‘I can’t believe I’m a bikini bodybuilder at 53’

A 53-year-old weightlifting enthusiast has told how she “keeps pinching herself” after being chosen to represent Great Britain in an international bodybuilding competition.

Jane Woodhead only began seriously training just over a year ago and is set to compete in the over 45s bikini category of the World Amateur Body Building Championships in Venice.

“Representing my country at 53, I literally have to keep pinching myself and say ‘yes this is real, this is really happening’,” she said.

“I have a saying that you are not your age, you are the energy you feel. So I just think I’m 22, even though I’m clearly not.”

Ms Woodhead’s challenge comes within a year of being crowned British bikini champion in the over 50s category at the UK Ultimate Physiques British Championships.

She said: “I can honestly say I never wake up and think ‘I don’t want to go to the gym today’. I absolutely love it.”

The fitness fan had been a dancer as a child but said she did not do much exercise in her 20s.

She returned to the gym in the 90s after her father died and started taking part in sponsored runs to raise money for leukaemia research.

“You always think of cardio to get in the best shape, but what I discovered was actually weightlifting was what would really changed my physique,” she said.

Before long, she started working with a personal trainer who encouraged her to give bikini bodybuilding a go.

“I love a challenge and a goal and I thought why not?” she said.

“I never thought I’d end up on a stage. I had no expectation that I would get this far.”

Ms Woodhead, who works full time as a PR director, said fitting her training and eating regime around her job requires careful planning.

“I travel a lot with my job and I get up at 4:30am to fit in my training sessions,” she said.

“If I’m away from home I have to find a 24-hour gym and make sure I stick to my diet.”

She said she eats between five and seven carefully planned meals each day, which she weighs out and measures for carbohydrates, protein and fat.

“I prepare all my meals and if I’m away I take them all with me in a portable fridge in my car boot,” she said.

“I also have to pass on meals out with family and nights out with friends because it would be weird for me to be getting out tubs of food.”

Her diet mainly consists of chicken, fish, asparagus, rice, white potatoes and porridge oats – and absolutely no chocolate or cakes.

However, Ms Woodhead said the sacrifice was worth it as bodybuilding “is my real passion”.

“It’s something that actually has helped me in every aspect of my life,” she said.

“It massively helps with self confidence. It’s like I’ve found this fire within my belly that just wants it more and more and more.

“This is about my journey. Me improving as much as I can and bringing the best version of me.”