Marli Hextell has reaped the rewards of her intense training schedule with a series of high-ranking results in recent national and state bodybuilding competitions.

Now based in Sydney, the Police Officer won two gold medals at the State International Bodybuilding Association (INBA) Superbodies Show, as well as a gold and two bronze in the City Nationals INBA Show where she competed against the top females from around the state.

As a result of her achievements, she placed first  in Australia for the category of Miss Figure International,and even featured on the INBA NSW promotion material.

While the competitions were held in May, Mrs Hextell said she had been preparing for the events since the beginning of the year.

“It can be quite a gradual process,” she said.

“Not only do I work out in the gym about six times a week, but I’m also very careful about what I eat.

“Nutrition is such a big part of competing. 

“It’s all very well to lose weight but you don’t want to sacrifice muscle mass as the same time.”

Marli first started competitive bodybuilding two years ago under the guidance of professional bodybuilder ,Christine Ray, who conducts boot camps as part of her Rayzor fitness business.

Despite her recent success, she has no plans to go professional, preferring to keep her training as hobby.

“It can make quite a dent on your social life,” Marli said.

“I still work out when I’m not training for an event, but it’s less intense.”

Marli still makes regular visits to her home town of Bermagui where her parents run the Bermagui Surf Shop.

Having resided in Sydney for the past eight years, she said she still misses her home town.

“I try to make it back there once every couple of months because it is such a lovely area,” she said.

“It would be great to end up back there one day.”