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@vampess2

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A year changes a lot.

Not just how you look, but how you deal with the grind, the pressure, and everything that comes with trying to build something in this sport.

A week before my first show photos and now nearly a year on photos, I remember everything that first time it just felt full on. Dieting, training, trying to get everything dialled, constantly thinking about how I looked and what still needed fixing. It’s your first real run at it, so everything feels like it matters a bit too much because it does, in your head, at least.

Then, after that came the bulk. Six months of doing the opposite. Eating more, trying to grow, pushing numbers up. People act like that’s the easy part, but it’s not just “relax and eat” you’re still thinking, still adjusting, still trying not to lose the structure you built. It's just in a different phase of the same obsession.

Now I’m here again a week away from starting another 20-week prep.

Same goal, different version of me.

And I already know how my head works with it. Overthinking everything, second-guessing things, analysing every little change, trying to make sense of things that probably don’t need that much thought… that’s just part of it for me. But I still get it done. That’s the important part.

This time I know what the prep actually feels like. The hunger, the fatigue, the flat days, the days where nothing feels like it’s moving, and you still have to train like it is. There are no surprises there anymore.

Bodybuilding isn’t really glamorous. It’s repetition. It’s structure. It’s doing things even when your head’s arguing with you about it the whole time.

The hardest part isn’t the gym, even though at times its so hard to lift, it’s managing yourself outside of it when everything feels like it needs adjusting or thinking about.

But I’m still in it because that’s what it takes.

Every phase shows you something, even if it’s just how to handle yourself a bit better than last time.

A year ago, I was preparing for my first show.

Now I’m going into another prep, and the goal is simple: to bring a better version this time.

#bodybuilding
#fitnessmotivation
#gymlife
#beastmode by @vampess2

41

8

6 months ago

Sooooooo, I haven't posted the professional shots apart from on my story, so here's just a few of my faves from each category. There are tons of them, so I'm not gonna post them all.
What I will say is wow to 2025 what I bloody year it has been, now let me just say for people closest to me I am not a confident person at all, yes I know im loud and a bit of a joker at times but that is only ever around people I am comfy with. The people who know me well when I said I was going to step on a stage people looked at me like I'd gone mad, I even questioned my own sanity but hey I'm not getting any younger, so at 47 I got on stage for my first show in June and my second in October and absolutely loved it, nervous absolutely, break downs loads of them, stressful yes every single day, but I will do it all over again in a heartbeat, so roll on 2026 :) #bodybuilding #BikiniCompetition #gymrates🏋️ #fitandhealthyafter40 #mastersover45s #transformation by @vampess2

53

8

a year ago

The last two days have absolutely fucking broken me. 😭 Between period hormones, work, exhaustion, my injury rearing its ugly head, a rebellious kit kat that somehow wormed its way in and just the overall pressures of prep, my head well and truly fell off.
But we don't quit on a bad day. ❤️ i shouted, I screamed, i talked, I had hugs and a intervention from the best people at the gym, including my amazing other half, people who know, people who understand. A friend said to me that giving 100 percent is not about perfection every damn day, sometimes it's only 20 percent one day and 80 another and I heard that 🫠

So we carry on, The judges' feedback from my first show was to develop more back width and fully open my lats when posing. So last night, Boss Man got me back in the gym, pulled my head out of my arse, made me laugh, and got us working on exactly that.
And FINALLY… we're finding that width! 🔥
Sometimes, you need more than a coach who gives you a training plan. You need someone who understands how you think and work, who knows when to push, when to listen and when to take the absolute piss out of you. 😂
Thank you, Boss Man, for pulling me back from the edge of a very big cliff when I needed it most. ❤️
Feedback taken. Improvements being made. Eyes on Championships. 💪🔥

#bodybuildingjourney #bikinicompetitor #BackGains #CompetitionPrep #RoadToChampionships 🔥💪 by @vampess2

34

6

a month ago

Fit x photos :) I forgot the face placement as was thinking about my foot placement 🤣🤣🤣 but overall, I'm happy with these.... feedback all positive as well, so bonus. Bikini over 45s
Onwards and upwards :) #BikiniAthlete
#fitx #bodybuildingjourney #womenwholift #GymGirl by @vampess2

59

5

a month ago

Another fab weekend, busy, exhausting but so much fun... so grateful for the people in my life who support me... I couldn't do it without each and everyone of them, the pride I feel when I hear thier voices screaming for me when standing on that stage, bodybuilding is a lonely sport, i spend alot of time alone, training, food, cardio... but when I need them all in my corner, each and everyone of them show up and cheer for me on, spending hours watching other categories to be there for my 5 minutes on that stage and there is not enough thanks in the world to give them ❤️ by @vampess2

43

3

a month ago

Professional photos made me smile last night after outside noise wormed their way through the barrier I had created and had me doubting if I was good enough to partake in this sport.

Then I realised this why should i doubt myself, im doing it, im working hard every day, and have done so the last 3 years to produce what is in these photos.

Now i lay it clear do I struggle with holding weight in my lower half? Yes.... have i struggled to get it off also, yes.... but it will go, it will change, it will shape...

But in the grand scheme of things, this is show 3 overall and show one of this year, im still very new to the sport, am I perfect no, am I working towards the best I can be also big fat yes.

I train hard, I follow my coach, I learn, I grow, and I give everything I have to make myself better. If that's not good enough, well I urge you to live a week in my life and see if that noise u chatter changes.

Good luck and remember everyone was a beginner once.....

#bodybuilding #BikiniCompetition #GritAndGrowth #RealNotPerfect ##dreambig by @vampess2

49

18

a month ago

Photo dump 2 after show photos with my amazing support ❤️ @debbie__cookson @thectrlaltfixcompany @bionik_strength @forgefuel.nutrition @i.am.katmc and the biggest shout out to @steve_a_c whos been there in the background, prepping meals, driving about, picking shit up, posing with me, lifting with me, coping with me wanting to kill him 😄 couldnt do it without you ❤️ you ready to go again this week 😄
#team #family #showday #pcamanchester #bikinicompetitor by @vampess2

38

3

a month ago

Show day dump, what a day, from start to finish ir was just fun and relaxed, this ia my 3rd show overall and 1st show of 2026... I shifted my mindset this season, I grew my body and my confidence, which for me confidence is always in very short supply.
I went into this show not expecting to place i went in with the mindset this season to have fun, meet new people and enjoy the ride, that doesn't mean that I didn't take everything seriously... I was guided by my coach @bionik_strength every step of the way, and he has given me the body I wanted and the confidence to feel like yes I belong on that stage, my posing coach @amyhope_platinumposing somehow managed to get me looking half decent in my poses 🤣🤣🤣 and I am grateful for them both.
3rd place and an invite to championships, girl didn't do too badly.... now on to the next shows, no matter what they bring im so happy to be competing alongside some incredible women #pcamanchester #strongwomen #bikinicompetitor #showday #dreambig by @vampess2

41

6

a month ago

The first show of 2026 in the bag PCA Bikini over 45s at Middleton Arena had an absolute ball, fab vibe backstage with some amazing women, cant thank the people in my life who came to support me, and cheered me on.
We placed 3rd and got an invite to championships in October 🤪 This is only my 3rd time on stage and looking back at the video I can see the little mistakes a wobble, an arm moving to fast but its all a learning curve and I put in the work everyday to get better and better, back in peek week this week and looking forward to competing at Fit X on Sunday.
#PCA #bikinicompetitor #over45s #bodybuildingjourney #iwalk by @vampess2

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11

a month ago

There’s something pretty fucking satisfying about seeing the muscle still there this deep into prep. 🔥

Carbs low, energy questionable and running mostly on caffeine because black coffee is the ultimate go-to and at this point pure stubbornness to get the weight off the damn ground 🤣🤣🤣

Watching these clips back last night made me realise just how much we’ve managed to hold onto while getting leaner and leaner. Yet I'm complaining im getting smaller and smaller 🤣🤣

I’ve questioned myself approximately 700 times, maybe more 🤣 Boss Man? Not bloody once, such a calm and collected individual. 😂 He just keeps telling me to get on with it, expecting me to work, and reminding me that we’re exactly where we need to be. Tackling the lows with his logic and the highs with matched excited energy, sometimes energy that makes me want to throw something at him 🤣🤣🤣

And now somehow… it’s peak fucking week and were 4 days out. 🥹

I’m proud of what we’ve built. Proud of what we’ve kept. And ridiculously excited to finally see the finished package on that stage as nervous as I am il bring what I built and hope its enough.

#BodybuildingJourney #BikiniAthlete #upperbody #PrepDiaries #stagelean taken in Bionik Strength by @vampess2

26

2

2 months ago

Repeat and repeat, keep moving, keep grinding another week down, loads of posing, lots of training, lots of cardio, lots of steps, not alot of calories 🤣🤣 19 weeks down, one to go to first show, 8 weeks till final show, 9 weeks to holiday and not long till christmas 🤣🤣🤣
Peak week protocol in hand now we push forward till show day and hopefully I dont fall on my face 🤣🤣🤣
#GymGirl #bodybuildingjourney ##preplife #BikiniAthlete #bodybuilding by @vampess2

14

1

2 months ago

Last posing session before show, 8 days out, peak starts Monday, done everything I can to be the best I can be, do I feel ready ??? Is anyone ever ready to step under the lights, but iv followed a 8 month off season plan, iv followed a 20 week prep, iv done the cardio, the steps, the posing, the training, listened to my coaches, done my check ins, done the changes, the early mornings and everything bloody else that comes with this journey, so I will step on that stage knowing I've done everything I can the rest is in the judges hands and I will welcome the feedback with open arms 👍 😀
#bodybuildingjourney #BikiniAthlete #PrepDiaries #PrepLife #Gymrat by @vampess2

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15

2 months ago