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Her surname isn’t “Strong” for nothing.
Meet the woman who dead-lifts an astonishing 120 kg while being eight months pregnant – all in a bid to help build her physical endurance during labour.
Sarah Strong, from California in the US, started powerlifting two years ago and credits the hard-core sport for her incredibly toned body. The 29-year-old also says it’s preparing her for childbirth, even though her critics claim she’s putting her unborn baby’s health in serious danger.
“Throughout this pregnancy, it’s helped me maintain a healthy weight and build the endurance needed for labour,” Sarah told Metro News. “It will also help me recover faster.”
Despite the naysayers, Sarah has had no complications throughout her pregnancy and adjusts her routine when she feels the need to. Currently, the single mom to a four-year-old deadlifts 120 kg, bench-presses 56 kg, and squats 84 kg – only a few kilograms less than she could lift pre-pregnancy.
Sarah told Metro News that she trains four times a week, and has taken part in competitions earlier on in her pregnancy, in which she won first prize and qualified for nationals.
“The stress relief and confidence boost are huge for me. Knowing that I can lift heavy weights gives me the confidence to handle anything life throws at me,” she says.
Sarah warns that women who are new to the sport shouldn’t attempt lifting during their pregnancy as it could be very risky.
Although she’s fully aware of what she’s doing, the powerlifting mom-to-be has had mixed reactions from the public.
“People either love me powerlifting or hate it. I get a lot of encouragement that I’m doing great.
“But I also get criticism. Sometimes it’s little comments like, ‘Be careful’ or, ‘Should you be lifting that?',” she says.
Sarah, who’s also a prenatal fitness expert, tries to remain positive and attempts to educate other women on how to stay fit while being pregnant.
Sources: metro.co.uk, mediumdrumworld.com, littlethings.com
