Tarren McCall is a world champion bodybuilder. In June 2007 the 46 year old mother of four from Manukau won the first place trophy in the over 35 year category at the World Championship in Sparta, Greece.

Elated with her win, Tarren describes her trip to Greece as the highlight of her bodybuilding career. The Greek organizers put on an impressive extravaganza and held the show in the town square where more than 5000 people gathered to wine and dine. The historical town of Sparta still held the true spirit of the ancient Olympics. With more than 100 competitors, the spectacular lasted well into the night with bronzed athletes from all over the world flexing and posing on the outdoor stage under fireworks, lights and smoke.

Weighing in at only 56 kilos Tarren is hardly a heavy weight. “As a natural bodybuilder I cannot compete with some of the big girls in this sport. Unfortunately many athletes take steroids at this level, so instead of trying to get bigger at the gym, I work on my muscle symmetry, skin tone and condition.” She isn’t the biggest competitor on the stage but Tarren puts some real femininity into flexing those muscles.

Tarren embarked on the sport of bodybuilding seven years ago and wishes she’d started earlier. Even with four children, exercise was always a part of her life. Mostly it consisted of Jazzercise, Oz Style aerobics in front of the television or a walk with the double stroller when she could. Shortly after her youngest daughter Brooke was born, Tarren joined the local gym but this was short lived. At 18 months old Brooke suffered a stroke. This meant Tarren had to spend every waking moment tending to Brooke as she needed constant monitoring and lots of physical therapy. Caring for Brooke and her three older siblings was a fulltime job, as well as helping her husband in the family car business. It was four years later before Tarren could find the time to get back to the gym. She enlisted a personal trainer and worked hard at getting into shape.

“My husband and I decided to go along to a bodybuilding competition to watch one of the other gym members take part. I remember being really impressed at how amazing some of the older women looked. I thought if these women could do it, then so could I. My personal trainer at the time wasn’t very encouraging, I was all hyped up wanting to give bodybuilding a go and he told me all the reasons I couldn’t do it. Thinking back now, that was my ‘trigger’. I don’t like to be told I couldn’t do something, so I found another personal trainer and a nutritionist. I entered my first bodybuilding competition in 2002 and I haven’t looked back since”

Tarren’s greatest achievements are winning two gold medals at the Natural Olympia in Las Vegas, winning the overall women’s title at the Natural Universe in California and bringing home the first place trophy this year at the World Championships in Greece. All up she has represented New Zealand overseas nine times, winning eight world titles. Not bad for a busy mother of four who was once told she would never do well in a bodybuilding show.

Contrary to popular belief, bodybuilding doesn’t take up as much time as other sports. Tarren is adamant that bodybuilding is actually more about a healthy diet than spending hours at the gym. She trains with weights at the gym three or four times a week for an hour each time. Cardio sessions are usually a thirty minute uphill walk on her treadmill in the garage. “I get up at 6am in the morning to get my cardio out of the way early, that way I have the rest of the day to help my husband Tony with his business and be home when my youngest finishes school.”

Tarren finds her training routine actually helps her achieve more in a day and she enjoys the energy boost she gets from being so fit and strong. Having a family business to help run and four children to cook for gives her plenty of reasons not to exercise. “The real work” says Tarren “is in the kitchen”.

Regular visits to a nutritionist a Real Nutrition, ensure that Tarren is in peak condition all year round. To keep her hard earned muscle in tip-top shape Tarren eats six meals a day. She enjoys two breakfasts, one at 7am and another breakfast at 10am after the gym. “Organisation is the key” says Tarren. “The best investment I ever made was to enlist a Jacquie Dale and pay attention to my diet.” I used to over exercise and under eat. Now I eat six big meals a day. Breakfast is usually porridge with fruit and protein powder, and then at 10am I have another bowl of porridge or a protein bar with fruit. Lunch is always a large salad with kumara and chicken. Afternoon tea is a healthy chocolate protein bar and a piece of fruit. Dinner usually consists of chicken or steak with at least 3 cups of vegetables and kumara. My favourite meal is supper, I have a hot chocolate and either yoghurt or fruit or another protein smoothie. Supplementation really helps me stay in great shape. I take a multi-vitamin, calcium and omega 3 supplements.”

The focus on healthy eating has a positive effect on Tarrens whole family. Her ten year old son even knows how to read nutrition labels and tell the difference between good and bad fat. Tarren is careful not to preach to them about food, yet they all seem to make better choices than most of their friends. Fitness has become the norm in the McCall household. The girls now in their early twenties join Tarren for her walks, and Oliver rides alongside on his bike. Tarren is now studying nutrition and will use her knowledge to help encourage other women to take up the sport. “Anybody can do this sport” she says, “you just need a good team behind you.”