RIPPED: Charlene became a bodybuilding champion in less than a year
A FITNESS fanatic mum has been crowned a world champion bodybuilder just months after picking up the weights.
With sculpted abs and bulging biceps, Charlene Harvey looks like she’s been pumping iron for years.
But the 36-year-old only started lifting weight less than a year ago.
After becoming “hooked” on the sport, the mum-of-two transformed her physique with intense training sessions and a diet of 1,200 calories a day.
And just nine months later she was crowned a world champion and received her first bodybuilding trophy.
FIT: The mum-of-two only started pumping iron nine months ago
“I didn’t fancy it at first. All that prancing about on stage just wasn’t me. But I finally decided to give it a go,” said Charlene.
“I couldn’t believe it when my name was read out as the winner. I was absolutely stunned.”
Charlene, from Malmesbury, Wiltshire, was a keen runner who enjoyed taking part in marathons, but had always preferred cardio over pumping iron.
The gym bunny was “absolutely gutted” when she was forced to quit the competitive sport a few years ago due to a hamstring injury.
CHAMPION: Charlene beat competitors from all over the world to win the Muscle Model open World Champion trophy
After having two children – Louis, now 11 and Lilli, 10 – she and husband Chris started hitting her local gym once more, and Charlene was encouraged to enter a bodybuilding contest by a fellow training partner.
And the hot mumma scoped an impressive three trophies at her first event at the Pure Elite in Manchester back in June.
She took to the stage again in November and was shocked when she beat competitors from all over the world to win the Muscle Model open World Champion trophy.
Now the inspiring mum will juggle bring up her two children with a rigorous training programme, which involves getting up at 5.30am and limiting her calories intake.
“To do this you have to follow a very strict diet and get your body fat percentage down to eight per cent, which is difficult for women,” said Charlene.
HOT MUMMA: She starts training at 5.30am and sticks to a 1,200-calories-a-day diet
She sticks to a diet which mainly consists of chicken, fish, steak, nuts, berries, salads, egg whites and protein powder.
But Charlene insists that she does still treat herself to a “cheat” meal every now and then,
“Anyone can train in the gym, but the diet is the most difficult part,” she admits.
The post Mum transforms into bodybuilding champion in just nine months appeared first on Irish Daily Star.