{"id":818067,"date":"2026-03-11T03:57:13","date_gmt":"2026-03-11T03:57:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/818067\/"},"modified":"2026-03-11T03:57:13","modified_gmt":"2026-03-11T03:57:13","slug":"gladiator-sabre-shares-the-3-exercises-every-woman-needs-for-lifelong-strength","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/818067\/","title":{"rendered":"Gladiator Sabre shares the 3 exercises every woman needs for lifelong strength"},"content":{"rendered":"

If anyone can show you how to build and maintain muscle, it\u2019s the Gladiators. Sabre<\/a>, formally known as Sheli McCoy, has been training for 13 years as both a CrossFit<\/a> and Olympic weightlifting<\/a> athlete. She\u2019s represented Scotland and competed internationally, and in 2025, she took part in the Weightlifting World Championships. <\/p>\n

Yes, she trains hard, but training smart matters even more \u2013 and for her that means doing the exercises that guarantee results. \u2018Getting healthier isn\u2019t just about doing more \u2013 sometimes it\u2019s about doing less, and doing it better,\u2019 she told The Sun<\/a>. Focussing on results has paid off: she can now deadlift 160kg and trains in CrossFit for 16 to 20 hours per week. Below, find her three non-negotiable upper-body moves for lifelong strength, how to do them properly, and how to make them into a workout. \u2018Save it. Do it. Get buff. Be happy,\u2019 says Sabre.<\/p>\n

Workout: Perform four sets of dumbbell rows and single-arm dumbbell reverse flys as a superset on the right, then repeat on the left. Rest for two-three minutes between sets. Perform eight barbell standing shoulder presses to finish as a single set.<\/p>\n

1. Single dumbbell bent-over row <\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Place one knee and the same-side hand on a flat bench for support, with your other foot planted on the floor and your torso hinged forward so your back is flat and parallel to the ground. Hold a dumbbell in your free hand, arm hanging straight down below your shoulder, palm facing in, with a soft bend in the elbow<\/li>\n
  2. Then draw the dumbbell towards your waist, keeping the elbow tucked into your side.<\/li>\n
  3. To complete the rep, extend the arm back to the starting position. <\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    2. Single-arm dumbbell reverse fly<\/p>\n

      \n
    1. Place one knee and the same-side hand on a flat bench for support, with your other foot planted on the floor and your torso hinged forward so your back is flat and parallel to the ground. Hold a dumbbell in your free hand, arm hanging straight down below your shoulder, palm facing in, with a soft bend in the elbow.<\/li>\n
    2. Keeping your core braced and hips square to the floor, raise the dumbbell out to the side in a wide arc until your arm is in line with your shoulder. Focus on squeezing your shoulder blade back and down rather than shrugging. Lower slowly with control to the start position and repeat.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      3. Barbell standing shoulder press <\/p>\n

        \n
      1. Stand with feet hip-width apart and hold a barbell at shoulder height with hands just wider than shoulder-width, palms facing forward and elbows slightly in front of the bar. Brace your core, squeeze your glutes and keep your ribs down to avoid arching your lower back.<\/li>\n
      2. Press the bar straight overhead until your arms are fully extended and biceps are by your ears, moving your head slightly back to let the bar travel in a straight line. Lower under control to shoulder height, reset your brace, and repeat.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

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        \u00a0As Women\u2019s Health UK\u2019s fitness director and a qualified Pilates and yoga instructor, Bridie Wilkins has been passionately reporting on exercise, health and nutrition since the start of her decade-long career in journalism. She secured her first role at Look Magazine, where her obsession with fitness began and she launched the magazine\u2019s health and fitness column, Look Fit, before going on to become Health and Fitness writer at HELLO!. Since, she has written for Stylist, Glamour, Cosmopolitan, Marie Claire, Elle, The Metro, Runner\u2019s World and Red.Now, she oversees all fitness content across womenshealthmag.com.uk<\/a> and the print magazine, spearheading leading cross-platform franchises, such as \u2018Fit At Any Age\u2019, where we showcase the women proving that age is no barrier to exercise. She has also represented the brand on BBC Radio London, plus various podcasts and Substacks \u2013 all with the aim to encourage more women to exercise and show them how.Outside of work, find her trying the latest Pilates studio, testing her VO2 max for fun (TY, Oura), or posting workouts on Instagram. \u00a0<\/p>\n