ATTEMPT TO SPECIAL FORCES TEST My sister saved my life getting me weightlifting ..now we’re both on SAS TV show Bullies spurred me on says superfit Kirsty
Elouise. I felt the exercise helping straight away. It made me confident. Suddenly I was good at something.
“I started to feel so much better about myself. It really brought me closer to my sister. We became best friends again. We encourage each other.”
Exercising was so helpful to Bethany’s mental health that she now no longer has bipolar episodes. She says: “Since I found fitness, my mental health issues have been under control. My mood still fluctuates, but not dramatically. It is now within the normal range. I found that with good sleep, nutrition and exercise, I can control my bipolar. It’s been amazing, I never looked back.”
Spurred on by her recovery and her love of fitness, Bethany applied to go on the TV show – and Elouise followed suit.
They were invited to a fitness test and got told off for cheering each other on!
CHALLENGING
The show sees contestants pushed to the limits, physically and mentally.
But the sisters – who feature in tonight’s episode – loved every minute.
Bethany says: “We communicate without even having to speak, so it was a great support being there together.
“With everything I’ve been through, taking part in SAS has actually been a lot of fun. It made me deal with a lot of things, which is a positive. It proved to me I’m stronger than I think I am.
“It helped me overcome moments of doubt. It pulls you apart and puts you back together. I wanted to prove that, after my mental health struggles with bipolar disorder, I’m OK now.
“I can not only cope with the stresses of competing in a sport and everyday life, but I can take on one of the most stressful and challenging courses and come out just as mentally strong as before.
“Having bipolar disorder no longer holds me back.”
Elouise adds: “I’m so proud of Bethany and loved being there alongside her during the course.
“It was tough, but it was amazing to be there together, encouraging each other. I’m so happy I could help her when she needed it.”
■■SAS: Who Dares Wins is on Channel 4 tonight at 9pm with looking her best after being mercilessly bullied at school.
Kirsty Hendey, 32, left, turned from a skinny, shy girl to gym-honed fitness model.
The business consultant, from Fulham, West London, says: “I was bullied from the age of 11 for three years because of my appearance. I was skinny and the first to have braces. It was tough. I started training and running and took pride in my appearance.
“I use the bullying as fuel to light my fire. It goes back to me not being so perfect and doing everything I can to be perfect now with my appearance.
“I have a need to push myself and wanted to do something that was really going to test me. There’s nothing like the SAS selection.”