Bodybuilder Aleesha Young in Two-Piece Workout Gear is "Playing With Some Iron"

Aleesha Young, a professional bodybuilder, is an inspiring force in the fitness world. Known for her impressive strength and dedication, she shares her passion through workout videos and motivational posts on Instagram. Recently, Aleesha shared a video of herself lifting weights, captioned, “Just playing with some iron.” For Aleesha, fitness is more than a routine; it’s a lifestyle built on self-confidence, resilience, and positivity. Whether she’s lifting heavy, jumping rope, or promoting body positivity, Aleesha’s approach to health is dynamic and empowering. She emphasizes that all bodies are valid and encourages her followers to celebrate their individuality. Aleesha also finds balance by spending time with her beloved dog, highlighting the emotional and physical benefits of pet companionship. Here’s how Aleesha stays strong, healthy, and grounded.

1. She Lifts Weights

As you can see from her Instagram video, Young likes to use weights to workout. ACE Fitness states that these exercises have a lot of benefits. “Strength training with heavy weights improves muscle definition. Muscle definition occurs as the result of muscles remaining in a state of semi-contraction and heavy strength training recruits the larger type II muscle fibers responsible for a muscle’s appearance.”

2. She Jumps Rope

Aleesha Young/Instagram

Young has an Instagram story highlight dedicated to sharing her favorite workouts. In this video, she is seen jumping rope. ACE Fitness states that jumping rope has a lot of benefits. “Jumping rope can help increase the intensity of circuit-training workouts. Strength-training workouts that alternate between different muscle groups can increase heart rate and provide a cardiorespiratory benefit. Adding one or more jump-rope stations to a circuit is an easy way to increase the intensity of the overall workout. If you enjoy making your own exercise circuits, add two to three minutes of steady rope jumping at the end for an additional calorie-burning opportunity.”

3. She Does Squats

Aleesha Young/Instagram

In her fitness Instagram story highlight, Young shared a video of herself doing squats with a barbell. The Cleveland Clinic states that squats have a lot of benefits. “Squats are a type of high-intensity, high-impact, weight-bearing exercise that may contribute to increased bone density — how strong your bones are…This is important for everyone, but especially for anyone who’s in or approaching menopause. As much as 20% of bone loss can occur within your first five years of menopause. But regular physical activity can help protect your bones. Studies show that high-intensity squats are one of a few types of exercises that can even increase bone mineral density in people who already have osteoporosis.”

4. She Promotes Body Positivity

Young is a big believer in body positivity. She shares a lot of posts promoting this on Instagram. Young shared this video of rugby player Ilona Maher talking about body image. She captioned the post, “All bodies are valid, beautiful, and should be celebrated. @IlonaMaher’s inspiring words are more important than ever. I’ve always been ‘muscular’ for a girl body image was something I really struggled with, that is why #SIZEMATTERS was created Every Size Matters… we definitely need @ilonamaher_fans_page on the #sizematters team bringing awareness to this very topic.”

5. She Spends Time With Her Dogs

Young likes to spend time with her pup. She shared this video on Instagram of her dog. Young captioned it, “On #nationaldogday Max definitely deserves the Spotlight… This handsome boy has been with me through it all and loves unconditionally 💋” Harvard Health states that having a dog can have health benefits. “Ongoing research is showing that the health benefits of owning a dog are undeniable. Dog owners have lower blood pressure and healthier cholesterol levels, and a lower risk of heart disease, than non-owners.”

Emily Steel is a fitness influencer, competitor, and star of Gladiators, where she is known as Dynamite. Steel recently won the U23 Championship in Britain. She shared a photo on Instagram of herself with her medal. Steel captioned the post, “U23 BRITISH CHAMP📣🤌🏼🏋️‍♀️With the help of my trusty coaches @mikewebb_ @emilygbwl and some mindset shifting with @emgage13 we managed to pull it out the bag💰🥇Ready for a solid block of training for English Champs in 7 weeks🔥U23 71kg category - 73✔️76✔️80❌ 104✔️107✔️110❌(silly press out). Total - 183kg.”

1. She Works Out With Others

Steel likes to hit the gym with her friends. She shared this video of herself in the gym with others on Instagram. Steel captioned the post, “My first hyrox ticked off and I thoroughly enjoyed myself🥰🕺🏽A top notch weekend with some top notch afletes🥵2nd place to tick off my first hyrox!🥈Next one coming soon…👀”

2. She Lifts Weights

Steel likes to lift weights to stay in shape. She shares a lot of weightlifting videos on Instagram. ACE Fitness states that this can have a lot of benefits. “Using heavy weights increases intramuscular coordination, the number of type II motor units and the amount of muscle fibers engaged within a specific muscle. Have you ever felt your muscles shaking while lifting heavy weights? This is because you are recruiting and activating the larger type II muscle fibers, which are only stimulated to work when a muscle is challenged with heavy resistance or working to fatigue.”

3. She Rows

Steel shared some of her favorite workouts in this Instagram video. One thing she is seen doing is using a rowing machine. This is a great workout to do. The Cleveland Clinic states, “Your abdominal muscles, lower back, obliques, glutes and hamstrings all get a workout during a session on a rowing machine. If you follow proper form, your core will be engaged during every single step of the rowing process. Strengthening those muscles is also key to maintaining stability and building speed.”

4. She Uses A Stationary Bike

Emily Steel/Instagram

Steel is also seen on a stationary bike in her Instagram video. Penn State PRO Wellness reports that doing this has a lot of benefits. “A stationary bike workout is a low-impact workout that uses smooth movements to strengthen bones and joints without putting much pressure on them. This makes it a good workout option for people with joint issues or injuries. Your ankles, knees, hips, and other joints can be put under a lot of stress when running, jogging, jumping, or doing other high-impact aerobic exercises. Because your feet don’t lift off the pedals with a stationary bike, this option is kinder to your joints, but it still provides a challenging and effective workout.”

5. She Takes Care Of Her Mental Health

Steel is all about taking care of her mental health. She talked about this in the caption of this Instagram post. “Mental health awareness week🧠💕Tears are fine. Bad days are also fine. Feeling alone is NOT fine. There’s always somewhere there to listen🫶🏼Here are the bits I never share because to be completely honest, I get scared talking about my feelings… everyone has stuff going on and it’s so important to TALK🥹”

Amanda Lawrence, a powerhouse in the powerlifting world, keeps her followers motivated with intense training updates on Instagram. Recently, she posted videos of herself bench pressing and deadlifting, captioned, “Happy Saturday! We still out here training hard 💪🏼 12 weeks until @sbdsheffield 👀.” With her unwavering commitment, Lawrence demonstrates the grit and preparation required for competitive lifting.

1. She Lifts Weights

Weightlifting is the main way Lawrence stays in shape. ACE Fitness states that lifting weights has a lot of benefits. “Lifting heavy weights elevates levels of anabolic hormones—specifically testosterone, growth hormone and insulin-like growth factor (IGF-1)—which are used to repair muscle fibers damaged during exercise. This helps the muscle fibers to become thicker and capable of generating higher levels of force.”

2. She Does Squats

Lawrence is seen doing squats in this Instagram video. Squats are a great exercise to do. Allina Health reports, “The squat is one of the all-around best exercises to do for your lower body. It strengthens and tones muscles in your thighs, butt and calves and improves posture, balance, flexibility and inner core strength. Squatting also improves bone mineral density to keep your bones strong.”

3. She Works With A Coach

Lawrence shared her training secrets with Muscle & Fitness. She says that she works with a coach to help her train correctly. “I was training with straps all the time and with non-calibrated plates, on incorrect bench heights. It made things hard when you actually had to train on standard equipment on game day. I had a lot of changes I wanted to make from the Grand Prix in March of this year to Worlds. I hired a new coach, Joey Flexx, and he changed everything for me. I purchased calibrated plates, got a rack and everything, and started training on the correct equipment. Now, I have a different perspective on what I can improve upon.”

4. She Eats A Lot Of Protein

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Lawrence shared her typical diet with Muscle & Fitness. She says that she eats a lot of protein. “I eat the same things a lot, over and over. That’s just what works for me. I like a high protein diet—at least one gram per pound of body weight—because you need that just to perform and fuel. I go a little bit lower carbs, but make sure I get enough to fuel my performance. I follow a Renaissance Periodization diet, and they have an app you can use to track macronutrients in a plan that’s customized to your goals. It has set food choices that you can pick from. For example, if you need to get 30 grams of protein in and you want to eat specific foods, the app will tell you exactly how much to eat of specific foods to hit the nutritional value of 30 grams, or whatever fits your needs.”

5. She Protects Her Muscles

Lawrence makes sure to protect her muscles from injury. She shared how she does so with Muscle & Fitness. “I know my body’s limits, and I’ll purposefully not go through with a rep if something feels funny. Of course, I always have spotters, but knowing my limits has allowed me to continually push weight faster than others without getting injured. Before a lift, I’ll stretch a lot, use rollers, and do hip circles to loosen up my hips for both squats and deadlifts. I don’t do a ton of post-lift stretching, but I use recovery creams and make sure to eat a healthy diet. When it comes down to it, if you’re going to get injured, you’re going to get injured. There’s no way to prevent it, but just don’t be stupid and know when to stop.”

Bodybuilder Aleesha Young has been a force in the bodybuilding world, impressing fans with her dedication, strength, and unapologetic approach to fitness. Known for advocating body positivity and hard work, she frequently shares glimpses into her lifestyle through her Instagram, where she poses in two-piece workout gear while sharing valuable fitness and life advice. Here’s a breakdown of some of Aleesha’s top tips and inspirational quotes that she lives by.

1. She Never Skips Leg Day

Aleesha knows the importance of a strong lower body, and she never shies away from leg day. In a recent Instagram post, she proudly showed off her muscular legs in a swimsuit, letting her followers know just how hard she works for her physique.

"#humpday You Say …. Earned not Bought," she captioned, reminding everyone that her strong legs are a result of consistent dedication to exercises like squats and hamstring work. Aleesha’s message is clear: to achieve results, you have to put in the work.

2. She Says All Bodies are Valid

A powerful advocate for body positivity, Aleesha frequently uses her platform to remind her followers that every body is beautiful, regardless of shape or size.

"All bodies are valid, beautiful, and should be celebrated," she shared in a recent post, citing @IlonaMaher’s words as inspiration. Aleesha openly discusses her struggles with body image growing up and how it motivated her to create the #SIZEMATTERS movement. "Every Size Matters," she emphasizes, encouraging her audience to embrace their uniqueness and stand tall in their skin.

3. She Trains Hard

Hard work is a constant theme in Aleesha’s life, and she’s thrilled to be part of a new gym, @ofit_syndicate, which is set to open soon. In her post showcasing the gym, Aleesha expresses her excitement about the space and how important it is to have a place that fosters hard training.

"I’m so excited to be a part of this gym," she writes, tagging #trainhard. For Aleesha, a rigorous training routine is non-negotiable, and she encourages her followers to push their limits to achieve their goals.

4. She Has a Green Thumb

Aleesha doesn’t just focus on building muscle—she also finds peace and joy in her garden. She shared a calming video of herself taking a walk surrounded by plants and flowers, highlighting the importance of nurturing one’s mental and emotional well-being.

"Some much needed Plant Therapy," she captioned the post, using the hashtag #greenthumb. It’s clear that Aleesha values balance in her life, finding relaxation in nature just as much as intensity in the gym.

5. She Gets Vitamin D From the Sun

Soaking up the sun is another part of Aleesha’s self-care routine. In a recent post, she posed in a bathing suit while enjoying the California sunshine.

"It’s still Feeling Like Summer in Sunny California," she happily shared. Aleesha knows the importance of getting enough Vitamin D for both physical and mental health, and she embraces every opportunity to spend time outdoors while showing off her strong physique.

6. She Says Passion Keeps You Alive

Aleesha is a firm believer in the power of passion, and she encourages her followers to find what fuels them. In one of her workout photos, she shared a mantra that speaks to her relentless drive and focus.

"Passion is what keeps Us Alive and more Importantly LIVING," she writes, urging her followers to embrace the challenges they’re passionate about, whether in the gym or in life. For Aleesha, passion is the secret ingredient to success and fulfillment, and she’s living proof that when you find what you love, you’ll always keep going.

Yaxeni Oriquen is a world-renowned bodybuilder and fitness competitor, best known for winning Miss International five times and Miss Olympia in 2005. Oriquen frequently shares her fitness routines on Instagram, showcasing her dedication to staying in peak condition. In one of her recent posts, she is seen lifting weights at the gym. “I always trying to keep my 185 lbs with a 12% of body fat!!” she said in another post, revealing her disciplined approach. With a blend of weightlifting, swimming, and targeted workouts, Oriquen continues to inspire her followers with her strength and commitment to fitness. Here’s what keeps her in amazing shape.

1. She Lifts Weights

Oriquen does a lot of weight training to keep herself in shape. In her recent post, she is seen using hand dumbbells. In this video, she is seen doing dual pulley rows. ACE Fitness states that lifting weights has a lot of benefits. “Strength training with heavy weights improves muscle definition. Muscle definition occurs as the result of muscles remaining in a state of semi-contraction and heavy strength training recruits the larger type II muscle fibers responsible for a muscle’s appearance.”

2. She Swims

Oriquen likes to swim to keep herself in shape. She shared a photo of herself wading at the beach on Instagram. Oriquen captioned the post, “I always trying to keep my 185 lbs with a 12 % of body fat!!” The Mayo Clinic states that swimming has a lot of benefits. “Swimming is easy on the joints, and it's very good for both cardiac health and your core strength,” says Dr. Matthew Crowe, a Mayo Clinic orthopedic surgeon and sports medicine expert. “And it also can give you really excellent strength around the shoulders, and hips and knees.”

3. She Does Pulldowns

Oriquen likes to do pulldowns to keep herself in shape. She shared this video on Instagram of herself doing them at the gym. Piedmont states that pulldowns have a lot of benefits. “The lat pulldown is a fantastic exercise for strengthening the latissimus dorsi muscle, the broadest muscle in your back. This muscle promotes good posture and spinal stability. Form is crucial when performing a lat pulldown to prevent injury and reap the best results.”

4. She Does Ab Workouts

Oriquen has amazing abs. She shared this video of herself doing lying crunches with a weight. Oriquen captioned the post, “If you want to be a Bodybuilder, you have to do it.. I do it !!!” Core workouts are very important. The Mayo Clinic states, “Your core is the central part of your body. It includes your pelvis, lower back, hips and stomach. The stomach muscles sometimes are called abs. Core exercises train the muscles in your core to work in harmony. This leads to better balance and steadiness, also called stability.”

5. She Does Bicep Workouts

Oriquen has amazing biceps. Naturally, she makes sure to do a lot of workouts that target those muscles. She shared this post on Instagram of herself doing double and single arm bicep curls. For the single curls, she is seen using hand weights, while she uses a barbel for the doubles. Oriquen captioned the post, “Biceps circuit routine! Exploit your biceps with 4 set 15 reps, not rest between exercises until you do the last exercise . Let me know if you need any advance about it . Come to Ryptgym and get special consultation with me .”