Gemma Atkinson says not having ‘Strictly Come Dancing’ to "occupy" her time off would’ve "killed [her] mentally".
The 33-year-old actress – whose ‘Emmerdale’ character Carly Hope is currently away from the village – is returning to weight training for the first time since the BBC one ballroom and latin show finished on Saturday (16.12.17), and admits without the competition filling her free time, she’d have been an emotional mess.
Despite the rigorous training for ‘Strictly’, Gemma claims she is "heavier and not as fit" as she was three months ago, which is making her "nervous" about picking up weights again.
Alongside a screenshot of her Women’s Health shoot posted on her Instagram, Gemma wrote: "With Stricly being finished Im going to have my routine back in place when it comes to my training and most importantly my meal choices. I haven’t done a "big shop" or weight trained since September. Without having the dancing to occupy me, mentally that time off would have killed me. Training is my alone time and my form of therapy. I’m really looking forward to getting back in the gym @upfitnesslive although I’m heavier and not as fit as I was 3 months ago so I’m also a tad nervous but hey, If I can attempt to dance in front of 12 million people on a Saturday then I can show up with @markbo1989 Evil steve and @zusun83 and attempt to get back to feeling my best! They just may need to bring a sick bucket. Time to Grind!! #ladieswholift (sic)"
The former ‘Hollyoaks’ star previously revealed she was told she was "too muscular" to do ‘Strictly".
The blonde beauty poured blood, sweat and tears into the show, and was thrilled she can now rub it in the faces of those who slammed her for being bigger than most dancers after being a finalist on the programme.
She said previously: "Obviously I’m into training and going to the gym, I’m not your typical petite kind of dancer’s physique. I’m broad, I’m tall and everyone said there’s no way you’ll ever be able to do it because you’re too muscular or because I’m too much of a tomboy and I’m too much of this.
"Obviously getting here is a massive achievement but I love the fact, women who perhaps do weight training or do boxing or don’t like wearing dresses at the weekends or don’t like the spray tans have said to me, ‘I’m going to try and do some dancing because you can do it’
and that’s what I like.
"The fact that you shouldn’t be fitted into a stereotype because of your build or what you’re naturally good at or what you gravitate to as a hobby."
Gemma Atkinson: Break would’ve killed me without Strictly
