PHOTO CREDITS: SHANE WATKINS
“ Competing had consumed me, I didn’ t know who I was anymore and I wanted to live my life,” she confesses.“ I felt scared, lost and lonely with the prospect of walking away from the structured life that gave me comfort and security, but I knew it was no longer meant for me.
“ I know some may think I’ m making a big mistake by walking away, but when you want something so badly and you put all of your energy into it, you often forget about everything else. I even forgot about my friends, family and relationships,” she says.
“ Bodybuilding taught me that a lot and helped me find myself, but ironically I also lost myself towards the end.
“ No one tells you about how this lifestyle will make you feel or how it can affect your everyday life. We only ever see the glamorous side of the sport, not what it takes to get there.”
Carly stresses that this doesn’ t happen to everyone, but this was how it eventually made her feel, and knows there may be others who can relate to this.
Positive Note On the flip side, Carly has gained a lot from her journey as an athlete in the fitness world. It taught her discipline, structure and determination. She now has a powerful drive
that she never had before.
“ With all the qualities that training has taught me, I now know I can apply this to anything,” says Carly.“ If I want something, I just go for it. I use my energy and determination like I did when I was competing,
TRAINING
and I always accomplish it,” she says.“ For once in my life, I’ m FREE.” Carly now trains to feel good all of the time, she loves the freedom of being able to go out when she wants to and says she feels sexy again.
“ When I competed, I was never truly happy with my body, because I was always trying to improve. Now I love my curves, I absolutely LOVE the Brazilian look, I mean who doesn’ t? If you don’ t, then you are mad,” she jokes.
Carly also has her own fitness clothing range called Gluteywear, and stocks scrunch butt leggings to enhance womanly curves.
Carly now focuses on business and supporting those who are going through similar challenges in life, like she used to.
Instagram carlythornton _ ifbbpro
Gluteywear www. gluteywear. co. uk / shop
Email ifbbprocarlythornton @ gmail. com
In general, Carly trains her upper body twice a week and lower body 3-4 times depending on how she feels, especially now she isn’ t forced to train.
Day 1 Lower Body Day 2 Upper Body and Boxing Day 3 Lower Day 4 Upper or a rest day Day 5 Lower
MARCH 2018 | FLEX 93