All about Evelyn Stevenson

Age: 25

Hometown: Derby – Born in Nigeria, lives in London

Height: 5’9.5 (176cm)

Weight: 70kg

Evelyn Stevenson – Fitness Model

I started serious weight training when I was 18 and studying psychology at Loughborough University (Loughborough University is probably the best sporting university in England (I played hockey there a few times)). Since there were lots of national and international level athletes training there I thought most of my lifts were normal until I went to a coaching workshop and one of the guys saw my potential to be a good olympic lifter. He invited me along to train and I’ve been there twice a week every week since!

Last year was the first time I competed as a powerlifter. I won the regional championships, then I won the national championships and then I came second at the worlds.

It may sound weird but I love squats – front, back, overhead, split, I like all the variations probably because I’m good at them. I also love the technicality of the snatch, when you get it right it feels perfect, when you’re a bit off they feel horrible.

Squat 132.5kg , Dead 160 , Bench 82.5, Clean 90, Snatch 67.5. I won the squat and bench press events at the world powerlifting championships last year but the woman who won had a monster deadlfit 180+ so I have to try to close the gap their for this years championship.

Evelyn Stevenson Power Lifter – Squat

I love teaching people, especially women, how to train better and become stronger. I like to focus on strength and performance instead of just fat. Move the goal-posts! Don’t just judge progress by the mirror where we can often deceive ourselves depending on our mood.

My philosophy is to eat well to feel better and be healthier. Once you feel good you don’t want to feel bad!

High energy levels are worth keeping! It’s that experience of what it actually feels like to be well that lots of clients haven’t had.

First learn how to train and understand it and then – enjoy strength training.

Whey protein, Uber mag, B6, B3, magnesium salt baths, BCAA’s (when volume is high and  sessions are hard. Egg whites powder for simplicity.

I love coffee and drink quite a lot of it, I think it helps me to train better but I’m not massively effected by it like some people. I don’t know if it’s a placebo or it actually works for me but as far as I’m concerned if I feel better with it I’m going to use it, scientific or not! That’s the psychology degree coming out

Evelyn Stevenson – Olympic Lifter

I’m lucky because I grew up in a house where the philosophy was, “Cooking begins with chopping onions.” I ate a lot of real food as a kid and my parents still have chicken and vegetables on their little farm. Being born in Nigeria meant traditional foods were the norm so those are the foods that appeal most to me. It hasn’t been a big change for me to move towards a mostly paleo diet. When friends ask if I have any normal snacks like biscuits and chocolate bars I’m at a loss. I sometimes forget that people are still eating that stuff!

I love my food and I eat a lot of good food. I eat relatively low carb but I do include some oats and sweet potatoes.

I don’t really drink alcohol but I’m not overly obsessive about what I eat. I just eat mostly whole foods and the stuff I enjoy!

You have to enjoy the journey. I love training it makes me feel good and gives me a clear focus. When you have one thing clear in life everything seems to work better.

If you train for hardcore bodybuilding you can go that way. If you train for strength you can still look feminine.

A lot of bikini models and bodybuilding women look great only the most extreme bodies seem to get remembered and scar women’s minds with the idea that weight training will make them massive. With the olympics coming in London athletic women are getting a lot more exposure and I think that’s doing something to help promote the idea that women can have some muscles and still look great!

I have Powerlifting world championships in BOSTON later in the year and I’m going to Japan for a commercial casting before that. I also have some smaller Olympic lifting events.

Evelyn Stevenson – Model / Actress

Thanks to Evelyn for taking time out for KeeganSH.com. It’s not everyday you get to speak to a champion powerlifter who also happens to have impressive olympic lifting numbers and who does modelling. Talking training, nutrition and life with Evelyn Stevenson was an inspiration to keep learning and applying knowledge wherever my interest takes me without limitations!

For more about Evelyn you can see her at EvelynStenveson.com or on EvelynEES – Twitter