While promoting her upcoming single, Mel C told followers to ‘prepare to sweat’ – and as a dedicated, fitness-focused trainee, it’s advice she clearly takes seriously. The award-winning singer-songwriter recently shared her gym workout, revealing a high-powered mix of strength exercises. ‘So this is where I find myself,’ she wrote.
She kicked things off with banded wide-grip pull-ups, hooking one knee into a purple resistance band as she pulled her chin above the bar. Placing her hands wider apart increases activation in the lats – along with upper-back muscles like the rhomboids and teres major – compared to a standard grip.
Her biceps also come into play, making this a challenging, back-focused variation of the compound move. ‘Assisted pull-ups help to strengthen the back and arms while improving upper-body pulling power,’ explains Sarah Campus, PT and founder of LDN MUMS FITNESS.
Switching to lower body, Mel moved into sumo barbell deadlifts. Taking a wider stance than in the conventional version, with toes turned slightly out and hands positioned between her legs, this variation targets the glutes, quads and hamstrings.
Keeping the focus on lower body and core, the ‘Never Be The Same Again’ singer then performed hanging straight leg raises. This exercise primarily targets the rectus abdominis (your ‘six-pack’ muscle), obliques and hip flexors. Hanging from the bar while lifting the legs with control – avoiding swinging or arching – also challenges grip and forearm strength.
Mel then moved into back squats, using a friend as a spotter. Despite the heavy load, she powered through the quad-, glute- and hamstring-focused reps with ease. ‘Highlighting key compound lifts such as squats and deadlifts makes Mel C’s session very well-rounded and builds lower-body strength,’ Campus adds.
Machine hip thrusts shifted the focus more directly onto the glutes, while still engaging the hamstrings and inner thighs (adductors). She also used the abduction machine, moving her legs away from the midline to target the gluteus medius and minimus. ‘Abductor work also supports hip stability,’ Campus notes.
‘By following this full-body workout consistently, Mel C can expect gains in strength, muscle tone, joint stability and improved overall movement efficiency,’ she adds.
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Sarah Campus is a highly qualified women’s PT, Nutrition Coach, Running Coach, Distance Runner, mum of 3 and founder of LDN MUMS FITNESS.
She’s the host of the Soho House Run Club in Chiswick and a STRAVA and TOMMY’s marathon coach and ambassador. She specialises helping non-runners get into competitive distance running.
As a fitness and holistic wellness expert, Sarah regularly features on TV and in Magazines, offering tips and advice to keep the whole family healthy and active.