Gemma Atkinson Instagram – My last pics from 12 weeks at UP Manchester. I genuinely cannot wait to go again! Beyond excited to feel this energised and strong again. Only this time with two babies later, I’ll have some extra mum power 💪🏼 Roll on January! Like last time I’ll be sharing my 12 weeks with @ultimateperformancelive The good days, tough days, workouts and of course the F bombs to evil Steve 😂 It’s going to sound strange to some that I want to get bigger. I want more muscle and more strength. Everyone assumes we all train to shrink and it isn’t always the case. I’m 40 next year and one of the effects of aging is loss of muscle mass & strength, which puts us at a higher risk for injuries day to day and things like aches and pains and osteoporosis. Strength training and building muscle helps us in so many ways physically but also mentally. Believe it or not, studies show it helps with better sleep, increases energy expenditure, improves mental health and the ability to take on daily responsibilities as well. All in all it contributes to better aging, which I’m all for!