By Liana Jacob
MEET the dedicated British fitness fanatic who scrapped her food-binging lifestyle, dropping two dress sizes in just five-months leaving her with a bodybuilding figure, women would die for.
Personal trainer, Rebecca (Becki) Keegan (25), from Chester, UK, grew up in a very athletic family; taking part in a range of sports like running, hockey and netball.
While she had an energetic upbringing, her appetite was her biggest weakness as she describes her love of food similar to her two older brothers’. She would eat whatever they ate and once she hit 16, her metabolism slowed which saw her reach 11st and a UK size 12.
Rebecca got fed up of that life and turned to social media where she began chatting with other fitness girls. After getting into bodybuilding, she competed in her first show in August this year after losing two-stone and is now a toned 9st and UK size eight.
“I used to be embarrassed about the pictures; I actually wouldn’t let anyone take photos when I put on the weight,” Rebecca said.
“I grew up with my brothers’ appetite; whatever they ate, I ate, until I hit about sixteen when my metabolism slowed down and I couldn’t afford to eat the same food as them anymore.
“I went through a stage of under eating, going to the gym every day and eating just a sandwich a day at around five-hundred-calories and lost a lot of weight.
“I then went travelling to Bali and Thailand and then onto Australia for over a year – from then I obviously did the opposite and ate a lot of food and drank a lot of wine.
“When I left the UK, I was a size eight so my parents sent birthday clothes over in size 8, but by this point none of my clothes fit. My parents then came over to visit and were very shocked.
“When I got home I made a full-attempt to do something about my lifestyle; social media was a massive input in my weight loss and healthy mind transformation.
“From binging and dieting, I found a healthy balance within my diet and a new-found passion for exercising and loving my body.
“Social media showed me there was another way. I came across other girls with amazing physiques and good mindsets and that’s what I craved. I wanted to love myself too.
“Once I got into personal training I started to become more aware of bodybuilding and I went to my first show last August and fell in love with the athletes on stage. It was amazing.
“From then on, I decided that’s what I want to do. I wanted to be up on stage, then a year later I competed in my first body building competition.
“My life has changed in more ways than I can explain. The past year and a half has been the best time of my life. I love bodybuilding, I love personal training; the rewards I get from it are phenomenal.
“I get to work with the most amazing people every day and I get to share my passion with them and change their lives for the better, just like mine.”
From working on high intensity interval training (HIIT) and cardio sporadically during her travels, Rebecca has formed a more structured approach to her exercise routine; now focusing on strength training five times a week. She is now working on low intensity steady state (LISS) cardio and weight lifting while eating healthily.
“I just began lifting weights about a year and a half ago, a new friend and work colleague had been doing it for a year before so I started joining her and I absolutely loved it,” she said.
“I watched my body change weekly, my mindset changed and it went from wanting to be the skinniest girl to being the strongest.
“How much could I lift? Am I stronger this week? Now I educate myself and find the best nutrition for my lifestyle.
“Since I am currently preparing for a competition, it is very strict for the sixteen-weeks. I’ve had to sacrifice certain things, like a few social events and spending time with my family and friends.
“The rewards I am getting from it are much better and my family and friends are so supportive. Everyone is nothing but supportive and lovely constantly telling me how well I’m doing and how amazing I look.
“I have so many people who have watched my transformation on social media, I have clients I see daily and my friends and family.
“My advice would be to get help, ask someone, get a personal trainer or an online coach. The first thing I did was contact my coach Josh Mchale who also works for the same company as me.
“Every week, changes are made to make sure I am always progressing towards my goal.”
For more information visit: https://www.instagram.com/beckikeegan/
