Defeating Stereotypes

Manama : A decade into her fitness and bodybuilding journey, Tamara Makar, a British and world bodybuilding champion is redefining athletic bodybuilding for modern women in the country. Makar, who was more into martial arts, started training at the age of 14. She had to stop her training for a year after an injury, but as she got back to training, her love for lifting weights began. Makar lifted weights until about 10 years ago after which she joined a serious gym from where she got the encouragement to compete in events. In 2011 she approached a coach, International Federation of Bodybuilding & Fitness (IFBB) pro, Harold Marillier, who helped her with the first steps.

“Marillier took me under his wings and I entered my first competition with The United Kingdom Bodybuilding and Fitness Federation (UKBFF) in September 2011 from where I qualified for the British finals in which I came 5th.” “Everyone said it was a great achievement wherein, In 2012 I switched federations, started competing with NAC, in April I qualified for the worlds and in June I won it. Then I went on for their British finals in November and I won.”  Makar has been competing in two to four events every year with different federations, including World Amateur Body Building Association and National Amateur Body-Builders’ Association at international level, worlds championships and universes.

“I am a world champion in the NAC federation. My goal has been to win more titles; therefore, I have been competing with different federations internationally. In the recent 3-4 years, I’ve been competing with NABBA at their world championships and universe where I place in the top three.”“There are many challenges along the way. There’s never a good time to start a contest prep. There’s always an injury, changing jobs, moving houses, but it all comes down to one thing, which is a priority. If you want to do it, you will. If you let these distractions get in your way, you’ll never make it. It’s about how much you can focus on your prep and how much you want it.” “I never thought that I have to prove myself more as a woman in bodybuilding. It’s difficult enough for men and women equally. In the UK this field is more levelled out. Here in the Middle East, there are not many female competitors, and especially not in bodybuilding.” 

Challenges in Bahrain

Makar says that the main challenges for a female bodybuilding here in Bahrain are the lack of good female gyms. “My biggest challenge here was to find a good enough gym to train at. Luckily swat gym was very welcoming and it’s probably one of the best gyms for bodybuilding here in Bahrain. Unfortunately, the female gyms here are not good enough for bodybuilding. Most of them are well equipped for general fitness, but bodybuilding requires a bit more, more machines to hit the muscles from different angles, more weights. If someone is willing to train in a mixed gym then it’s not an issue, there are some good gyms around.” Makar also finds that there is a lack of good coaches for women.

“People need to understand that when it comes to women, training is a bit different, supplementation and diet is different, so a coach who knows how to train men would not necessarily know how to train women. Our bodies are different, our hormones are different, and it’s more difficult for women to build muscles.” Makar also stated that another challenge she faced was to find someone who actually knew how to build the body.

“Most trainers are good at fitness and losing weight for an everyday person. But bodybuilding, the diet to bulk and to cut, to stand on stage, that’s a completely different story. There are many coaches for guys, but for girls the choices are limited. I recommend you always check who you train with and if they’re capable of taking you all the way to reach your goal at all,” Makar added.