From PR to powerlifting, Daniella Means is paving the way forward for women in fitness
If you needed some #fitspo for 2018, this is it. We hit the gym with Daniella Means of EatUP (the meal delivery plan by Ultimate Performance) to see how she keeps her body and mind in tip-top shape.
Dani, as she's known to friends, is a former national rugby player for Hong Kong from 2007-2014, the current national record holder in powerlifting in Singapore and Hong Kong, and a regular Strongman competitor. She'll be representing Hong Kong at the Asia Powerlifting Championships in Kerala on December 7, 2017, so be sure to follow her on Instagram to cheer her on.
When did you first start working out?
This is hard to nail down, as I've always been involved in sports. I was a gymnast from the age of six, which turned into eight years of tumbling and turning and competing. Then I fell into rugby. I knocked a girl out in my first game and was immediately hooked. Playing rugby and representing Hong Kong when I was 17 was my first step into following a proper training program with weights to get strong.
Describe a typical week of workouts for you:
I'm currently training for the Asia Powerlifting Championships in Kerala, India, so I've been doing heavy weight training sessions 4x per week, 2 cardio based sessions per week and I have an active recovery day where I'll do some low-intensity steady state (LISS) cardio, such as hiking.
Those heavy weight training sessions have been focused around the Squat, Bench, or Deadlift which are the three movements in Powerlifting. The way the competition works is that we have to lift the heaviest weight we can for one repetition of each of those movements, and we are categorised by our weight.
What is your favorite workout, class or exercise?
I have a love/hate relationship with the track at Ultimate Performance! Nothing beats a few sets of prowler pushes and sled drags to finish off a workout.
How do you stay motivated?
When you're surrounded by people who are constantly striving to better themselves, and those around them, like my team at Ultimate Performance, it's easy. I might wake up tired and unmotivated sometimes, but as soon as I step into the UP gym, I see and feel the energy on the gym floor and am immediately inspired. I don't mean just physically, but intellectually too. There is constant education and continuous improvement and that's precisely why I love what I do so much.
What do you wear when working out? Any fave brands or stores?
I'm a huge Reebok fan; from their workout wear, combat line, lifting shoes, and their retro Reebok classic line, it's easily my favourite brand! I might be a little biased because my dad used to work for the brand, but my toys growing up were literally glow in the dark rubber shoe soles!
