June 21, 2025, 3:30 pm | Read time: 6 minutes
Sports have always been a part of Stephanie Brungs’ life—in her youth, she even competed at a high-performance level. However, in her twenties, she struggled with her fitness. In a conversation with FITBOOK editor-in-chief Melanie Hoffmann, the “Love is Blind Germany” host shared how she rediscovered her enjoyment of training and what her current routine looks like. Additionally, she opened up about the life-changing moment of being diagnosed with cervical cancer, discussing the initial shock, undergoing treatment during the pandemic, and her altered body perception.
Recently, the host revealed that she was diagnosed with cervical cancer five years ago. Therefore, at the beginning of our interview, which was actually focused on sports, we wanted to know how she experienced the illness, how she is doing now, and how the diagnosis may have affected her fitness. But even apart from her cancer diagnosis, Steffi Brungs has experienced various phases in her life regarding her training. In a conversation with FITBOOK, the 36-year-old shared the reasons why her sports routine wasn’t always ideal, who or what helped her rediscover the joy of exercise, what her training routine looks like today, and yes: She also talked to us about body shaming.
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Cancer Treatments Changed the Body Sensation
FITBOOK: You were diagnosed with cervical cancer shortly after your wedding in Hawaii in October 2019. How difficult was the time afterward?
Steffi Brungs: “When I received the cervical cancer diagnosis, it was initially incomprehensible to me. I felt so healthy and had no symptoms. We had just gotten married and made future plans… so it took some time for me to really understand what was happening. And then it was the biggest shock of my life so far. But I am so glad and grateful that the cancer was detected early and I was able to be treated accordingly. It shows how important it is to go for regular check-ups.”
Are you now cancer-free and feeling completely well, or are there still noticeable effects from the illness and surgery?
“Just last week, I was at the gynecologist, and we realized that my treatment was five years ago. Thankfully, the cancer has not returned. As of now, I am healthy, and I hope it stays that way.”
How did the cancer diagnosis and subsequent treatment affect your body image, fitness, and training?
“At first, it was very mentally taxing. My treatment took place during the pandemic. I was afraid of contracting COVID-19 with my weakened immune system. Surgery appointments were postponed, and no hospital visits were allowed. That was really tough. My body image only changed with the surgeries. I felt so weak. Exercise was out of the question. But eventually, something clicked. I just thought: ‘Steffi, you made it through, now regain your autonomy and joy of life.’ And sports helped a lot with that.”
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Steffi Brungs Was Once a Competitive Athlete
Was that a hard cut?
“Yes, totally. I didn’t want to do any sports at first. Especially no swimming. Splashing around on vacation, sure, but no more laps. I then did things without any structure, but real sports–no. And honestly: I didn’t taper off. That was a mistake. I just rapidly lost muscle mass, gained weight, and had worse posture. I was really messing things up.”
What does “tapering off” mean exactly?
“After ‘retiring,’ athletes should taper off for one to two years to stabilize their fitness long-term and minimize health risks. In practice, this means gradually reducing training. Not going from 100 to 0. So, if you trained every day before, you reduce it slowly. First to three times a week, then twice, and so on. The body needs time to adjust. I didn’t do that.”
Steffi Brungs Was Once a Competitive Athlete
When did you realize that was a mistake?
“When I was in my late 20s, almost 30. That’s when I noticed how hard it was to build certain muscles back up. Especially in the arms, abdomen, shoulders–the typical swimmer’s areas. It was super hard to build up there, even though I saw faster results in other parts of my body.”
How did you get back into a sports routine?
“At first, it was aimless. I went to the gym, but without a plan. Just did whatever. Around 30, I realized I wanted a real routine again. Because I noticed: In all areas of life, I’m organized–job, personal life–but my body was in chaos. I wanted to get back on track, but without the old pressure. I realized: I can’t do it alone. So, I sought help.”
Steffi Brungs Was Once a Competitive Athlete
How did this help look exactly?
“I first found a tennis coach. I had played tennis as a child, and I enjoyed it. I didn’t want to get back in the water. With tennis, I was outside, moving, but without the pressure to perform. My coach was great: He knew I didn’t want to compare myself to anyone, didn’t want to be pushed too hard. And that slowly brought back the joy.”
And how did you get back into a strength training routine?
“At first, it was aimless. I went to the gym, but without a plan. Just did whatever. Around 30, I realized I wanted a real routine again. Because I noticed: In all areas of life, I’m organized–job, personal life–but my body was in chaos. I noticed: I can’t do it alone. So, I sought help.”
“I Do Sports Three Times a Week”
What does your sports routine look like today?
“I work out three times a week. Once with Lory, twice on my own. But everything is according to the plan we developed together. And yes, if I only manage once, that’s okay too. The important thing is: I have a plan, a routine, but without pressure. No forcing myself.”
You mentioned an 8-week challenge. What’s behind that?
“During my cervical cancer illness, I gained eight to nine kilos. After my surgeries, I just didn’t have the strength for sports. Now that I’m healthy, I want to regain that strength. Last year, I did an 8-week challenge and lost seven kilos with Lory. Healthily and without crash diets. This year, it’s about building more muscle. The main focus: moderate exercise, a slight calorie deficit, and especially enough protein.”
Steffi Brungs: “My current training challenge? Building muscle.”
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“Presswurst!” Steffi Brungs Experienced Body Shaming
What do you take away from all this for yourself?
“I’m following my path. I know how I feel, I know how my body reacts. I’ve been through so many crash diets, so many short-term actions for shows or photoshoots–I don’t do that anymore. I know I need structure, but I also know I want to have fun with it. The most important thing is: I want to be healthy and happy. And if I can be a role model for others, that’s great. If I can share anything, it’s this: Do your thing, find your way, and don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.”