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Elizabeth Smart began bodybuilding after stepping away from marathon running due to its physical and time demands<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n
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Competing in bodybuilding helped Smart reframe her relationship with her body and celebrate its strength and resilience<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n
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Smart told Gayle King on CBS Mornings<\/em> the experience has allowed her to embrace new challenges while continuing her advocacy for survivors of abuse<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\nElizabeth Smart is embracing a new chapter \u2014 and a new sense of freedom.<\/p>\n
Appearing on CBS Mornings<\/em> on Monday, May 4, the kidnapping survivor and child safety advocate opened up to Gayle King about what competing in bodybuilding has meant to her, just weeks after placing first in her division at a competition<\/a>.<\/p>\n\u201cI feel good. I feel excited,\u201d Smart said. \u201cI feel almost liberated to a degree because I think for so long I wanted to be taken seriously, I wanted whatever I had to say to matter, I wanted to feel like I was respected.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd I also feel like, by doing this and putting this post out there, I feel liberated because I can be more than just one thing,\u201d she continued. \u201cI can be a bodybuilder. I can feel beautiful and sexy. And I can still be an advocate for women and children against sexual violence.\u201d<\/p>\n
Smart was abducted at 14 and held captive for nine months<\/a> before being rescued in 2003. In the years since, she has become a leading advocate for child safety and a prominent voice supporting survivors of sexual violence.<\/p>\nThe 38-year-old’s journey to bodybuilding began after she stepped away from marathon running, which had become increasingly demanding on her body and time.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy knees started hurting a little more, I had to do a whole series of stretches before I\u2019d go for a run,\u201d said Smart, who shares three kids (Chlo\u00e9, 11, James, 9, and Olivia, 7) with husband Matthew Gilmour<\/a>. \u201cAnd it was taking up so much of my day, especially on the weekend when my kids were home. By the time I\u2019d finish my long runs, I\u2019d be useless for the rest of the day.\u201d<\/p>\nWhen her trainer, Robyn Maher, reached out about working together again, Smart said she realized she needed a new goal \u2014 and a new challenge.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019d be lying if I said there wasn\u2019t vanity involved,\u201d she told King with a laugh. \u201cI was like, \u2018I want to look amazing. I need a goal and I need a deadline.\u2019 Otherwise I\u2019d be like, \u2018My diet starts Monday. My diet starts Monday.\u2019 \u201d<\/p>\n\n\n![\"Elizabeth](\"https:\/\/s.yimg.com\/lo\/mysterio\/api\/E97B655CFC696690BEFE87E9639179521B33F1FB2D9738A0DA74A6BCB13A1E34\/subgraphmysterio\/resizefit_w960_h640;quality_80;format_webp\/https:%2F%2Fmedia.zenfs.com%2Fen%2Faol_people_articles_471%2Ffcebe5d1f208ab2e3fe90764e8fa647c\"\/)
<\/div>\nElizabeth Smart on stage at her bodybuilding competition
Credit: Robyn Maher\/Instagram<\/i><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n
Never miss a story \u2014 sign up for<\/strong> PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter<\/strong><\/a> to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer\u200b\u200b, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.<\/strong><\/p>\nThat goal led her to bodybuilding \u2014 a pursuit she said initially felt far outside her comfort zone.<\/p>\n
\u201cOh, it was terrifying. It was absolutely terrifying,\u201d Smart recalled on CBS Mornings<\/em> of her first competition, which took place from April 17 to 18 in Salt Lake City, Utah. \u201cI grew up always just being so modest. I don\u2019t think I wore a bikini until I was on my honeymoon. So stepping up on stage in a bikini felt like the most vulnerable thing I could possibly do.\u201d<\/p>\nDespite the nerves, Smart said the experience has ultimately helped her reframe her relationship with her body \u2014 something she knows can be especially complex for survivors of abuse.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn my line of work, I have met so many victims of sexual abuse and violence who feel like their body betrayed them,\u201d she said. \u201cWe see a lot of self-harm, eating disorders, feelings of self-loathing.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cFor me doing this, I feel like it has been a celebration of my body because it has carried me through every worst day, every bad experience,\u201d she continued. \u201cI\u2019ve had three beautiful children. It still carries me through life, and I am so grateful to my body for being where I am today that I want to celebrate it.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd I shouldn\u2019t be ashamed of it,\u201d she added. \u201cAnd I shouldn\u2019t be ashamed that I\u2019ve taken care of it and worked to build it strong. And I\u2019m very proud of myself.\u201d<\/p>\n
Read the original article on People<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Elizabeth Smart began bodybuilding after stepping away from marathon running due to its physical and time demands<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n
Competing in bodybuilding helped Smart reframe her relationship with her body and celebrate its strength and resilience<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n
Smart told Gayle King on CBS Mornings<\/em> the experience has allowed her to embrace new challenges while continuing her advocacy for survivors of abuse<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n Elizabeth Smart is embracing a new chapter \u2014 and a new sense of freedom.<\/p>\n Appearing on CBS Mornings<\/em> on Monday, May 4, the kidnapping survivor and child safety advocate opened up to Gayle King about what competing in bodybuilding has meant to her, just weeks after placing first in her division at a competition<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cI feel good. I feel excited,\u201d Smart said. \u201cI feel almost liberated to a degree because I think for so long I wanted to be taken seriously, I wanted whatever I had to say to matter, I wanted to feel like I was respected.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAnd I also feel like, by doing this and putting this post out there, I feel liberated because I can be more than just one thing,\u201d she continued. \u201cI can be a bodybuilder. I can feel beautiful and sexy. And I can still be an advocate for women and children against sexual violence.\u201d<\/p>\n Smart was abducted at 14 and held captive for nine months<\/a> before being rescued in 2003. In the years since, she has become a leading advocate for child safety and a prominent voice supporting survivors of sexual violence.<\/p>\n The 38-year-old’s journey to bodybuilding began after she stepped away from marathon running, which had become increasingly demanding on her body and time.<\/p>\n \u201cMy knees started hurting a little more, I had to do a whole series of stretches before I\u2019d go for a run,\u201d said Smart, who shares three kids (Chlo\u00e9, 11, James, 9, and Olivia, 7) with husband Matthew Gilmour<\/a>. \u201cAnd it was taking up so much of my day, especially on the weekend when my kids were home. By the time I\u2019d finish my long runs, I\u2019d be useless for the rest of the day.\u201d<\/p>\n When her trainer, Robyn Maher, reached out about working together again, Smart said she realized she needed a new goal \u2014 and a new challenge.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019d be lying if I said there wasn\u2019t vanity involved,\u201d she told King with a laugh. \u201cI was like, \u2018I want to look amazing. I need a goal and I need a deadline.\u2019 Otherwise I\u2019d be like, \u2018My diet starts Monday. My diet starts Monday.\u2019 \u201d<\/p>\n Elizabeth Smart on stage at her bodybuilding competition Never miss a story \u2014 sign up for<\/strong> PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter<\/strong><\/a> to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer\u200b\u200b, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.<\/strong><\/p>\n That goal led her to bodybuilding \u2014 a pursuit she said initially felt far outside her comfort zone.<\/p>\n \u201cOh, it was terrifying. It was absolutely terrifying,\u201d Smart recalled on CBS Mornings<\/em> of her first competition, which took place from April 17 to 18 in Salt Lake City, Utah. \u201cI grew up always just being so modest. I don\u2019t think I wore a bikini until I was on my honeymoon. So stepping up on stage in a bikini felt like the most vulnerable thing I could possibly do.\u201d<\/p>\n Despite the nerves, Smart said the experience has ultimately helped her reframe her relationship with her body \u2014 something she knows can be especially complex for survivors of abuse.<\/p>\n \u201cIn my line of work, I have met so many victims of sexual abuse and violence who feel like their body betrayed them,\u201d she said. \u201cWe see a lot of self-harm, eating disorders, feelings of self-loathing.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cFor me doing this, I feel like it has been a celebration of my body because it has carried me through every worst day, every bad experience,\u201d she continued. \u201cI\u2019ve had three beautiful children. It still carries me through life, and I am so grateful to my body for being where I am today that I want to celebrate it.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAnd I shouldn\u2019t be ashamed of it,\u201d she added. \u201cAnd I shouldn\u2019t be ashamed that I\u2019ve taken care of it and worked to build it strong. And I\u2019m very proud of myself.\u201d<\/p>\n Read the original article on People<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>
Credit: Robyn Maher\/Instagram<\/i><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n