Welcome to the THIVE where motivation, strength & personal transformation collide! I am Tamara Walcott, a passionate motivational speaker & powerlifter, dedicated to empowering individuals like you. Whether you’re on a mission to improve your personal health, or striving for greatness as a professional powerlifter, I am here to guide you every step of the way. I believe in a mind-body connection to achieve personal development, that goes beyond physical strength alone.”

By Donna McGinn

I met Tamara years ago when she first started lifting at Colosseum gym in Columbia, MD. I had the pleasure of working on her with my massage. She has since made it into the Genius Book of World Records with record lifts. She has expanded her career to training others, meeting and working with all kinds of famous lifters and being invited on shows like, The Ellen Degeneres show. And now, I have the pleasure to interview her for Mighty Magazine. Its nice to have been able to see her progress through the years.
Q1: What got you started in the gym...and then power lifting, specifically?
A: I wanted to be here to live and play and run for my kids I couldn't at 415lbs so tried to go back to sports but the schedule didn't work, and I had no one to watch my kids being newly separated. So, I went to the gym. Saw people lifting extremely heavy and found out it was a sport.

Q2: What hardships did you encounter during your journey?
A: In the beginning friends and family didn't understand why I was always in the gym. They gave me a lot of “mom guilt”.
But then, after time, they came around. They started to see me change. Some of them started working on themselves too. Later on in the journey, when I started lifting heavier, people then started saying, “don't do that. You'll break your back” , or would say,” I looked like a man”. I had plenty of hardships.
I ended up hiring a coach, even though I couldn't really afford one. But, I knew I loved it, so I made it work!
I stopped eating out and use that money to pay for a coach every month!

Q3: What has been the most thrilling part in your journey, so far?
A: Oh my gosh, the most thrilling part of my journey definitely has to be what I've instilled in my own kids. I was able to show them better, than I could tell them. That anything and everything that they put their minds to,… no matter how long it takes,… how hard it is,… that it's possible. Of course being on TV, that too. But, I was able to show my kids at 13, what I learned at 30. That the impossible is possible. And now the world is truly their oyster!
Q4: How are you able to juggle training, coaching and family life all at once?
A: It's a balancing act, but I get it done. I simply just prioritize week over week, day after day what's most important. And I aim to get those things done. I don't sweat the small stuff. And if I don't get something done this week, I know I'll get it done next week. For example; I train three days a week. It doesn't matter what day I go in. As long as I get it done. That's the most important.
I also don't let more than three days go by doing one thing that gets me one step closer to my goal. So, I'm very intentional!
Also, it takes a village. My family really shows up for me when it comes to my kids, so when they are good, good !

Q5: What would you say is a "bare minimum" a person/client should have, to start power lifting, if they wanted to?
A: You have to want it !

Q6: What are your current best lifts?
A: Deadlift 639lbs. But I also have the heaviest emulative weight combined with all three lifts. That's 1620 pounds!

Q7: What do you do for recovery?
A: Deep tissue massage , Epson salt, baths, and beach vacations!

Q8: What do you do to prepare for a competition, mentally and physically?
A: Oh man, I virtualize. I see the end result that I want, and I focus on executing like it's another training day.

Q9: How do you handle setbacks in competition or training?
A: I look for the lessons in each one and focus on what I did well. I have also cried like everyone else, and got frustrated with the setback. However, I don't stay there very long. What's the point in crying over spilled milk. Just clean it up. Pour yourself a new glass, and keep going!

Q10: Describe a time you had to overcome a significant obstacle or set back.
A: This past October 2024, right before a major competition. I tore my muscle while benching 397 pounds. I thought I would never bench again. But again, I am relentless. I did everything to get back to where I was. That means I had to do one thing, every single day. Even if it was a small thing, to get back to my goal. I did my PT. I drank my water. I corrected my form. I listen to my doctor. A year later I'm benching 350 lbs after surgery... I'm 35 lbs from my heaviest bench and 41 lbs from the weight that injured me ! Which is crazy, cause I started lifting at 35 and I'm 41 this year !! Must be a good sign !

Q11: How do you maintain motivation in your training?
A: Oh my gosh, I still love POWERLIFTING! I love lifting heavy, but I can't say that it necessarily motivated me to lift. I think I'm more dedicated towards my goal. Motivation for me died a long time ago. I don't wake up every day and go to the gym because I'm motivated to put 600 pounds on my back. I get up every day and go to the gym because I'm dedicated towards my goal of squatting 700 pounds. I'm motivated to load 600 pounds by myself on a dead lift platform, dead lift, and then clean it off. I get up every day and go to the gym dedicated because I wanna be the first woman to pull 700 lb POWERLIFTING.! So it's all about dedication towards my goal for me.

Q12: What would you say are your strengths and weaknesses?
A: They are kind of two in the same. I get in my head and visualize so much, I get fixated and sometimes tend to not slow down. But, I also get stuck in my head, cause I'm my own biggest critic. That could be helpful and harmful.

Q13: What goals do you have for the future?
A: Open up my own gym and give free classes to high school, middle school, and elementary students!

Q14: Where can we find you?www.Tamarawalcott.com
IG: Tamarawalcott.shw
Walcottwreakers.com
Tamarawalcottcoaching.com