Sophie Guidolin, a champion of the IFBB and fitness influencer, regularly shares her intense workout routines on Instagram. In a recent reel, she showcased a powerful lower-body workout that included a variety of exercises such as lunges, Romanian Deadlifts (RDLs), hip thrusts, and resistance band training. Sophie’s dedication to fitness and strength training is evident, as she captioned the video, “This chapter of my life is called now or never.” Her workouts focus on building functional strength, enhancing muscle growth, and boosting overall fitness. Here’s a breakdown of the exercises she incorporates and the health benefits that come with them.
In her Instagram video, Guidolin is seen using weights. ACE Fitness states that weights have a lot of health benefits. “Lifting heavy weights elevates levels of anabolic hormones—specifically testosterone, growth hormone and insulin-like growth factor (IGF-1)—which are used to repair muscle fibers damaged during exercise. This helps the muscle fibers to become thicker and capable of generating higher levels of force.”
Guidolin is also seen doing lunges to stay in shape. ACE Fitness reports that these are very effective. “They’re a form of unilateral training, which means you’re working only one limb or side of the body at a time. And unilateral training is a more effective way to build functional strength (than using both legs) because these types of movement mimic other everyday motions, like walking and climbing stairs — and not just to the working leg. Research suggests the strength gains to the nonworking side are about half of the strength gains of the working side.”
In her Instagram video, Guidolin is seen with a resistance band around her waist. Using bands to workout with has a lot of benefits. According to Harvard Health, “They can prepare your muscles for the many types of movements you make throughout the day, such as when you stretch, bend, lift, or simply rise from a chair. In addition, training with bands improves muscle power, which helps you avoid falls and risk of injury.”
Guidolin is seen using weights to do RDLs or Romanian Deadlifts in her Instagram video. ACE Fitness states that these exercises are very beneficial. “When done correctly, the RDL is an effective exercise that helps strengthen both the core and the lower body with one move. Unlike the traditional barbell deadlift and other quad-dominant exercises such as leg presses, which place significant loads on the anterior portion of the knees, the RDL focuses most of the physical work on the muscles responsible for extending the hip and the knee from the posterior.”
Guidolin is also seen doing hip thrusts in her Instagram video. Gymless states that hip thrusts are extremely effective. “Strong glutes are not only for aesthetic appeal; they serve a key functional purpose in supporting the posterior chain of muscles around the spine. Hip thrusts are also known for their capacity to develop and define glute muscles, contributing to their popularity on social media. After all, who doesn’t appreciate the look of a well-crafted pair of glutes?”