Kristina Parks has shown off what her body looked like before she started hitting the gym, and fans have hailed her transformation into a ‘muscle mummy’ as ‘outstanding’
A woman known online as the “muscle mummy” has been praised for her “outstanding” transformation after showing what her body looked like before hitting the gym. Kristina Parks, 45, is a bodybuilder and mum of three who hit the gym hard after having her children in a bid to build her confidence back up.
Kristina began her gym journey at 35, and over the past decade of weight training, she has managed to become the International Federation of Bodybuilding & Fitness Professional League (IFBB Pro) champion a staggering nine times. The mum’s ripped physique has earned her the nickname “muscle mummy” online, and most fans have only ever seen her body the way it looks now.
In a recent Instagram post, however, Kristina gave fans a glimpse into the past, showing off what her body looked like before she began hitting the gym around a decade ago.
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The mum, from the US, put together a video that included a few pictures of herself when she was a young mum, including one when she was pregnant and another of her holding one of her children. The pictures showed her as an average build, with no defined muscles on her arms or stomach.
The video then cut to footage of Kristina from more recently, with her bulging biceps and toned abs on display as she flexed in the gym. Another shot showed the muscle that the mum has built up on her thighs as she demonstrated some of the core strength moves that helped build up her muscle in the first place.
In the caption of her video, she wrote: “I broke … then built myself up. I only hope to help others know to get up and build. Especially moms! You can do it. Only up from where you start.
“I didn’t cry, I didn’t drink, I didn’t feel sorry for myself. I grew and gained confidence within myself. Best feeling in the world.”
Kristina’s comments section was flooded with people offering her words of encouragement. Many said her transformation has been “outstanding”, while others praised her for reaching her goals after motherhood, which is known to take a toll on the body.
One person said: “FANTASTIC transformation!!! AND, it’s so much more difficult for a woman, especially after kids!! I know what it takes!! Your dedication is amazing, and it shows. You looked great on stage this year, your conditioning was top-notch … KEEP IT GOING!!”
Another added: “Amazing and incredible transformation with all the challenges you were faced with, congratulations!”
A third posted: “So proud of you. [It takes] such strength of character to realise and admit to yourself that you are not happy with body/life, feel the need to change and have the resolve and perseverance to make it happen!! Brutal and inspiring work, you are a legend, gorgeous.”
Not all the commenters on her video were positive, however, as some said they preferred how Kristina looked before her transformation. One person even questioned who “hurt” the mum, assuming that she must have gone through something traumatic in order to want to change her body so much.
Someone asked: “Why would anyone do this to their body?”
Another said: “I wouldn’t call you pretty, a mess more like.”
But Kristina is happy with her body, and that’s all that should matter, no matter what her haters say!
