Step into the empowering world of Tamara Walcott, plus size fitness queen and two-time world champion powerlifter. Hailing from the U.S. Virgin Islands, Tamara has defied the odds to become a record-breaking athlete, resilient mompreneur, and beacon of inspiration.
Her story is one of triumph over food addiction and obesity, where she embraced mental resilience and celebrated every victory along the way. Tamara’s journey isn't just about physical strength—it's about reclaiming one's life and rewriting the narrative of what it means to be powerful.
Unlock The Strength Within You with Powerlifting Champion Tamara Walcott
In this episode, Tamara shares her uplifting journey, from battling food addiction to becoming a two-time world champion powerlifter. She takes us through the pivotal moments that led her to the sport and the lessons learned from overcoming a serious injury.
Tamara also opens up about her journey through grief, discussing the impact of her divorce and the heartbreaking loss of her beloved powerlifting coach. She reveals her dedication to carrying on her coach’s legacy and offers her best advice for those navigating their own grief.
We’ll also break the stigma around women in powerlifting, explore the exciting details of her My Strength Is My Sexy tour, and uncover what’s next on her path to greatness.
So, let’s dive deep into Tamara's inspiring story and learn how you, too, can unlock the strength within!
(00:02:55) Breaking the Stigma of Food Addiction
- What power lifting is
- How Tamara grew up & her journey through food addiction
- Why Tamara turned to binge eating
- The turning point that Tamara hit when she knew she had to make a change
(00:12:08) Tamara’s Impressive Powerlifting Career & How Injury impacts Mental Health
- The weight loss Tamara experienced through powerlifting
- Tamara’s impressive accumulative weight moved in competition
- How to become a powerlifter while preventing injury
- How her injury impacted her mental health
- Normalizing trading an unhealthy addiction for a gym addiction
(00:17:53) Navigating Grief & Building A Legacy
- Dealing with the grief of divorce and losing her coach
- How her coach impacted her life and career
- How she has tried to keep his legacy alive and move forward
- Tamara’s tips for moving through grief
(00:25:41) Addressing the Dangers of Dieting Down & Celebrating Women in Sports
- The dangers of dieting down in body building
- Breaking the stigma of women in sports
- The importance of strength training for women
- Why even trainers need trainers
- Tamara’s My Strength Is My Sexy Tour
- Event: MSMS Tour 2024
- What you can expect from Tamara’s event
- Tamara’s next goals in powerlifting
Thanks for the support from our partners, including:
Vitaclean | Visit vitacleanhq.com/THEBIGSILENCE and use code TBS at checkout for 10% off your first purchase. $5 from each sale will go to The Big Silence Foundation, and $5 from each sale will go to Drop4Drop, an organization that Vitaclean works with to build wells in communities that have no access to water.
BetterHelp | Let our sponsor BetterHelp connect you to a therapist who can support you - all from the comfort of your own home. Visit https://betterhelp.com/thebigsilence and enjoy a special discount on your first month.If you have any questions about the brand relating to how the therapists are licensed, their privacy policy, or therapist compensation model, check out this FAQ: https://www.betterhelp.com/your-questions-answered/
Guest Info:
- Website: tamarawalcott.com
- Instagram: @tamarawalcott.shw
- Event: MSMS Tour 2024
Resources:
- Start a conversation in your The Big Silence merch: thebigsilence.com/collections/shop-all
- Read: The Big Silence: A Daughter's Memoir of Mental Illness and Healing
- Follow Karena Dawn on Instagram: @karenadawn
- Follow The Big Silence on Instagram: @The.Big.Silence
- Subscribe: The Big Silence YouTube Channel
- Therapy For All: Resources for those in need
- Thank you to our partners! Go to thebigsilence.com/partners for special offers for our listeners
Donate to The Big Silence thebigsilence.com/donate to be a part of the movement to break the silence and make noise with us!
“The Big Silence” theme song written and performed by James Nicholas Kinney.
Producer, Bobby Goldstein.