If you thought bodybuilding was just for men, prepare to be knocked out.
These are the impressive pictures of Beaumont Park resident Sonia Armitage, one of the UK’s best female competitors in the sport.
A contestant in championships around the world, the Starling End Farm resident has proven that the sport is definitely not a men only domain.
And after discovering her passion at 21, Sonia, 42, who is a mother of two has no plans to retire her incredible muscular physique 21 years later.
Bodybuilding has become an ‘obsession’ for her and she undergoes lengthy work out sessions every day to maintain her look.
Sonia said: “I got into it when I was 16.
“I’d been into gymnastics but I started hitting the gym and found out more about it.
“It was quite a new activity for women then but I thought let’s just give it a go for a bit of fun.
“But once I got started I decided to put my all into it, I like to do things full on, and started competing and went to contests across the UK.”
However after several years of competing, Sonia, who works as a personal trainer, gave up the sport and only returned to it in 2011.
She said: “Because female bodybuilding wasn’t as well-known back then you couldn’t really go anywhere with it.
“I could only compete locally and gave it up when I had children but continued to work out.
“Then in 2011 I got an urge to get back into it and have competed in Harrogate, York, the British Finals and in the International Championships in Italy last year.
“Women’s bodybuilding has boomed thanks to the USA and we’re now finally starting to be able to compete in age sections too.”
She explained the large effort she has to go to to keep in shape.
Sonia said: “Some people tell me I’m lucky to look this way but they don’t understand is the work I have to put in. I get up at 5.30am every day and do some cardio, such as running.
“Then I go to Top Bodies gym (Birkby), where I can stay for up to two and a half hours and when a competition is coming up I’ll do more cardio later on.
“I’ve also got a very restricted diet. I have egg whites and porridge for breakfast then I have three rice and chicken meals throughout the day, along with protein powders, amino acids and multi vitamins.
“It means I can’t eat with my family and the training takes over your life but I just love it.”
Before a contest, Sonia must lose up to two stone to fit into her section, the figure category.
She says that people do not realise she is a bodybuilder until they see the photos.
Sonia said: “Even at the gym I keep covered up. But when people find out the response is usually positive – I’ve never had any bad comments, although my husband’s not so keen on it.”
Now she has her heart set on winning the British Finals, which will take place in June.
“I thought I’d give up after the World Championships last November but after taking time out I realised how much I missed it.
“Maybe I will if I win the British contest but I would feel lost without it.”
