With more followers on Facey than folk like Miranda Kerr, fitness junkie Emily Skye is taking charge of the social media game thanks to her sculpted rig/ace meal + exercise programs. PEDESTRIAN.TV has teamed up with Marvel for their latest release, Captain America: Civil War (in cinemas now), ’cause – like Emily – Captain America and Iron Man know about striving for all-things domination… and rock-hard abs. For more info, head to their Facebook HERE and get amongst them on Twitter using the handle @marvelaunz.
At some point or another, we’ve all been told that lifting weights will turn you into a mini-Thor.
But Emily Skye – aka a lean, mean, fighting machine with a following of over 11 FREAKING MILLION people across her socials – knows her stuff when it comes to health & fitness, and would like to clear a few of these notions up for y’all.
Following her Marvel-inspired super-body workout in Bondi over the weekend, home girl told us all about the inside-out strength (and bangin’ rig) that awaits us if we rewire our minds when it comes to lifting weights.
You’re killing it in the fitness industry – what got you into it in the first place?
I wasn’t happy with my life and the way I was living it so far so I wasn’t healthy or fit before – I was quite the opposite.
My mental health wasn’t good either – I was extremely depressed and had terrible body image issues and insecurities, and I guess I just realised that it was up to me to pick myself up and start making some changes, and those changes had to start with my lifestyle – the way I was living and what I was thinking of myself and what I was doing to my body.
There’s a hefty 9 million fans following you on FB – which is more than celebs like Miranda Kerr and Emily Ratajkowski. How the heck did you manage that?
I don’t really think of it like that because I’ve never thought of it as being competition and numbers don’t really matter, it’s more about what you’re doing with those numbers and people that you’re able to reach and the message you’re delivering.
It’s a great feeling because when I started this, I wanted to reach as many people as possible and that’s what I’ve been able to do so I think it’s pretty cool.
Photo: Supplied.
Do you ever get any negative comments/DMs on social media?
Of course. I think everyone does. If I was to say I didn’t get any negativity I’d be the only one in the world.
Some people are always going to be negative – there the ones that I think are unhappy with themselves and that’s how they deal with it. I think that if they’re putting other people down that they’re going to feel better about themselves. I don’t let it get to me and try to show them kindness and love ‘cause I think that’s what they need the most.
What are they saying?
To be honest it’s mostly men. Some guys will get on and say I’m not attractive or I’m too skinny or I look manly – even women will get on and say that, but I find it’s more men.
They’re usually comments that don’t have anything behind it – no reason for it, I mean. Usually, from what I think, it’s something that they’ve got an issue with – it’s sparked something in them and made them feel whatever it is about themselves and they’ve lashed out at me for it.
What do you tell people who reckon muscles are typically ‘masculine’?
I just tell them that I’ve never felt stronger, I’ve never felt more confident in myself and I’ve never felt more feminine in my life. Lifting weights has given me not just the strength physically but the mental strength as well.
I feel great when I train – it’s my happy drug.
What about those who wig out over weights ’cause they think they’ll get bulky?
It’s just not true. The best way to burn body fat is doing high-intensity interval training and strength training, so they’re actually up there in front of doing cardio.
If you’re doing a slow cardio session – say if you’re going for a walk – you’re only burning fat during that time and only for an hour or two after and then it stops and goes back to normal. But when you do high intensity or lifting weights, it actually burns for hours and even a day or two after you finish training, so you’re actually burning more fat over time than you are doing slow cardio.
You’re not going to get bulky. It takes a long time and it’s a lot of deliberate effort for a woman to get bulky. I spent years trying to get as big as I could and I’m still a size 8.
You just hosted Captain America: Civil War workout sessions – one themed around Iron Man and the other Captain America, to highlight their rivalry in the new film. Any ~words of wisdom~ for people who seem to hate the gym and wanna spice it up?
If you don’t like going to the gym and you hate it, don’t do it ‘cause you’re not going to stick to that so find something that you actually want to do.
If you’re loving doing something than stick to that.
You’ve got a serious rig on you. Surely you’ll reach a stage where there’s no room left for improvement?
There’s no such thing as perfection and I don’t think there’s any point to setting your goal and then reaching it then going ‘OK I’ve done everything now.’ Don’t get me wrong – I’m happy with my body and the way I feel and the way I look, but I’ve never reached a point where I go ‘oh well I’m there now and I’m just going to stop’ – it’s not about that. It’s a constant journey and it’s a lifestyle.
Do you ever touch booze/choccies or is that a massive no-no?
People assume that I must be strict if I’m lean and toned or whatever that I must be really strict with my food, but it’s not like that at all. I’m very relaxed – if I want to eat a dessert I’ll have it.
I’m at a point where I am just maintaining – I’m not competing in competitions. I don’t want to portray to people that I am the way I am through crazy measures – I want to show that you can do this by being balanced and being flexible.
I eat when I wanna eat. It’s about giving your body all the nutrients that you need as well as giving your mind, y’know, the chocolate you need as well. 
Catch Captain America: Civil War in cinemas now.
Photo: Instagram / @emilyskyefit.
