She’s one tough mother.
Blanka Harvey, 31, relied on donuts and McDonald’s to get through her second pregnancy, weighing in at about 182 pounds.
The U.K. mom said she joined a gym in 2019 and managed to lose 70 pounds, dropping four dress sizes in two years before finding her true passion: bodybuilding.
Now she’s set to compete against 20 other bodybuilders from around the world at the World Natural Bodybuilding Federation (WNBF) Championships in Los Angeles on Nov. 19.
Harvey said she joined a gym six weeks after giving birth to her second child. She started taking spin classes, and in a matter of months, she became a personal trainer and Zumba instructor.
“I also wanted to set an example for my clients and to be someone to look up to. I needed help to get there, and I decided to get a coach,” she told SWNS about getting into bodybuilding.
Harvey started her bodybuilding training in April 2021 before nailing her first show that September and winning the WNBF British Finals the same year.
“I had my first competition last year, and I won my first show, which qualified me for the British finals, and I won the British finals last year. I won in two categories: the beginner class and the open height class on Nov. 28 last year,” Harvey continued. “I am now a British champion.”
Coming out of the COVID-19 pandemic, Harvey ditched her corporate career and now trains six days a week in the gym. Her full-time job is training for and participating in competitions.
“Before, I was in a management role in hospitality. There was so much stress and long working hours. Now I get to laugh and dance and giggle with the Zumba ladies,” she explained.
She also made changes to her diet
Harvey’s diet before:
- Breakfast: Full English breakfast.
- Lunch: Sandwiches with snacks of chocolate, crisps
- Dinner: Curry, fish and chips
Harvey’s diet now:
- Breakfast: Three eggs, wholegrain toast, raw salad
- Lunch: Chicken breast, rice, roast vegetables, protein shake
- Dinner: Fish/beef/chicken with potato and vegetables
The 5-foot-6 fitness fanatic said her current lifestyle suits her best.
“I used to live in high heels, so I loved competing. Walking in high heels is natural to me. It might sound a little bit cheesy, but I do love the attention,” Harvey admitted.-ADVERTISEMENT-javascript:falsejavascript:false
Most of all, Harvey has her family’s support.
“My family was really proud of me. My dad thinks I’m a bit too thin, they joke around with me, but they are very supportive … And I still manage to fit the school run in every day.”
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