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, 13:52, 3 December 2022
A woman who admitted to feeling insecure about her 'fat arms' has told how she overturned her diet and exercise routine to become a bodybuilding success in just six months.<br>Social worker, Shannen Delilah, 25, from Alkmaar, the Netherlands, was born into an active background; she swam, played football and danced regularly.<br>While she was only 11st, she disliked her features, such as her arms and shoulders that she considered 'too big'. <br> Shannen Delilah says she spent years paranoid that her arms were 'too big' but after overhauling her diet and exercise regime she became a professional bodybuilder in six months<br>Shannen admits that her insecurities held her back from wearing clothes that revealed her arms and she admits that she used to experience chaffing on her thighs.<br> RELATED ARTICLES <br><br><br><br>Share this article<br>Share<br><br><br>It wasn't until June 2015 that Shannen made the decision to hire a coach who helped her bulk up for [https://incitasecurity.com/why-is-crossfit-so-hated/ incitasecurity.com] her first bodybuilding competition and by December of that year she sculpted her body to nearly 12st, which resulted in her coming second place in the contest.<br><br>Since then she has fallen in love with the sport.<br>In 2016 she competed in two shows where she came first and second respectively, but since then she has had a break from competitions until 2018, when she will be starting up again.<br> In June 2015 Shannen hired a personal trainer and in December of that year she sculpted her body to nearly 12st, which resulted in her coming second place in the contest (pictured)<br> Shannen said that she felt at 11st her arms were 'too big' (left) but after bulking up to 12st (right) she was proud to show them off<br>Shannen said: 'I didn't like my shoulders and arms; they were always big and fat in my opinion. <br>'Whenever my female classmates wore nice tops, I couldn't wear them because I was too big for them.<br>'I felt like the hulk wearing those sweet little one-armed tops and my legs were always touching each other, which hurt when it was summer.<br><br>At one point, my belly was always moving when I ran; I hated that feeling, so I thought I needed to change.<br> She admits that she initially found her fitness regime a 'lonely' process as it took over her social life <br>'I was changing to a healthier lifestyle and doing CrossFit for a couple of months in 2015.<br><br>I took a home study in weight consultancy, and after two months I guess, I was thinking, "I could never help people with actual goals in bodybuilding, if I never tried dieting at that level and doing an actual show."<br>'So, I went for it.<br>I took a coach in June 2015, and scheduled my first competition in December 2015. I came second place in my first competition, and fell in love with the sport immediately.<br>'Ever since I went for it, I have trained five to six times a week and I've been sticking to a strict eating plan. After my first competition I have trained a whole year, before I did my second show.<br> Initially Shannen began doing CrossFit for a couple of months before progressing to focusing on certain body areas<br> Shannen also concentrated on changing her diet focusing on slow carbohydrates and good sources of fats and proteins<br>'It payed off, and I came first in the Ironman-Ironmaiden 2016 show.<br><br>Then after one week, I did another show (Juliette Bergmann Grand Prix 2016) at A level in Holland (the highest level you can compete in, in Holland) and I came second again.<br>'After that, I decided to take a step back from competing, because of personal reasons and focusing on my mental health.<br>It has been a year since I stepped a foot on stage, but I still manage to a strict diet and workout plan.<br>'I've learnt a lot about life and about myself; through painful decisions, hard work, a strong mind and I've learned that things can get better and will be better, when time is ready.<br> Shannen says that her boyfriend (pictured) has been supportive and even helped her to prepare for bodybuilding shows <br>'I have learned that pain is really just weakness leaving your body..<br><br>It has made me so much stronger; in strength, but mostly in my mind.<br>'From an insecure little girl, to a hard-working young woman who isn't afraid to step her game up and kick some a**.<br>'I started to consider which food I had to eat, but also when to eat certain foods.<br>I started to learn more about fast and slow carbohydrates and good sources of fats and proteins.<br>'When I met my coach, I learned how to train properly. I did CrossFit for a couple of months, so I knew the basics of squats, deadlifts, push ups etc.<br><br>but when I transferred to doing only fitness, I had to learn how to do proper training.<br> Shannen says she has gone from an 'insecure little girl to a hard-working woman'<br>'We did split-workouts; when you take muscle group like chest, shoulders, triceps and we changed my diet to only clean foods like chicken, basmati rice and green beans, oats.'<br>Despite her success with her fitness, Shannen's dedication to her new routine caused her to neglect her social life. <br>With her loved ones showing concern Shannen admits that she initially found the process lonely.<br>She continued: 'In the beginning, social events made it difficult, particularly when I had to cancel because I was tired, or had to train the next day, or couldn't stay for dinner because I had my strict diet, and explaining to others why I wanted to do this.<br>'I felt like I was doing it alone.<br><br>It is not a team sport. It is just you, facing yourself, every day and at that point nobody I knew was doing it or going through this strict diet like I was.<br>'My family wants me to think about my health, but that is always my first thought.<br>Health first, in mind and body.'<br>While Shannen admits that bodybuilding has impacted on her social life, she says that her family is very supportive. <br>She said: 'You've got to start somewhere, just do it.<br><br>Just go for it. You are beating everyone on the couch by taking your first steps. Visualise yourself doing it, loving it, dreaming it, working for it and achieving it.<br>'My family and closest friends have always been very supportive, including my boyfriend who has helped me with my second and third show and when I bring my food it is not strange because they know me, and they think I am very dedicated and admire me for that.' <br> <br><br><br>adverts.addToArray({"pos":"inread_player"})Advertisement