Bodybuilder: “I’m much sexier at 45 than I was at 25”
Timea Bradley was obese in her 20s and looks better than ever in her 40s, but her love life has suffered as a result…
With her rippling six-pack and W super-toned thighs, Timea Bradley is often mistaken for being half her age. And since overcoming obesity seven years ago, the 45 year old says she has never looked or felt better.
But despite her fabulous new figure, the bodybuilder is still struggling to find love, and says men don’t believe they are good enough for her.
Timea, who lives near Glasgow where she works as a graphic designer, says, “Seven years ago, I didn’t make any effort and would wear dark, baggy clothes to hide my obese shape.
“Now, I’ve got the toned abs, curvy glutes and defined shoulders that I could previously only dream about.
“I look younger and younger each year. But men are so intimidated by my looks that they don’t want to date me – it’s completely ruined my love life. I never get approached in clubs because they just assume that I’ll reject them.”
Growing up, Timea always battled with her weight. She explains, “I was a chubby child, and then, in my early 20s, I became self-conscious and suffered from anorexia and bulimia. I dropped to a skeletal size zero.
UNHEALTHY PAST
“However, when I became pregnant with my son, Nathan, in 1997, I knew I needed to be healthy for him, so started eating again. But I went to the other extreme and would eat enough for four people. I’d binge on chocolate, lasagnes and ready meals, going from a size 10 to a 16 in just nine months. I was only 25 but I felt really out of shape.”
Over the next 15 years, Timea struggled to shift the extra weight. She says, “Nobody said anything to me, but I was unhappy and embarrassed with the way I looked.
“I became a recluse, hid my figure under loose clothing and refused to go on beach holidays – unless I was well covered.”
When 5ft 4 Timea reached a size 18 in 2011 she knew it was time to change. She says, “I was 38, single, and couldn’t believe that I’d let myself get into such a state.
“Something in my head suddenly clicked. So, that night, I attempted to run for the first time. After about 100 yards, I nearly passed out and was extremely out of breath. I felt so embarrassed and ashamed.”
But Timea was determined to improve. She says, “I joined a gym and started by walking on the treadmill. And once I’d built up my stamina, I began running. It was hard, but within two years, I was down to a size 10 – I was elated.”
But even though Timea lost weight, she still had some saggy skin remaining and felt as though she’d lost her curves.
TRANSFORMATION
She says, “I was complaining to my friend about having a flat bum when she showed me pictures of fitness models.
“I became obsessed with getting the same look as them for myself. I thought that if I worked hard enough, I could also become strong and sexy like them.
“So, I began following everything they did and mimicked their weighttraining routines and diets as closely as I could.”
By 2015, Timea was in good enough shape to enter her first bodybuilding competition. She says, “By then, I was training for three hours a day, but I didn’t know what to expect and was extremely nervous. Despite being the oldest competitor, I still came fourth – it was a huge confidence boost for me.
“But I wanted to improve my figure further, so later that year, I also had a boob job –
going from a 34B to 34DD.
“It made me feel feminine again as I’d lost all my breast tissue through exercising. I felt fearless, powerful and completely confident.”
However, not everyone is a fan of Timea’s new look.
FANTASY WOMAN
“Even when I’m dating guys, they either become jealous or don’t stick around because they see me as a fantasy woman and not somebody to settle down with. I’m sexier than ever, but it’s a turn off! It’s annoying, but I hope that the right man will come along eventually.”
And Timea has high hopes for success in her sport in the future too.
She says, “I’m going to keep going in competitions until I physically can’t any more. My son is so proud of me, he’s my biggest fan.
“People can’t hide their shock when I tell them my age – I’m the healthiest and happiest I’ve ever been. I look one hundred times better than I did in my twenties.
“I want to show all women that you are never too old to become a better version of yourself.”
❛I FELT FEARLESS, POWERFUL AND COMPLETELY CONFIDENT❜