Elizabeth Marshall: A Feisty Mission

A true role model spends equal time in self-improvement and motivating others to be their best ability. Our cover star for May 2020, Elizabeth Marshall never backs down when it comes to achieving her goals and neither has she let anyone else do that.

By Chitman Kanwar Ahuja and Shivpriya Bajpai · Apr 2020 · 8 min read

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It takes countless attempts to strive for perfection in an acquired skill but all it takes is a selfless intent to share those best practices and inspire others. Fitness influencer and model Elizabeth Marshall is on a wholehearted mission to drive the concept of fitness in women. She reiterates the fact that fierce is the ‘new beautiful’, no matter what the stereotypes reckon. In an exclusive interview, Elizabeth speaks her mind and stresses upon the importance of consistency, discipline, and patience in achieving a dream body. Edited excerpts follow.

From being academically inclined to getting into fitness and competing in bodybuilding shows as a bikini competitor, to taking up the social media platforms by storm as a fitness influencer, and resorting to creative outlets through modelling, and being featured as a cover model of international fame—you have done it all. How would you like to describe your glorious journey?

I am blessed beyond anything that I could ever imagine. I started my Instagram account as a hobby after some friends got me excited about the idea of competing in bodybuilding shows. I did four shows before I realised that I wanted to do something more creative, and it blows my mind at how many talented people I have met that have helped me create an amazing impact on media, push boundaries, and live what I thought was a silly, impossible childhood dream. I know that I’m blessed, I’ve worked hard to get here, and my hope is that I have a solid future in front of me that involves inspiring people and, creating many more amazing, interesting and beautiful things.

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How are traditional expectations of women’s strength and muscle challenged by participating in these competitions?

The idea of beauty is thankfully becoming much wider these days, and I can tell you from experience that female fitness competitors don’t care what anyone thinks of their bodies. The ultimate goal for me has always been to do the most masterful job that I can at displaying and contrasting the two opposite concepts of feminine beauty and iron fierceness through different ways, looks, and concepts. This is like art to me, and I love exploring new ways to create it.

You are an inspiration to millions of girls who wish to fight their inner demons and embark on a no holds barred fitness journey. What or who inspires you to stay true to your goals? Who are your fitness role models?

As I mentioned before, I’m an intense, over-achieving, and a type-A perfectionist, so hitting the ground running with something that’s challenging has never been too difficult for me. The biggest obstacle that I see with women who are just starting out is two-fold: they have no idea what they’re doing and they don’t want to suffer and spin their wheels for nothing. Many also feel like this is an unscalable mountain, particularly if they’re very overweight and/or depressed. My best advice is to find someone that you look up to for your own personal reasons—whether it’s someone documenting losing a huge amount of weight, a fitness model, a bodybuilding competitor, or a famous athlete; look up to them for tips, advice, and motivation. Don’t be scared to ask people that you admire for advice. People love to help.

What would you say to someone who might feel intimidated to lift weights, or try the “other” side of the gym, if you will?

Well, examine your thought process. What are you intimidated about? Looking dumb? Hurting yourself? Getting “huge”? None of those are good reasons not to try. It’s easier than ever to learn how to lift weights on YouTube (the form is important), most people at the gym who aren’t spaced out with headphones are more than happy to help you learn, and women don’t possess the hormonal profile to “get huge”. So get to it as you have everything to gain and nothing to lose.

As a social media influencer, you are always in the public eye. Does it ever get daunting to keep challenging yourself to stay relevant? How do you handle trolls and criticism?

Staying relevant hasn’t been an issue for me so far, and I learned a long time ago not to feed trolls. Their behaviour has everything to do with them and nothing to do with me. Haters are going to hate. It means you’re having an impact, irritating their demons, and doing something right.

Discipline and patience are the two golden rules of fitness. How do you think you have mastered these two aspects to always stay on track? What will you advise our readers who struggle on these lines?

I was lucky to be raised by parents who instilled a killer work ethic in me. The whole secret to a great physique, and long term fitness and lifestyle changes is doing what you need to do even when you don’t want to do it, and being consistent. I truly believe that the beginning is the hardest. If you can commit to six weeks of genuine and consistent effort for 30 minutes at least five days a week, you will change, and you’ll never look at your health and lifestyle the same way again. It’s the best thing that you can possibly do for yourself.

What does your current workout regimen look like? Do you prefer sticking to a routine or experimenting with different fitness modules trending these days?

I almost always work out six days a week. I do 20 minutes of intense cardio at least five of the days, and I also lift just about every day, alternating between upper and lower body so that one group has a day to rest and repair, while I work on the other group.

How has training affected you mentally as far as trying to achieve a certain look or aesthetic?

It’s everything. My waist is smaller, my butt and legs look better, my upper body is much more shapely, I look better in clothes, can wear anything I want, and look a lot younger. I have also learned to be so much more comfortable in my own skin. I feel amazing and sexy, and it has taught me that being rail thin and starving yourself is not what’s beautiful. There are literally no downsides.

How do you approach diet and nutrition? Do you believe in cheat meals?

I absolutely believe in cheat meals and have it once a week. They’re actually good for you because they shock your metabolism, and keep you from plateauing. The rest of the time, I only eat foods that aren’t processed and either walk, swim, fly or grow out of the ground. Low fat/high carb arrangements seem to work best for my particular body type. Eat real food, and avoid sugar like the plague.

What are your views on the consumption of supplements to achieve fitness goals?

I take several supplements. I’m a big fan of the obvious stuff like protein powders and other supplementary nutrition staples, but I also take BCAAs before and after lifting, a fat burner, apple cider vinegar caplets, a multivitamin, a pre/probiotic day and night, vitamin B, and vitamin D every single day.

If you had to debunk three fitness myths for our readers, what would those be?

The first one would be ‘carbs are not bad for you’. The second one is ‘endless cardio will do nothing except make you skinny fat’, and lastly, ‘women who lift weights don’t look manly, they look gorgeous’.

Since we are all caught in the middle of the global pandemic caused by COVID-19, plans and goals seem to have taken a back seat. How are you staying on track of your fitness goals? What will be your words of advice for fitness enthusiasts who don’t have access to gyms at this time?

I’m incredibly fortunate to have a home gym, so I’m doing just fine right now. For anyone who doesn’t have access to a gym, the best way to stay fit is to go outside for a brisk walk or a bike ride. You can look up bodyweight exercises on social media or YouTube. You’d be amazed at what you can get done without any equipment.

Tell us something about your upcoming projects.

I’m really excited about my upcoming film debut in Sgt. Lionheart, a military film by my friend Jason Ellis that stars C.T. Fletcher, Mike O’Hearn, and several other fitness greats. It should be an amazing experience.

Quick Favourites

Fitness gadget

Resistance bands

Sport you wish you were a pro at

I would be a wrestling diva if I weren’t doing this

Workout playlist

A mix of hip hop, hard rock, heavy metal and EDM.

Pizza topping

Sausage

Holiday destination

Hawaii

Whey protein flavour

Vanilla, because it’s so versatile.

Muscle group to train

Glutes

Rapid Fire

If you could get yourself anything, what would you get?

An antique of some sort that has a really cool backstory. Like a piece of art or jewellery or an old book.

Your last Halloween costume?

Marie Antoinette

What’s your favourite carb: bread, pasta, rice, or potatoes?

Probably potatoes, since there are an endless number of ways to make them delicious.

Given a chance, what would you choose between Sour Patch Kids and Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups?

Reese’s for sure.

What are the staple ingredients in your pre-workout smoothie?

I usually use a pre-workout powder to get me amped up before workouts. Just add a scoop of powder to water and I’m good to go.

What are your most cherished outlets to let your creativity flow?

I love photography. Whether it’s being in front of a camera modeling and making art or capturing landscapes in some beautiful place around the world, it’s definitely something that always makes me happy.

What is the most challenging aspect of being in the fitness industry?

For me, it’s learning how to balance perfection and the desire to always reach higher and achieve more with self care and remembering that progress beats perfection any day.

What fitness advice would you give to beginners in this sphere?

Don’t quit. Yes, getting active can be a bit of an adjustment in the beginning. But remember, it’s hard for everybody at first. If you can commit to at least 30 minutes six days a week, to something as simple as a brisk walk that gets your heart rate elevated, you will see a difference and your whole outlook on fitness and leading an active lifestyle will totally change.