Holly Brooks stands out as an inspiring presence on social media platforms, boasting nearly 1.5 million followers across her YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok accounts. Unlike many influencers who emphasize personal records or the newest diet fads, this strong British athlete advocates for abandoning the bathroom scale in favor of building greater strength as the true path to lasting achievement. Muscle & Fitness recently had an in-depth conversation with the founder of Strong Girl Society to explore why she views her workouts as a secure haven and how her deep enthusiasm for fitness centers entirely on the joy of the process itself.
Holly Brooks Ditched the Weighing Scales to Focus on Strength
Even though she grew up as an active child immersed in sports like tennis, swimming, and figure skating, Holly Brooks eventually lost her drive for physical activity as she yearned to simply embrace teenage life. The arrival of the COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting lockdowns intensified this shift, pushing her toward a more inactive lifestyle. The initial lockdown in 2020 proved challenging for countless individuals’ mental and physical well-being, yet it ultimately sparked a transformative turning point for her.
During that first 2020 lockdown, Brooks admits to _M&F_ that she completely overlooked her well-being. She was grappling with dissatisfaction about her body image and felt directionless when it came to establishing a sustainable exercise regimen. Eventually, she replaced endless scrolling through negative content with a proactive step that altered her trajectory positively. "I sought to feel better in my body and more assured, so I brought on an online personal trainer and committed fully to improving my health for the very first time," she shares. "My fitness journey kicked off in 2020 with a heavy emphasis on shedding pounds. That motivation was central to why I decided to work with a trainer—I aimed to slim down. I stepped on the scale every single day, using those numbers as my sole measure of advancement."
Although Brooks succeeded in reducing her body fat and lowering the scale readings, she soon recognized that this approach was morphing into a detrimental fixation. "As time passed, I came to see that even at my leanest and lightest, I felt no contentment," she reveals. "I chose to disrupt that cycle and decided to ‘retire’ the scales entirely. I stored them out of sight and redirected my efforts toward getting stronger rather than smaller."
Initially, the weights felt cumbersome, and her technique needed refinement, but by 2022, Brooks had grown entirely at ease with the barbell. She knew her mindset had truly evolved when an upcoming trip didn’t trigger the old anxieties about her weight. "I was working out at my neighborhood gym in Manchester, right in the middle of a deadlift, when it hit me that I had a vacation to Barcelona coming up in just four weeks," she recalls thoughtfully. "It dawned on me that this was the first holiday since my teen years where I hadn’t imposed strict diets or limitations on myself. There I was, instead, lifting heavy to build my power!"
How Holly Brooks Built the Strong Girl Society Movement
Freed from the tyranny of scale numbers, Brooks now dedicates herself to cultivating a robust physique and resilient mindset. "I recall this overwhelming surge of exhilaration, thinking, ‘I want every woman to feel this liberation,’" she reflects. To spread this revelation, she launched a Facebook group, organizing engaging fitness challenges for its expanding membership. "Every challenge revolved around enhancing strength and steering clear of harmful dieting mindsets," she notes. "That marked the origin of the Strong Girl Society."
By 2026, the Strong Girl Society has flourished impressively, evolving from humble beginnings into a powerhouse. It now features a specialized online training platform and nurtures a vibrant community of tens of thousands of dedicated women. The organization hosts inspiring live events, including community runs and hands-on fitness workshops. Even as SGS empowers its members daily, Brooks continues to fuel her own progress by embracing the principle that your only rival is the person you were yesterday. This philosophy has also propelled her into another fervor: endurance athletics. In 2023, she completed her debut marathon in Paris, turning it into a cherished family milestone by running alongside her seasoned father. "I felt remarkably calm beforehand," she remembers. "I had prepared rigorously, and with my dad by my side, I was confident in my ability to finish."
Holly Brooks Has Found a Safe Space By Getting Her Sweat On
At its heart, Brooks’ philosophy boils down to this: cease obsessing over scale figures or marathon finishing times, and instead immerse yourself in the journey—the outcomes will follow organically. "The clock time is merely an extra perk," she enthuses about her passion for long-distance running. "The real victory lies in relentlessly placing one foot ahead of the other across 42.2 kilometers!"
By zeroing in on personal growth elements that truly count, Brooks prioritizes presence over precise measurements. "If I fixated on pace too intensely, it would rob me of the essence of why I lace up," she observes. "Running serves as my ultimate sanctuary, allowing me to process any mental hurdles while escaping the nonstop digital buzz of modern life—something truly precious these days."
Beyond the tangible physical gains from marathon training and racing, Brooks highlights the profound mental health uplift as the standout reward. "Your mental attitude determines whether you’ll conquer the distance or crumble," she elaborates. "As fatigue mounts, doubt creeps in: ‘I can’t keep going,’ ‘I’m too weak,’ ‘This is beyond me.’ Succumbing to those means defeat. You have to champion positivity, or it will sabotage your entire effort. So, prior to every outing, I prepare three uplifting affirmations. When negativity surfaces, I repeat them like a mantra, compelling the optimistic voice to prevail!"
With her sights set on the LA Marathon in March, Holly Brooks shows no signs of slowing down. The self-assurance she’s cultivated by releasing her fixation on body weight has only amplified her overall vitality. Post-LA, she’ll maintain the momentum with a HYROX competition. "Miami on April 3—I’m counting the days!"
