In September Frances Abbott stunned Australia when she revealed her incredibly ripped physique as she competed in the Australian ICN Victorian State Titles bodybuilding division.
But while it might have looked all plain sailing for the daughter of former prime minister, Tony Abbott, behind the scenes, this definitely wasn’t the case of the 26-year-old personal trainer – who also got engaged to Sam Loch this year.
Writing on her Instagram profile on Thursday evening, Frances posted: ‘The effects of getting on stage still linger even though the show has long been over.
‘I knew the comedown was going to be challenging but I didn’t expect it to be what it was.’
In September Frances Abbott (pictured) stunned Australia when she revealed her incredibly ripped physique and competed in the Australian ICN Victorian State Titles
But while it may have looked all plain sailing, behind the scenes it was a different situation – as the 26-year-old (pictured) recently revealed
Writing on her Instagram profile on Thursday evening, Frances posted: ‘The effects of getting on stage still linger even though the show has long been over’
The personal trainer (pictured) confessed to having had a bit of a ‘comedown’ after the experience
Frances confessed that while she ‘thought I would be able to beat it or brush it off’, she was ‘kidding herself’:
‘I didn’t trust the process, I tried to fight it (kicking and screaming… no joke) and ended up in a bit of a pickle,’ she elaborated – but cryptically.
‘What I know now is that I could have done it better, not in terms of getting a better result from the judges, but in having a better approach for my mental and physical health.’
Frances competed in both the ‘sports model’ category of the ICN Victorian State Titles, which attracted more than 700 competitors in both the novice and elite categories, and the ‘first timer’ bikini fitness model division.
She placed last, but at the time drew many positives from her debut bodybuilding experience.
Frances had a big year this year – after she also got engaged to rower turned weightlifter, Sam Loch (both pictured)
‘What I know now is that I could have done it better, not in terms of getting a better result from the judges, but in having a better approach for my mental and physical health,’ Frances said
The 26-year-old said that now the competitions are over, she is focusing on her ‘groovy self again’.
‘Part of that has been focusing on strength goals,’ she admitted. ‘[And] getting back into practising yoga three times a week and getting some decent rest.’
Frances confessed she ‘still tracks my macros’ – the popular method by which fitness personalities count the exact amounts of protein, carbohydrates and fat they are eating – but she is also ‘back to eating apples every day (Hallelujah) and enjoying whatever the f**k I feel like on Sundays (always ice cream).’
The PT concluded her post by touching on the idea that she might compete again – something which she had said she would always do, but a subject around which she is now having second thoughts:
‘Will I compete again?,’ she asked.
‘Maybe not as soon as I had hoped, but yes. I plan to do it better, slow and steady, giving myself a proper prep time (12-16 weeks). So that when I next get into that sequinned bikini I will be a hell of a lot stronger and smarter and sassier than ever.’
Now, she is back to focusing on her mental and physical health – turning to yoga three times a week (pictured)
Frances said she will compete again, but not as soon as she hoped to – instead, she will allow adequate prep time
Previously, Frances spoke about her strict bodybuilding diet – which saw the Life Hub trainer endure months of counting calories and weighing out her food portions
‘I weighed my food meal by meal for around three months, I woke at 4.15am most mornings to do fasted cardio and I also had to become a bit of a social recluse,’ she explained
In the lead-up to the competitions, she also went through a ‘shredding’ phase of workouts – which included both 20 and 40 minutes on a treadmill or bike, followed by an hour of weights
Previously, Frances spoke about her strict bodybuilding diet – which saw the Life Hub trainer endure months of counting calories and weighing out her food portions.
‘I have had a number of people ask me to tell them exactly what I eat “down to every last mouthful”,’ Frances posted on Instagram at the time.
‘I am happy to tell you exactly what I have eaten, I am happy to tell you exactly how I have trained and I am also happy to tell you that even if you do exactly what I did, getting the exact same results is not guaranteed.
‘I weighed my food meal by meal for around three months, I woke at 4.15am most mornings to do fasted cardio and I also had to become a bit of a social recluse to get the results I achieved in the amount of time that I had.
‘Was it easy? No. Was it worth it? Yes. Would I do it again? Definitely, but give myself more time. And go in with more understanding. I was eating and training like an athlete to compete in a competition.
‘Not just to drop a few kgs “to get ready for summer”.
‘The challenge I now face is almost as serious as the one I was preparing for… reverse dieting and training in a way that will help me put weight back on with out me getting stuck in my head about putting on weight.’
In the lead-up to the competitions, she also went through a ‘shredding’ phase of workouts – which included both 20 and 40 minutes on a treadmill or bike, followed by an hour of weights.
Frances has had a big year, which not only see her make her bikini bodybuilding debut – but also get engaged to rower turned weightlifter, Sam Loch.
The couple have not set a date for their wedding yet.