O1xygenAustralianJulyAugust2015_

“Our friendship started at the gym. I

met Kristy after she competed in her

first figure competition (which she

won), and she was introduced to me

through a mutual friend. We were

introduced to each other with the intent

to train together. Since then, history

wasmade. Shewasoneofafewwho

actually encouraged me into the sport

of bodybuilding. We trained together

every day - in the lead up to all my

comps she has been by my side every

step of the way. Encouraging me and

supporting me through the great

times and toughest times, she has

always been there for me no matter

what. My ‘fitness sister’ means the

absolute world to me, and I feel so

gratef ul to have met such a loving and

caring person!

Sharna Bender

“WITHIN THE FITNESS

INDUSTRY, IT IS IMPORTANT

TO HAVE WOMEN AROUND

YOUTHATYOUCANTRUST,

AND WHO INSPIRE AND

ENCOURAGE YOU. IT

TAKES TIME TO ESTABLISH

SOLID FRIENDSHIPS AND

CREATE A ‘FITNESS SISTER’

RELATIONSHIP WITH

SOMEONE.It isn’t a case of

meeting someone once (or

not even meeting them at all),

friending them on Facebook

andmakingitapublic

friendship for everyone to see

andreadabout.Atruefitness

sister friendship is formed over

time. It is formed when two

strong women meet and are on

thesamepath,apaththatisof

value and both have direction

intheirlives.Itisn’tabout

competing with that person, it

is about encouraging them and

helpingthemtolearnandgrow

on their journey. You don’t

judge your fitness sister for her

mistakes, you pull her up on

themandhelptoguideherin

therightdirection.Thatiswhat

atruefriendwoulddo,anditis

thesameforafitnesssister.We

are not afraid of growth, we

are not afraid of the truth and

we are not there to kiss people’s

butts and tell them what they

want to hear.

My fitness sisters are few and far between but they

are constant,

they are not a friend to me for five

minutes and then disappear;

they are there for me

through the good times and the bad. I believe that my

fellow ambassadors at

Oxygen are 100 per cent true to

these words and are all girls whom I love, admire and

respect. We are a family at

Oxygen, so much so I had

my fitness sisters at my recent wedding! They are solid

women in my life who I may not see or speak to all of

the time, but I know that they are there for me when

I need them and I love them dearly for being a true

fitness sister to me.”

Justine Switalla

OXYGEN COVERGIRLS

SHARE AN INSIGHT TO

THEIR FRIENDSHIP AND

RELATIONSHIP WITH THEIR

‘SISTERS’ – WHETHER

THEY’RE BLOOD-RELATED

OR NOT, THESE GIRLS ARE A

MUST-HAVE IN OUR LIVES.

80 | JULY/AUG 2015 | oxygenmag.com.au

FITNESS

SISTERS