you can build a relationship like that in the process of changing someones life.

...destination - Checking Off The Bucket List

More in Lifestyle

Have you ever felt like a a champ? Big, strong unstoppable... Better Bodies ambassador Hans Synnestvedt Jensen has, until May 2018 when he collapsed and was taken to the hospital. Read the story of how Hans had to fight a big tumor and all the things that came with it.

In May 2018 I felt some pain in my back. I thought I had pulled some muscles so I rested and didn’t think more about it. Not until I collapsed in my office and was in so much pain that I can’t even describe it! The panic and “OMFG” what is going on. I managed to text a friend and he drove me to the hospital.

After a long day and night at the hospital, they said it was just an inflamed lunge with some fluid in it and that I should rest for a month. I asked them why I was in so much pain and if they were 100 percent sure that it wasn’t anything else. They couldn't answer that, but told me not to worry.

I rested and started to slowly work out again. But something was wrong. I could feel it, and I had for some time. But I am a hard worker so I just did my thing and moved on with it. Eventually it started to hurt when I was breathing, I was so tired at that point and everything I did was so exhausting that I had to sleep all the time. Every workout was a struggle and I finally went to the doctor.

The doctor looked at me and just said “You have asthma.” My answer was “Are you sure? I don’t think this is asthma.” But they gave me some inhalers and that was that. The inhalers didn’t work so I demanded an x-ray.

A week or so later the doctor called and told me “We have found a black spot in your lunge.” and that they had missed it the first time in May (it’s now September). That call was so weird and disgusting. I was just exploding on the inside and didn’t know what to say or do. So I just went on with my day, trained my clients, and went back home and told my girlfriend what was up.  My mind was racing in panic and so many questions were running through my head.

After 5-6 weeks the doctor finally admitted she didn’t know what it was and she couldn’t figure it out so she sent me further to specialists. They started to do all kinds of tests to figure it out.

From October 2018 until January 2019 I didn’t know if I was going to die or live. I tried to live as if everything was normal, but it was far from normal. I was working out and my body just wouldn’t do what I wanted it to.

I trained for my life at that time and I didn’t know when or if it would be the last time. All the frustration, anger and sadness just built up and I had to get it out. The gym was my savior, even if I couldn’t do what I wanted to it helped keep me sane.

At that point I didn’t know if it would be my last birthday, Christmas or anything. Every day on my way to work I would snap and scream my lunges out.

Finally in January 2019 they told me that I was scheduled for surgery to remove a big tumor sitting on my spine. It was pressing on my left lunge.

Early February I went under the knife and they removed the tumor. It was 5x5 cm and the surgery went well. After a week at the hospital I got to go home.

During recovery I just "disappeared" and got more and more tired. I wanted to get back in the gym so bad that after 4 weeks I was back trying to do some rehab training and light cardio. But I wasn’t feeling the way I should.

After all the swelling had gone away from surgery I could see that when I put pressure on my torso, a big bulge would appear on the left side of my rib-cage.

I tried to ignore it and just hoped it would go away and I would get better. But it just got worse. I was constantly in pain and couldn’t do anything. Just cleaning my plate after dinner felt like a workout.

I went back to my doctor and got a checkup 7 weeks after surgery. He looked in my files and examined me. The first thing he said was “Did they remove a rib?” I said "no" and his face revealed that he was clearly a bit confused. He asked me to wait in his office while he'd check something. When he came back he told me he thought that it was my lunge pointing out in between my ribs and he booked an appointment for me at the hospital where I had had the surgery.

A few days later my girlfriend and I drove up there and I met with the doctor who performed the surgery on me. He looked at the big scar, felt it and said: "You will not go home today. I am scheduling you for urgent surgery tomorrow."

It turned out that under the scar the muscles had ripped the stitches and I had a big bad lunge hernia. That night so may thoughts ran through my head again. Going thru all the shit one more time. Not being able to walk or do anything by myself... I don’t think I can explain how it happened but I decided that it would not break me!

When I started to wake up I was in the worst pain in my life. On a scale from 1-10 it was 100+. It turned out that they didn’t think it would be as big of a surgery as it was so they hadn't given me all the drugs and an epidural (spinal anesthesia) like they otherwise do. They told me they would give me whatever drugs I needed after to ease the pain.

After many hours I finally got spinal anesthesia and it felt a bit better. The doctor then came and told me that not only did I have a lunge hernia but I had 1 liter of water in my lunge bag. He could not understand that I had been able to stand up or do anything. He told me I could have died from it at any time and if it the lunge bag had busted I would have drowned.

I started thinking about how much I was able to take and still stand. But what is the price? Sometimes being strong and hard working isn't the best thing when you almost kill yourself from it.

I stayed at the hospital post-surgery for almost 2 weeks to make sure that I was OK. And during this time I just tried to stay motivated, to not quit and to not give up. I got a Netflix account and watched the documentary about Ronnie Coleman and all the things he has been going through. I told myself that if he can - so can I! So, thank you Ronnie for not quitting and giving others inspiration.

When I came home I wasn’t allowed to do anything for months since my body needed to heal and recover. During that time from late March 2019 to late May I saw my body just disappear to nothing. Even though I was happy I didn’t have the tumor and that part was over, another battle started.

This time it was the identity battle of: "Who am if I'm not the big strong bodybuilder with muscles?" What happens when the person you identify with is gone and instead a crippled and lesser version of him appears in the mirror? Handling that is something no one can prepare you for.

When something you have worked so hard and long for can disappear that easy and fast, it is really hard to stay motivated and inspired to keep going. It went so far for me that I felt like lifting didn’t matter anymore and thought maybe I should do some ting else instead.

I lost who I was and why I was doing the things I did. And when I finally was allowed back in the gym it just hit me how far away I was from where I had been. The past year was nothing but a fight against my own body. The past 5 months I hadn’t had a workout at all.

I decided to dig deep to find the reason to why I started lifting and why it was important to me. I told myself that "I will come back and I will be bigger and better than anyone can ever dare to dream of after this".

With that, I set up some crazy goals to compete again and to get back up on that stage not only to prove to others that anything I possible but to show to myself that I don’t quit and that I can do what I set my mind to. And this is where I am right now - in the process of rebuilding myself and figuring out who I am and what can I do in this world.

The gym is my therapy and without it I don’t know where I would be.

Hans Synnestvedt Jensen - Rebuilding Myself

More in Products

The Better Bodies assortment is big and sometimes it can be hard to navigate to find for example your favorite pair of leggings.

Our ambassadors are people who wear the Better Bodies brand a bit more than the average person, therefore they also have the ability to quickly list their favorite items.

Check out Nathalia Melo's five favorite items below. Maybe you'll get some inspiration for next time you're picking between the styles.

 as they are the perfect everyday/running errands/lifestyle fit look.  In fact, as I write this I am actually wearing my 

 in black! I think they are a staple in anyone’s closet as they can easily transition from the gym to a night out.

 are PERFECT for the Summer! I am not sure how hot it gets during the Summer where you live, but in Texas it can get up to 110 Farenheit and it literally feels like you are living inside a sauna.

Simply the thought of wearing leggings in hot days, makes me want to just stay home in the A/C. These shorts are my go to when the heat is on, not to mention that they fit amazingly.

These leggings are a show stopper! Every single time I wear the 

 to the gym I get asked where I got them. They are very different and trendy, so if you like to stand out and wear something a bit more edgy in the gym, these leggings are for you!

I am OBSESSED with these tops. I might have 2 of each color of the 

 as I am afraid Better Bodies won't make them anymore. They fit amazingly and the length is perfect; not too long, nor too short.

They dry super quick if you sweat a lot like I do, and they go with everything.

Chances are that if you go to my social media and watch my workout videos, 9 out of 10 videos you will see me wearing a different color of the 

This is my "trying to look cute but running errands t-shirt". 

 is super comfortable, super light, super cute and super versatile.

You can totally pair it with denim shorts for errands or leggings for the gym - that’s how versatile they are.

I have them in most colors, and I just alternate them during the week and I am wearing my Washed Green 

My Favorites: Nathalia Melo

Better Bodies ambassador Elin Söderström is working as a Police Officer and she is a well rounded CrossFit athlete with top placings like 1:st Polis-SM CrossFit 2017 och 2:a 2018 (individual), 1st Highway Games 2018 and 1st Battle of Wermland 2019 (Team).

In September she'll compete internationally at Aphrodite Games Cyprus.

Below Elin is sharing her opinions on which are her favorite tights and legggings for CrossFit and why. She chose 3 different pairs that all have one thing on common.

A bonus with these three tights, besides being extremely comfortable, trendy and having a great fit, is that they are all WOD-proof / squat-proof. With that I mean that no underwear will be visible through the fabric, regardless of movement or "stretch" of the fabric - for example during squats.

 are the absolute most comfortable tights I've worn. They work for everything CrossFit. The fabric is pretty thin but they fit tight and well on the body. They are even robust and you can lift in them. The waist can be folded down, which I appreciate sometimes.

The fabric feels really comfortable on the body and Camo High Tights are very functional for CrossFit. WOD, cardio (running, rowing, bike), strength and gymnastics - I think Camo High Tights are fret for everything within CrossFit training.

These tights feels like a mix between a pair of really thin and soft tights ad the Chrystie High Tights. They also enhance your natural curves.

Chrystie High Tights stays in place through the whole workout and this makes them perfect for WODs. They are durable and I love that you don't have to pull them up or adjust them during your workout, no matter what you do.

Besides the function of the tights I like the sporty design of Chrystie High Tights - they look GREAT!

 have an awesome tight fit. You can also choose to wear these higher up or lower in the waist.

Astoria Curve Leggings will stay in place and they are really comfortable. They are great for strength training and squats because they are elastic and move well, but still fit tight on the body. This also makes them great for gymnastics. I would also choose Astoria Curve Leggings for power walks and low intensity recovery / cardio workouts.

Our 3 Best Tights & Leggings For Crossfit

My father. He was wrestler when he was young. I remember that he always took care of himself in a good way and I learned from him how to take care of my physical and mental health.

First of all I like textile business, also, SF Group gives me the opportunity show my abilities. All the people I work with are fun, friendly and warm-hearted colleagues.

What are your long term goals with fitness/life?

I love going to the theater. Once a month I am trying to see one play at least.  I really enjoy to going to the park and do power walks, ride a bike or just sit in the grass and read a book.

Furthermore I have two kids which of course take up most of my spare-time.

Meet The Team - Senay Ozgur

Caroline Aspenskog and Unni Lundblom Edman are Better Bodies ambassadors and Personal Trainers. They have put together a Bootcamp workout that you can do anywhere at any time.

Here is a perfect and intensive workout that doesn't require any equipment at all. You only need yourself and your own body-weight. This is a quick and intensive workout that can be done without having to go to the gym. Make sure to be explosive in all exercises.

6x30 of each exercise, rest 30 seconds and start over again.

Complete all sets of each exercise before moving on to the next.

Jump up and down in squat position. Be explosive.

Make sure to keep your knees stable. If you get tired or the technique is failing, skip the jumping part and do regular lunges instead.

Do sprints in stairs hitting every other step. Be explosive and push yourself to the max. If you don't have access to stairs you can do regular sprints on flat ground or uphill.

8x20 of each exercise, rest 30 seconds and start over again.

Make sure to keep a strong core. Keep your back straight. This is an exercise with a lot of focus on core strength and conditioning.

Lay down in side plank position. Make sure to keep a stable and strong core. Go straight up with your hip and straight down again. Keep going for 20 seconds, rest 10 seconds, do the same side again and complete all sets on one side before switching.

Sitt on the floor with legs up. Push your legs forward (without touching the ground) and lean your upper body back the same time. Keep doing the same movement for 20 seconds each set.

Lay down on the floor with your lower back "glued" to the ground and legs in 90 degrees. Do sit-ups and focus on really squeezing your abs in the top position.

Bootcamp With Caroline Aspenskog & Unni Lundblom

) has a long background in the fitness industry. She is also a mother of two and works on a daily to help other new and expecting mothers to create a balance between focusing on their kids without forgetting about their own well-being. Nathalia is juggling her own career with busy days caring for her two toddlers as well as all home duties together with her husband.

We ask Nathalia some questions to get some insight to her success when it comes to living a healthy balanced life after having kids.

Being pregnant makes the body go through a lot of changes, how did you stay in shape through pregnancy? What mental challenges did you experience

 Especially during my first pregnancy I struggled a lot with the way my body was changing so rapidly. As a former competitor, I have always been someone who has been very body aware and I knew what had to be done to make my body look a certain way.

During pregnancy you do not have control over ANYTHING… not your body nor your emotions, and that can be scary. So, I believe the biggest challenge for me was the unknown journey you are going through while being pregnant.

Training for me kept me sane and it gave me a sense of control and normality, as exercising has always been a huge part of my life.

After pregnancy, how did you get back to pre-pregnancy shape? Did you have a strategy for it?

 To be honest, exercising (after having my doctor’s approval, of course) for me after having my kids was more about my mental health than my physical health.

Training gave a sense of self, and it reminded me that although I had a new very important role as a mom… I was still me.

It is very easy to forget who you really are when your days are consumed by changing diapers, feeding a baby, and trying to navigate this motherhood thing.

My strategy began during my pregnancy, when I decided to become more and more informed and educated on how to resume training while respecting my body and what it had given me.

How did you set realistic goals for post pregnancy training and results?

 I tried to not compare myself to anyone else. That was MY journey and my journey only.

I set small goals and celebrated every small win… and, I kept on reminding myself that the postpartum period is a very delicate and challenging one. So, I allowed myself some grace.

And, although my body is one of my ‘’tools of work’’, I was also very fortunate to work with companies (Better Bodies being one of them) that didn't put pressure on me nor set a deadline for me to look a certain way. That gave me a lot of peace of mind to take my time and respect (and trust) the process.

Before having children, time was “unlimited” for training - how do you make time for training now?

 Firstly, we found a gym with childcare which helps A LOT, but there were MANY times I had to train from home as I couldn't make it to the gym because someone wasn't feeling well. But honestly, my home sessions literally kicked my butt!

Also, My training is scheduled as if I were going to a work meeting. Everyone who knows me knows that I have my training time and there is not much negotiation there. I find that whenever you just say: ‘’I will go whenever I can’’ everything else becomes a priority and you end up not doing anything.

Lastly, my training has become a lot more intense since having the kids as I don't have as much time to just hang out in the gym. I am in and out!

You had 2 pregnancies close together, did that make getting back in shape the second time more or less challenging?

 Yup… my kids are 14 months apart, so things were VERY intense at first. I joke saying that the best diet I have ever done was to have a second child LOL.

But seriously! Somebody always needs me for something at meal times, so I hardly get to finish all my food… The kids are my portion control.

What is your best advice to women who wants to get in shape after pregnancy?

 Start small. This recovery should be a marathon NOT a sprint. Remember that it has taken your body nearly 10 months to change and create life… so, be kind and allow yourself some grace.

Start small by going for walks when it feels comfortable, and do not rush things.

Not being diligent with the way you train after having a baby (and during pregnancy as well) might leave long term consequences like weakened pelvic floor muscles which can lead to leakages ‘’down there’’ and may affect the proper rehab of your abdominal muscles, which might cause what many know as the ‘’mommy pooch’’.

Look at resuming training after pregnancy as you would if you had a shoulder surgery. You wouldn’t try to do your heaviest shoulder press 6 weeks later, would you?

Nathalia Melo Wilson - Getting In Shape After Pregnancy

Greetings from a sunny Sweden. I'm going into my last days of vacation and I feel so ready for the fall!

We have so much fun and exciting stuff in the pipe within the SF Group/Better Bodies family and I can't wait to share this exciting journey with you!

First of all! Seeing all of the activity and engagement within the Better Bodies Ambassador Facebook group gives me and my colleagues so much positive energy. I really hope all of you find lots of new friends and inspiration from all around the world in this group.  Also, I want to encourage you all to use this forum to post all forms of feedback both positive and constructive. We want to hear how we can improve our work whether it is in regards to product development or communication with you.

One of the most exciting things this fall is the move of our home base in Dallas, Texas. …destination is relocating to a new, bigger location with lots of improvements and updates in both equipment and what we offer in regards to training.

This is where our gym facility and office will be located and we really hope that as many as possible of all of you have the possibility to come to our grand opening of the new facilities in Allen, Texas November 16th.

We will make sure to keep you updated along the way and if you have ever considered making a trip to Texas, this is the time when you should make it happen. We promise our community a Grand Opening event to remember!

For the upcoming months …destination Phase 2 will be a standing point in the monthly update emails.

During August we will put a lot of focus into growing our Better Bodies community. We want to welcome all like minded people to be a part of our journey and meet new friends.

We're sure you have people around you that would be a great ambassador but may not know about the opportunity yet. During this month let's focus on inviting and including people as we are promoting our Ambassador Search a little extra.

 with YOUR friends and followers who may be interested in becoming brand ambassadors!

In August we’re making a big change to the Better Bodies Facebook Group. Historically, this group has been exclusive to Better Bodies Ambassadors only. Now it’s time to change and expand on our “inclusive” concept.

We’re going to keep the group private, however anyone who has made a purchase from the Better Bodies website within the last 12 months will be able to gain access to the private group. This gives us the chance to grow our community substantially and it will give you all the chance to take the stage as Ambassadors in front our the entire Better Bodies community. This is a huge opportunity for you all to have strong interaction with the rest of the community.

We’re extremely excited to make this change and we hope you all are as well!

 please make sure to request access as soon as possible.

For many, at least when the weather has been sunny and warm, the gym might have been replaced with outdoor activities.

August usually means returning to work/studies, back to routines and maybe also new training clothing. We have tons of new releases now in August that also can be mixed and matched with running styles.

Ambassador Update August 2019

Living the fitness lifestyle can mean a wide diversity in what and how to exercise. Different passions, different goals - but with the same dedication for training and living an active and healthy lifestyle!

Something that often is a common denominator in above is gym training. This serves as an important foundation to succeed in different kinds of sports.

During the upcoming months we will publish a series with several different Better Bodies ambassadors who are passionate and active in different kinds of sports but have one thing in common; the gym as the foundation. Whether the main purpose is to build strength, stability, becoming more explosive, loosing weight or gaining weight they all go to the gym to achieve it.

Here we meet Better Bodies ambassador Julia Gylbert. A 19 year old Swedish girl that has a great future ahead of her as a jockey.

Julia shares her story and dreams and why the gym training is so important for her to be able to succeed in her sport!

When I first started to ride thoroughbreds (racing horses) it was scary because they are very strong and powerful horses. I knew how to ride because I started to ride when I was 4 years old, but these thoroughbreds were on a whole other level. So I had to learn everything all over again because everything was different.

It is almost 4 years since I started as a work rider. I did not compete in the races because for that you need a license, and that license is not easy to get. I had to overcome my fear that everybody else was better at this sport than me, and decide that I could do anything that they could do. And that is why why I decided to go after the amateur jockey license. I wanted to show everyone that I could do it to! And I did!

Today I have an amateur jockey license, and everyone’s got my back; jockeys, trainers and my fellow amateur jockeys, they are the ones I compete against. There are 3 different kind of jockeys, for starters you become a amateur, after that you can decide if you just want to stay an amateur and ride races for fun or if you want to make a career out of it. And if you decide to do that, the first thing you have to do is to become an apprentice in a professional trainers stable. And after you have WON 70 races you then become a professional jockey, and that is when you start to make money on the races.

What I have learned from this sport is that you can do anything if you just put your mind to it. Never give up and believe in yourself. In the beginning I didn’t, but I surrounded myself with people that wanted me to succeed and gave me boosts when I needed them. It took a while for me to understand that if they can do it so can I. But now, I know.

Of course there are times when I compare myself with other riders but I then remind myself that; Sure, maybe they know better and maybe they are better riders. But they started somewhere too, and that is what makes me keep going. I want to be that one, the one who makes other people want to do better. Because that is what has helped me through this.

Because of the training we are being put through every time we get on the back of these horses, we get an amazing balance. We stand in 90 degrees on a horse in full speed, and at the same time we have to have control over the horse because it shouldn’t always go at the fastest pace, which is about 65km/h.

These horses are very very strong, so you have to have amazing core strength and at the same time have the strength in your arms and back to be able to stay in that position. It takes a whole lot of time and effort to make it in this sport, but it’s all worth it.

Because of the time you as a rider have to put down to become a good rider and jockey, you don’t have that much time to spend with family and friends, It’s early mornings, we start the day in the stable at 6 am, and we are done around 1 pm or so. After that you'll need all the sleep you can get. But if you love the sport, and always are ready to give a 110% (and you have to if you want to get anywhere in this sport). Nothing else really matter, it really doesn’t because you are already doing what you love. The early mornings and sometimes bad weather will not bring you down, nothing will. And most of all, your love for the horses, everything you do is for them really.

I am now leaving my comfort zone here in Sweden, and will be traveling to England for the first time in my life, on my own to go and meet a professional trainer in Newmarket to ride with and learn from them. My goal is to get a full time job as a work rider. It’s a dream and now it can finally come true. But It hadn’t been possible if I hadn’t taken my license and started to ride for a Swedish trainer at Bro park Galoppbana to get more hours in the saddle and on the racetrack. My self confidence has grown so strong, that nothing can stop me now.

When I work out in the gym I have to be careful, because I cannot have to big muscles in my sport, because that will not be in my favor on the race track. The lesser the weight the better. But at the same time I have to have strength in my legs, core, arms and back. So basically my entire body has to be in amazing shape, but not to big. I also need to have a really good physics.

So many of my workouts require mostly my own body weight, so I often do something like this:

Plank (with one arm and one leg out, so I stand on my right foot and left arm and the other two are straightened out) 1 minute per side

Side crunches with straight legs 2 minutes 

90 degrees (stand on something so you can get up from the ground, just stand on your toes and stay there ) 2 minutes

Intervals with 5 push-ups in between every interval