Beauty turned beast mode: We talk all things bodybuilding with Miss Australia
Bulking, shredding, flexing, and protein shakes – you’re used to seeing the typical bodybuilder, headphones on, music blasting, strutting from bench to lifting platform, piling on the plate weights, stringlet hanging loose with a look of pure concentration plastered on their face.
But I bet you didn’t picture a woman, did you?
Forget thigh gaps and waif icons – strong is the new skinny, with a muscular figure fast becoming #goals. The social stigma and body shaming associated with female bodybuilding is disappearing fast, with #chickswholift and #strongwomen leading the social media charge to make the sport mainstream.
What does it take to be a female bodybuilder? We chat to Tiahna Prosser, Miss Australia, to get the inside scoop on how she pushes her body, and her mind, to the limits before a competition.I fell in love with the idea of weight lifting when I was quite young. I have always been very slim but very un–fit and very unhealthy. After concerns with my health and diet, I decided to take a new approach to the way I see my body. Instead of seeing myself as thin, I wanted to see myself as FIT!Tiahna Prosser competing for Miss AustraliaThe Miss Australia title comes from the WFF (World Fitness Federation), and I had to place at a state show in order to qualify for the national titles before representing Australia – hence the status Miss Australia. Then I started to compete worldwide as an international athlete.
I have always aspired to be better than I was yesterday, and after months of prep and training, of course your goal is to win the big title! It was a last-minute decision to compete in Miss Australia, but it was the best decision I have ever made. I will always improve, I will always aim to beat my past self, and I will always achieve my goals.At the moment I train twice a day, six days a week, including cardio and weights every day. I’m currently in between competitions, so my training is intensified, but in my off-season I still train six days a week because it’s my passion. If I can do what I love every day, I will!I work part-time and also do online personal training, so I have the convenience of working from home most days. Although training to compete feels like a full-time job in itself, the gym has become a second home and is really the only time I put my phone down and focus on myself. It’s what I look forward to most in my day! It is both physically and emotionally draining, and it’s not for everyone, but with motivation and a great support system, it’s very possible.Tiahna visiting the Grand Canyon in Arizona while taking a break from her intense workout scheduleI maintain a very strict diet but with a lot of variety. My food changes daily to keep me satisfied, on- track and to avoid boredom. I follow a series of macro nutrients numbers which are broken down into carbs, proteins, fats and sugars. I can design my own diet and keep it creative as I feel needed.
On a usual day, I’ll eat:
- Breakfast: oats with almond milk and blueberries
- Mid-morning snack: sugar-free jelly
- Lunch: turkey mince with high protein pasta and homemade pasta sauce
- Dinner: tuna and peas fried into patties
- Dessert: chocolate fibre bar with sugar-free maple syrup
My go-to healthy snack would have to be broccoli chips! I love the spicy flavour, and they pretty much have no carbs. Sometimes I’ll find myself eating two packs a day – no regrets! They keep you feeling full and are the first low-carb snack that I actually enjoy eating.Not every training session is easy, and not every day do I see results. I take each day as it comes and know that every time I lift a little heavier, or do a couple more reps, it will be easier to do tomorrow. I have plenty of idols in the fitness industry and I always stay up-to-date with their progress, which always motivates me. But above all, having a goal and a set time frame pushes me the most, and setting smaller, achievable goals are also important to reaching your overall goal.Set yourself reasonable and short-term goals, and start smashing them. The more you can achieve, no matter how big or small, the better you will feel about yourself – and self-confidence goes a long way! Everyone has to start somewhere so there’s no better time to start than right now!
Follow Tiahna on Instagram for a healthy dose of fit-spiration!
New to lifting weights? Try our BODYPUMP® or ABT Dynamo Group Fitness Classes for an easy-to-follow, choreographed workout to challenge every major muscle in your body.
