6 Maximum Fitness Better Health | June 13, 2016 SHE’S GOT THE POWER 57-year-old, Hanne Bingle is not content just being a doting grandmother of three. The six-time world champion is looking to smash the Guinness World Record for truck pull at the Fitness Expo Dubai

BY SANAYA PAVRI

like the idea of being strong, says Hanne Bin- gle MBE. And she cer- tainly means it! After all Bingle has held Ithe title of Danish Power Lifting World Champion six times and has compet- ed in 35 Strong Woman competitions since 1997, including European and World Strongest Woman. In an exclusive chat with Better Health, Bingle spoke about her passion for champi- oning women’s equality and the confidence she gets by being able to 130kgs, bench Hanne Bingle was honoured with 90kgs and 120kgs, the an Honorary MBE for services to impressive weights that Bingle equality and public transport. lifted in the last championship she attended in Las Vegas. ney, you find a lot of things This November will see the about yourself that you don’t Danish strongwoman attempt know," says the world champi- to break a Guinness World Re- on. "I have always liked the feel- cords for Truck Pull at the Fit- ing of being strong. And for me ness Expo Dubai that is poised the fact that other people know to be the largest exhibition of this is not the goal, but the fitness in the world. Organised main thing is that I know I am in collaboration with the Dubai strong. It gives you a confi- Sports Council, the expo will dence that you couldn’t buy for have over a 1,000 exhibitors money, it gives you a sense with several major brands and of wellbeing and is definitely “Anything that gets women athletes already roped in for ex- a stressbuster.” clusive appearances. For Bingle, strength isn’t into the front door of a The main theme of the ex- necessarily always physical. hibition is health and wellness “Mental strength goes a long gym and to train with and will be accessible to all — way and for me strength is amateurs as well as profession- about fulfilling the training weights is a fantastic als. More than 100 live shows goals. Mentally woman are and competitions linked to much stronger than we give achievement.” Fitness, Wellness, Mixed Mar- ourselves credit for. What drives tial Arts, Parkour, Muay Thai, me is that no one tells me HANNE BINGLE, Kung Fu for Kids, Bodybuilding, it can’t be done. Anything can Six times Danish Powerlifting and seminars by the top ath- be done with the right nutri- World Champion letes such as Mike O'Hearn, tion, right training, and also Shawn Ray, Mona Muresan and mental application.” should bring you joy. “Find out looked fantastic and that many more. Not only does Bingle abso- what you are comfortable with, was 1990. I thought But for 57-year-old Bingle the lutely love training and pushing what you want to achieve and they were toned, fan- Expo is not just the “crowning her strength limits, competi- stick with it – no matter what tastic looking, very achievement of her career” but tions are like an added bonus, your goals there is a training female looking and also a platform to showcase ev- where she gets together with programme for you.” oozed confidence ery aspect of female strength, like-minded women and men to I don’t think women have to and I thought I thus fulfilling a lifelong passion prove that all the training has battle nature, I think it is society wanted some of Pictures: Xxxxxxxxxxx geared towards strength and been correct. because it is not done thing that that,” says the Bingle has deadlifted 155kg women’s rights. For the grandmother of three women show strength, if wom- current oldest in competitions, and in the the never-say-die attitude has en can get over it then the sky is competitor for Strong Woman contest the Silver NOTHING FEELS AS GOOD always been there. “Ever since the limit, adds the lady who was Strong Wom- Dollar Deadlift is about 210kg Competing and breaking the I was a little girl I was strong a London Tube operator for 14 an. From being world record for Bingle is about headed, opinionated and had years and knows all about being a tubby teenager squats and leg curls and calf ex- pushing yourself and more im- leadership qualities and never woman in a man’s world. to weighing over a tensions, another day is upper portantly inspiring other wom- had problems expressing my But Bingle didn’t start train- 100kgs in her mid-20, body where she does shoulder an to get into some kind of opinions. Of course the strength ing till she was 30. “I saw pic- Bingle decided to “get a press and bench press, works and possibly comes with knowing when tures of two body builders in a hold of herself,” as she ap- her triceps and biceps and the even competing. your opinions shouldn’t be aired magazine and I thought they proached the big three-oh. third day is for deadlift. “At the “It’s a very interesting jour- in public.” “But like most people I didn’t Pictures: Xxxxxxxxxxx most I have deadlifted 155kgs in have a clue where to begin and The Danish strongwoman a competitions. In Strong Wom- BREAKING BARRIERS did the worst diets possible, in- continues to train regularly an it’s a little more it’s about DIET ADVICE It’s not just the joy of the cluding taking pills from a doc- 210kg and its called a Silver sport or the thrill of being tor that made me hardly eat Dollar Deadlift because it starts In terms of diet she even body building and to- able to lift the equivalent anything. So I went to the around your knees.” ■ stays away from refined tally appreciate what they go of two grown adults that gym and I still didn’t have sugar and concentrates through. Anything that gets has all those endorphins a clue what I was doing on her protein intake, women into the front door of a racing in her system. and did so many push- ■■ TIPS ON STAYING STRONG which is supplemented gym and to train with weights is “What drives me most ups that my belly was 1. Develop a training with a couple of protein a fantastic achievement.” is showing others and sore and I could hardly programme to suit your shakes a day. “I think it Today, Bingle has a 38-year old in many cases younger walk the other day. And goal. is important for women son who calls her Super Mom women that things can even though I was bent 2. Set realistic training who want to train to and in between 2002 up until be done if you really ap- over like an 80 year old I goals that are weekly, take responsibility for 2011 she has taken part in 35-40 ply yourself to it, wheth- was hooked.” monthly and long term and what they put in their competitions all over England, er it is career, training, In 2009 Bingle was use consistency to achieve bodies because there Scotland, Wales, Norther Ireland, competing. We have equal awarded an honorary them. is a huge difference in Norway, Sweden and Poland. opportunities and breaking MBE. She has been an ac- 3. Take responsibility where your calories come barriers is important for health tive member of Transport for for what you put in your from and not just how FITNESS REGIME and mental health but also for London's women's group net- bodies. many calories you eat. She continues to train regu- your health is later life.” work and promotes equality is- 4. Be conscious of not just My protein is really good larly and her training schedule But despite all the encour- sues through the international calorie intake, but where protein and very good is split into two parts. She does agement and support that Bin- Bingle loves the confidence Women's Transportation Sem- your calories are coming fat and no carbs as carbs three days in the gym for about gle doles out, she is a firm be- she gets by being able to inar. “I try and support many from. slows me down.” an hour and a half. Each day is liever in the fact that working deadlift 130kg, bench 90kg women who are entering the different body part, with one 5. Never be afraid or out should not be a chore but and squat 120kg sport, be it power lifting or day focusing on legs, basically ashamed to ask for help.