Powerlifter Sophia Ellis in Two-Piece Workout Gear Says "We Out Here"

Sophia Ellis is sand boarding in South Africa – in her two-piece workout gear. In a new social media post the powerlifter takes a much-needed break from the gym for a day of fun on the sand dunes. “We out here,” she writes in the Instagram caption, sharing photos and videos of her adventurous afternoon. How does she approach diet, fitness, and self-care? Here is everything you need to know about her lifestyle habits.

1. From Eating Disorder to Powerlifting

Sophia struggled with an eating disorder for six years, before collapsing one day with a dangerously low heart rate. After being discharged from the hospital, she found the gym, started lifting weights, and decided to be strong instead of skinny. "I had no idea what it was, but I joined the powerlifting club," she says in an interview with MyLondon. "From there I started competing - within four weeks of actually starting powerlifting I did my first competition, and then qualified for nationals in my first competition, as you do." She added to Female First: “Powerlifting helped to change my mindset; It allowed me to get excited about what my body is capable of, instead of focusing on what it looks like all of the time. You are not judged on your looks, your ethnicity, your size etc; its objective, you can either lift the weight or can't. That's what I love about it, you are showing just raw strength.”

2. Tips for Developing Long Term Healthy Habits in Strength Training

In a recent social media post Sophia reveals “3 top tips to develop long term healthy habits in strength training. First, she says that “consistency is key.” Her second tip is to set “specific, realistic & achievable goals.” And lastly, “prioritize rest and recovery,” she says, “and don’t forget to enjoy the process! By following these tips and staying committed to your strength training routine, you can develop long-term healthy habits that will help you achieve your fitness goals and maintain a strong and healthy body in the long run. Here’s to more gains!”

3. Vegan Diet

"Veganism really helped me to build a better relationship with food and opened me up to a very supportive community that made health a priority," Ellis told Chron. "Being vegan was always frowned upon in eating disorder units and has a bad rep with anorexia - but it shouldn't at all. It helped me so much. I want my followers to not take their health for granted and ensure that they not only nourish their bodies with healthy food and exercise, but to look after their mental wellbeing. I also want eating disorder sufferers to know they aren't alone and there is a way out."

4. Yoga

In addition to lifting weights, Sophia does yoga. There is a laundry list of reasons to do yoga, explains Harvard Health. “Researchers found that people who practiced yoga for at least 30 minutes once a week for at least four years, gained less weight during middle adulthood,” they said. “People who were overweight actually lost weight. Overall, those who practiced yoga had lower body mass indexes (BMIs) compared with those who did not practice yoga. Researchers attributed this to mindfulness. Mindful eating can lead to a more positive relationship with food and eating.”

5. Protein

Sophia makes sure to eat enough protein. “There are plenty of plant-based proteins out there, and I aim to get protein from multiple different sources to maintain a well-balanced diet. The ones I tend to eat the most are seitan, tofu, tempeh, alternative meats/ soy products and vegan protein shakes for convenience,” she told Female First.

Anna Pardzhiani, a professional powerlifter and fitness trainer, inspires her large Instagram following with workout videos and fitness tips. Known for her dedication to strength training, she recently shared a video posing in workout gear that garnered enthusiastic praise from her followers. Pardzhiani’s journey showcases her commitment to health, self-confidence, and encouraging others to appreciate their own unique abilities.

1. She Lifts Weights

Weightlifting is the main thing that Pardzhiani does to keep herself in shape, and it has a lot of health benefits. ACE Fitness states, “Using maximal loads for compound (multi-joint) movements like the deadlift, squat-to-shoulder press, bent-over row or chest press can improve intermuscular coordination, which is the ability of many muscles to work together to generate and control high levels of force through multiple joints.”

2. She Walks

Most of the workouts that Pardzhiani does are in the gym. However, there are some workouts she likes to do outside. Pardzhiani likes to walk to keep herself in shape. She shared this set of photos on Instagram of herself walking by the water at night. Pardzhiani captioned the post, “Vacation is not 100% vacation when you are a freelancer. But you always choose yourself where to be) and it's fine.”

3. She’s Comfortable With Herself

Pardzhiani makes sure to be comfortable with herself, and she wants others to do the same. Pardzhiani talked about this in the caption of this Instagram post. “How much energy goes into perpetual dissatisfaction with your body when your body helps you live that life. Perhaps you should shift your focus from finding flaws and the desire to please standards to your abilities? Choose a pleasant type of activity that will make you more confident and stronger, healthier, active, happier. Not going to the gym out of self-hate, not punishment by training, but enjoyment from activity? A sports body is more than a picture. Sports bodies can be different, it’s about what you’re capable of💫”

4. She Does Pull-Ups

Pardzhiani likes to do pull-ups to stay in shape. She shared this video on Instagram of herself doing them in the gym. Pardzhiani captioned it, “Started practicing pull ups again. I love this movement, even though my data, to put it mildly, is not tight).” Asphalt Green states that doing pull-ups have a lot of benefits. “Pull-ups are a fantastic way to improve upper-body strength. This exercise primarily targets your back and biceps, but involves many stabilizing muscles in your core, arms, and shoulders. Depending on the way you grip the bar, you can even work your chest.”

5. She Does Squats

One exercise that Pardzhiani likes to do with weights is squats. She shared this video on Instagram of herself doing them with a barbell. Piedmont states that squats have a lot of health benefits. “Squats are a compound, multi-joint movement, which means they exercise several muscle groups. When you perform a squat, you work your calves, quads, hamstrings, glutes, core and part of your back.”

Emily Hayden is a fitness trainer with a large following on social media. She is about to participate in a secret project and is making sure to train hard for it. Hayden recently shared a workout video with a friend on Instagram. In it, they are seen doing things like box jumps, slamming weighted balls, and pushing weighted carts. She captioned the post, “What do you think would happen if you went ALL IN on you? No more holding back, no more half efforts, no more excuses, and no more making yourself small. NO. MORE.” How does she stay so fit? Read on to see 5 ways Emily Hayden stays in shape and the photos that prove they work.

1. She Pushes Herself

Hayden makes sure to push herself when she works out. She talked about this in the caption of her post. “Take up space. Face the challenge head on. Dominate what’s in front of you. Give it everything you’ve got. And when you feel like you have nothing left, remember… that moment is exactly why you’re here. Push through and show yourself that you can overcome any obstacle in front of you.”

2. She Strength Trains

Emily Hayden/Instagram

Hayden likes to strength train to stay fit. In her Instagram video, she is seen using a weighted ball and a weighted cart. According to ACE Fitness, these exercises have a lot of health 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.”

3. She Works Out With A Friend

As you can tell from her video, Hayden likes to work out with a friend. Better Health states that having a friend workout with you can push you. “When you exercise with a friend who’s around the same fitness level as you, you’re more likely to encourage each other and to push a little harder (to increase intensity, for example) than you might do on your own. A friend can bring out your competitive side and spur you on. When you’re ready to give up, the sight of your friend powering on might be just the incentive you need to keep going.”

4. She Does Squats

One workout that Hayden enjoys doing is squats. She shared this video on Instagram of herself doing them with a barbell. Hayden captioned the post, “Do it because you deserve the life that excellence produces. Do it for you. What would you go after if anything was possible? Go after that. How would you show up if you weren’t worried about the judgements of others? Show up like that.”

5. She Uses A Resistance Band

Hayden likes to use a resistance band when she trains her glutes. She shared one of her favorite exercises in this Instagram video. In it, Hayden puts the band on her waist, stretches it out, and does forward bends with a weight. Hayden captioned the post, “Try this on your next glute day! It’s one of my favorite glute exercises. Focus on the efficiency & fullness of each squeeze and give it a full slow stretch at the bottom of the rep. Let me know what you think 💞tag me in your stories if you try it!”

Sophie Arvebrink is more than just a fitness model—she’s a social media sensation with a dedicated following on Instagram. Recently, she took her followers on a virtual journey to Thailand, sharing highlights from her trip. One standout post from last Monday featured Arvebrink striking a pose in a sleek black workout set atop a tower, simply captioned, “Thailand.”

1. She Swims

Arvebrink likes to swim to stay in shape. During one of her trips to Thailand, she did a lot of swimming, and shared a lot of posts on Instagram. In February, she shared this video of herself swimming in a pool. In May, Arvebrink shared this pool video on her page, captioning the post, “Let’s talk about life.” Finally, she shared these pool photos in July of last year. Arvebrink captioned the post, “I guess we are just animals with big brains.”

2. She Works Out With A Friend

Arvebrink shares a lot of workout videos on Instagram. She sometimes enjoys hitting the gym with one of her friends. Arvebrink shared this video of herself and a friend doing workouts together. She captioned the post, “Team work.” Better Health states that working out with a friend has a lot of benefits. “Exercising with a friend or loved one can make it more fun, and increase your chances of sticking to your exercise plan. Exercising with a friend is a great way to keep you motivated. It’s also a great way to meet new people. It can even save you money.”

3. She Does Pull-Ups

Sophie Arvebrink/Instagram

In the previous Instagram post, Arvebrink is seen doing pull-ups. NASM states that pull-ups are a great workout. “Pull ups and chin ups are a multi-joint movement, meaning that they engage multiple muscle groups (lats, biceps, shoulders, and upper back). They promote overall upper body muscle development and can lead to some serious strength gains.”

4. She Does Push-Ups

Sophie Arvebrink/Instagram

Arvebrink is seen doing push-ups in the previous Instagram video. NASM states that push-ups have a lot of benefits. “Push-ups focus primarily on the following muscle groups: Pectorals (chest muscles). Deltoids (shoulder muscles). Serratus anterior, trapezius, and rotator cuff (posture and shoulder support muscles). Triceps (backside of the arm muscles). Core stabilizers (abdominals and spinal support muscles). Gluteals (hip muscles).”

5. She Strength Trains

Arvebrink likes to strength train and use weights to stay in shape. In this video she posted on Instagram, she is seen with a weight on her waist. The Mayo Clinic reports that strength training has a lot of benefits. “By stressing your bones, strength training can increase bone density and reduce the risk of osteoporosis. Strength training can help you manage or lose weight, and it can increase your metabolism to help you burn more calories.”

Powerlifter and strongwoman Chloe Brennan knows the value of persistence and resilience in her sport. Recently, Brennan celebrated a new milestone on Instagram, sharing a video of herself lifting a long-awaited personal best, captioned, “It’s taken me 3 years to add 5KG to my log… 85KG finally ticked off.” Her fitness journey combines intense strength training with strategic restorative weeks to recharge her muscles. Known for exercises like deadlifts and pushing herself beyond comfort zones, Brennan emphasizes the importance of focusing on gains and trusting the process, even through challenging prep sessions. Her mindset and dedication inspire fans to embrace the grind, stay positive, and celebrate each hard-earned achievement.

1. She Strength Trains

Brennan naturally does a lot of strength training to keep herself 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 Restorative Training

Brennan makes sure to give her body time to recover and doesn’t push herself too hard. One way she does so is by doing restorative training. Brennan talked about this in the caption of this Instagram video. “When your mind and body are feeling zonked from life doing its thing or from hard training or competing it can be super valuable to take a step back and do 1-2 weeks of restorative training where you take a break from hammering your body with heavy loads and just focus on movement quality and feeling good ✌🏻It’s amazing what a bit of a recharge can do, remember. In order to shoot an arrow forward, you must first pull it back.”

3. She Does Deadlifts

One strength training exercise that Brennan likes to do is deadlifts. She is seen doing them in this Instagram video. ACE Fitness states that deadlifts are very beneficial. “The Romanian deadlift (RDL) is a traditional barbell lift used to develop the strength of the posterior chain muscles, including the erector spinae, gluteus maximus, hamstrings and adductors. When done correctly, the RDL is an effective exercise that helps strengthen both the core and the lower body with one move. Unlike the traditional barbell deadlift and other quad-dominant exercises such as leg presses, which place significant loads on the anterior portion of the knees, the RDL focuses most of the physical work on the muscles responsible for extending the hip and the knee from the posterior.”

4. She Pushes Herself

Brennan makes sure to push herself when she is training. This means moving outside her comfort zone. Brennan talked about this in the caption of this Instagram post. “Feeling uncomfortable is part of the process. Being scared to fail is normal. The greatest opportunities and outcomes happen when we step outside of our comfort zone. So embrace the fear, feel the discomfort and do the thing anyway.”

5. She Focuses On Her Gains

Brennan makes sure to focus on the positive things when she trains. She talked about this in the caption of this Instagram post. “The final weeks of prep don’t always feel good, I’ll often feel like all of my gains have escaped but it’s super important to trust the process- you are not your final sessions but the result of all of the work put in up to that point ✌🏻This final session I was struggling to pick up 100kg from the floor- but panic we did not- on the day 100kg popped up lovely and moved 77m in 60 seconds for the event win (I hated every second but that’s not the point 🤣)Stop stressing over one or two bad sessions and remember your result will be a reflection of the bigger picture.”