Bristol mum's extreme way of getting in shape

An Easton mum won her battle of the bulge by devising an extreme workout which she says works hours after the routine.

Soeli Devane, 27, who also works as a PA, designed the Amazon Total Body Workout after giving birth to her son and putting on five stone.

Despite being unable to complete just a few of her own exercises at the start she became hooked, stuck with the programme and soon regained her size eight figure.

Her workout needs no equipment and is based on short intense and explosive training designed to melt pounds and enable the body to go on burning fat up to 48 hours after training. In just one session Ms Devane said it was possible to burn between 800 and 1,000 calories.

Ms Devane, who has just held her first boot camp day now wants to offer more people the chance to experience her workout.

She said: "When I had my little boy, Brenen, I put a few layers on everywhere. Before I was pregnant I used to kickbox, so six weeks after I went back to it, I did that about twice a week and went to the gym and I lost nearly a stone in about eight months. I did feel OK but was insecure about my figure.

"One day I got introduced to something called the Gladiator Workout, I attended the class and was literally nearly sick, it was insane and the guy at the front taking the workout was in brilliant shape at 45. I became hooked and started explosive training sessions all the time, I didn't really keep an eye on my weight, it just kind of fell off.

"I was so tired and sore most of the time but I felt so proud it didn't matter."

Inspired by the workout, Ms Devane wanted to set up something that would push people through their comfort zone.

She said: "I created the class because I wanted to offer something for hardcore trainers and to introduce something new to routine gym goers.

"The exercises have been taken from my varied training regime, ranging from full contact mixed martial arts, Gladiator Workout, yoga, breathing exercises, meditation, and explosive gym sessions.

"All people need is determination to succeed. That's what the fearsome Amazon warriors had.

"I know there are many different ways to lose weight and tone up and this doesn't suit everyone. The class changes from week to week so I am constantly shocking the body and firing up the metabolism, after training this keeps the body fired up for burning fat up to 48hrs after."

The sessions end with a stretch and meditation. Classes for men and women are held at Horfield Sports Centre, Tuesdays and Sundays, 11am to noon, and Easton Sports Centre on Thursdays, 11am to noon. For details contact Soeli on 07789005707.