Lifting weights and seeing my body change drives me to stay focused.

We had the pleasure to meet and greet Lorenza Attard, a well known Maltese athlete and fitness Coach at Steel Extreme Malta. Lorenza shared with us her experiences in various sports sectors such as dancing, martial arts and bodybuilding. She is a true example that women can be equally successful as man in any sports they put their mind to. Check out her interview below.

How did you start your fitness journey?

My fitness journey started pretty early on in life.  In my teens I trained as a dancer and travelled abroad to take part in various shows such as ISKRA in Torino.  At the age of 35 I took a totally different path and started taking martial arts lessons with my son.  This gave us the opportunity to train together and later on competing abroad.  In 2012 I went on to win the title of Female Grand Champion in the Korean Martial Art style, Tang Soo Do. 

What made you choose fitness as a career?

In 2014 I decided it was time for a career change and started studying towards my Personal training certification. Various other qualifications followed.   I wanted to help others especially women build their confidence, mainly in the weights room which is a still a very male dominated area.  My mission is to inspire others and help them achieve goals they never thought they would or could on their own.

How many times a week do you train? Can you share with us how you plan your weekly training sessions?

I currently train 6 days a week, my training plan is structured by my coach to fit around my busy schedule.  We follow various training blocks, working mainly on bodybuilding splits targeting specific muscle groups such as chest, back, lower body, arms and shoulders.

I feel that having a coach to guide me gives me structure and accountability especially when I’m working towards a competition.

Which time of the day do you consider the most ideal to train? 

Everyone is different so I would say train how it suits you best and how you feel.  If you feel too tired at the end of the day, then try to start your day with training first thing.  My ideal time to train is around 11am.

Do you prefer to use gym machines or free weights during your training?

I definitely prefer free weights over machines and 90% of our training at SEF is free weights.  We teach our clients how to train effectively and efficiently for their specific goals, using mainly compound movements.

What is your greatest accomplishment in your fitness career?

My greatest accomplishment by far is creating SEF with my husband Matt.  It was a big decision for us both, to move from London in 2016 and set up Steelextreme Fitness. Our passion for the industry, to bring our ideas together and build a community we are very proud of.  We pride ourselves in the level of service we offer and the business has grown over the years.

What made you choose Bodybuilding?

From Martial Arts to Competing in Bodybuilding was a tough move but one I am so glad I did.  In 2015 I competed for the 1st time in Bikini Fitness whilst I was still living in the UK.

Lifting weights and seeing my body change drives me to stay focused and determined to achieve the goals I set out for.  Last year I transitioned to Wellness and finally came to accept and love my big legs!! 

What is the toughest thing you go through when you are preparing for a contest?

The toughest period throughout prep is when you get to the end just before a competition and you feel tired and depleted but you have to soldier on.  Competing is a tough sport and requires a very disciplined mind.

What is your opinion about healthy food?

I think there has to be a balance.  Nothing is really bad for you, unless you are living on junk food!  There aren’t bad foods, it’s more about how much you consume.  In my line of work, I come across a lot of people that deprive themselves from the foods that they love for long periods of time which in turn, turns into eating disorders.  So, my recommendation would be everything in moderation.

Do you enjoy a cheat meal here and there? What is your favourite treat?

My favourite snack is Greek yogurt with blueberries and favourite cheat meal has to be a nice plate of pasta or pizza…… oh and my downfall is cheese!

We would like you to send a message to our followers who are thinking to start a healthy lifestyle.

"It’s never too late to start.  Don’t hesitate to take that 1st step into changing your lifestyle, you will feel more confident and happy in yourself once you start."

Thank you Lorenza for your time, we are sure your fitness journey will inspire many others. If you would like to contact Lorenza at Steel Extreme Fitness check out the link below.

https://steelextremefitness.com/