A mum who works out three times a day says people compare her to a man and call her “sir” – thanks to her bulging muscles and ripped physique.
Tiana Flex, 38, from South Africa, has been training as a bodybuilder since 2009 as she felt “chubby” and wanted to lose weight.
It soon became her passion, and she now works out three times a day for up to three hours – often alongside her husband, fellow personal trainer Tony, 42.
She also follows a carefully curated diet plan of six meals a day to ensure maximum efficiency in the gym and insists bodybuilding is “empowering as a woman”.
Tiana, who is mum to Tiaan, 18, can leg press up to 345kg and squat 145kg, completing two cardio sessions and one weightlifting session per day.
But while she has built up bulging muscles and an impressive physique thanks to her gruelling regimen, Tiana has also faced backlash for her looks – with people comparing her to a man and even calling her “sir”.
“Some men find women with muscles attractive and are always positive and uplifting – the biggest fans,” the trainer told Jam Press.
“And then some men don’t – they reply [to posts] ‘good day sir’.
“I have learned over the years to accept the love and positive feedback, to not let negativity get a permanent home and just let it go.
“That’s not saying that it doesn’t hurt when people say bad things, but it does mean I have grown to understand that you will not be able to make everyone happy or have their approval.”
While Tiana generally feels confident in herself, she admits there are times when the hate gets to her.
She said: “I don’t always look at myself positively – I am human, after all.
“In the industry we have on and off season, and the on season we are looking lean and fit in to all our clothes.
“But then we have the off season where we have a fuller look.
“The switch from on to off is where I find my personal struggle and find myself frowning at myself in the mirror.”
The mum has been diagnosed with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), which can contribute to weight gain, which means she has to be particularly careful about what foods she consumes.
She said: “I always have to be mindful of what and how much I eat, because if I don’t I pack on weight in what feels like overnight.
“I eat the same things every day – sometimes my coach will add a little bit of carbs and some days will take them out.”
The trainer’s current diet includes six meals, most of which centre around eggs, meat, fish and vegetables.
She follows the protein-dense menu religiously, weighing out her food to ensure she is consuming the right amount.
As well as her six meals, she also has an intra-workout drink and drinks between five and six litres of water a day.
Now, Tiana is focusing on keeping her physique in check and staying on top of her strenuous routine.
But it’s more than worth the effort for the fitness buff.
She added: “The gym is my escape from what goes on in everyday life. [It makes me feel] confident.”
A DAY OF EATING FOR TIANA:
Meal 1:
300g egg whites
40g oats
75g spinach
3g omega 3 fish oil
Meal 2:
112g chicken
70g jasmine rice
75g green beans or asparagus
Meal 3:
112g chicken
40g avocado
75g green beans
3g omega 3 fish oil
Meal 4:
45g cream of rice
35g whey isolate
Meal 5:
120g lean beef
150g potato
1g vitamin C, 1g astragalus, 2 solaray multi-minerals
Meal 6:
170g lean white fish
75g asparagus
3g omega 3 fish oil
