SHE’S GOT THE POWER!
AFTER JUST NINE MONTHS, MUM CAN NOW DEADLIFT OWN WEIGHT AND IS SEMI-FINALIST IN HOBBY HERO SEARCH
A 48-YEAR-OLD mum from Ashbourne has spent a year building herself up to become capable of dead-lifting 100kg weights.
Mandy Wragg started training as a powerlifter in June last year after suffering from low self-esteem and a lack of motivation and, when she set out on her journey, she could only lift 45kg on a squat.
After training three times a week with Alistair Maag at Peak Fitness Training in Ashbourne, the charity worker and mother-of-one can now lift 75kg on a squat, and can bench up to 45kg.
She said: “I took up powerlifting a year ago to improve my mood, self-esteem and lack of motivation.
“I honestly haven’t looked back. I train now for improved strength and focus, and for me, it’s not what my body looks like, it’s for what I can do.
“My coach Alistair is a great advocate of powerlifting for menopausal women as it can protect against osteoporosis and boosts mental health.
“I train three times a week and it’s been transformational for me.
“When I started last year, I hadn’t picked up a barbell in nine years, and I’d never tried to bench or deadlift. I can now deadlift my own weight, which I’m really proud of.
“Each session is a personal challenge where I switch off from the world, focus on my lifts, and push myself far beyond what I thought I was capable of as a perimenopausal woman.
“I would definitely encourage more women over 40 to take up powerlifting.”
And her remarkable transformation from full-time mum to powerlifter has also caught the eye of an awards committee at Eventbrite, who have singled her out as a semi-finalist in their seach for a “Hobby Hero”.
The competition saw hundreds of entries from throughout the UK, and if Mandy now goes on to win, she will receive a £5,000 prize – £2,500 in cash and £2,500 worth of support from Eventbrite’s experts to help share her passion with others.
The Hobby Hero initiative is supported by one of the world leading experts on wellbeing, Professor Cary Cooper, who advocates using hobbies to boost our mental health.
He said: “Hobbies can boost your wellbeing because whether you’re knitting, running, hula hooping, abseiling or baking, they offer a great way to take your mind from the stresses of the world and work, take you away from the screen and let you do something positive, creative and fulfilling. Enjoying a hobby with someone else or in groups is even more beneficial because it provides motivation and social connection.
“After two years of social isolation, it’s a joy to see people connecting through hobbies that bring them pleasure and, depending on what you do, improve physical fitness, memory or mood. I recommend taking up a new hobby to many people.”
Mandy’s trainer Alistair extolled the virtues of powerlifting as a way to boost confidence and build fitness.
He said: “One of the best ways to combat the effects of menopausal osteoporosis is with resistance training, such as powerlifting.
“Resistance training improves bone density, helps to keep joints stronger and improves core stability.
“Overall helping strength, balance and mental health.”
Semi-finalists in the search for a Hobby Hero have been chosen from various regions in the UK to reach the national final, and a panel of judges will announce the winner at the end of July.
Other Hobby Hero semi-finalists include a beach cleaner from Brixham, a book folder artist from Sheffield, and a 1940s promenader from Staffordshire.
Eventbrite’s Sebastian Boppert said: “The entries we received range from the more traditional to the weird and wonderful.
“Mandy’s stood out as an unexpected hobby for a woman in her forties. Powerlifting requires focus, strength, determination and commitment.
“We also love that it’s a hobby that improves her health and wellbeing and wish her all the best as one of our semi-finalists.
“Our final Hobby Hero winner will be someone with enthusiasm and dedication, who wants to share it with others – and maybe even earn some money with it. A strong entry like Mandy’s certainly fits the bill.”