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Mary Doma Lifestyle Writer
When his wife, Linah, prepares the breakfast that includes 15 eggs and other accompaniments, a visitor to the Chienderamwano household could be forgiven for thinking the meal is meant to serve eight people.

But no, this meal is just for one person whose huge appetite, towards body-building competitions should be complemented by a rigorous work-out in the gym.

Professional body-building worldwide is not a cheap sport and to gain recognition and win prizes, a substantial investment is required to build and grow the muscles, accompanied by an appropriate diet to keep the body in shape.

While this is accompanied by a rigorous training regime, it is the dietary component that has separated the others from the professional body-builders as they pump iron in various gymnasiums. Their dietary requirements especially as they prepare for a contest, can only but bring misery to those with limited resources.

Reigning Mr Zimbabwe and holder of the Musclemania title, Champion Chienderamwano’s daily meal comprises of no less than a crate of eggs, bread, oatmeal, mixed berries, fish, chicken, steak, brown rice, sweet potatoes, fruits and protein supplements.

For breakfast, Champion (28) who is based in Gaborone, Botswana where he is an instructor at Jacks’ Gym takes 15 egg whites, oatmeal mixed with honey and skimmed milk as early as 7 am and two hours later he takes three slices of whole wheat bread and tuna shredded in water and a protein supplement. This is followed by an 11am meal of brown rice with four big pieces of chicken breasts seasoned with cayenne pepper.

His lunch at 2pm comes with broccoli, cauliflower, green beans and lean beef steak as well as protein supplements. t 4pm the hulk indulges in a lot of (palm) dates as an afternoon snack while his dinner at 7pm will be fish, chicken breasts, tuna shredded in water and his usual protein supplements.

By his own admission, Champion says that he could not afford such a diet on his own and was grateful for the sponsorship he gets from South African company Nutritech.

“I am sponsored by Nutritech, a company based in South Africa. They give me R10 000 cash to buy food, food vouchers and R5 000 worth of supplements each month,” he said.

His wife, Linah with whom she has three children, is a central figure in his adherence to the diet and the family has accordingly adjusted to the state of affairs in the household, but they stick to their normal diet.

Linah’s typical day starts as early as 4am when she has to start preparing meals for the muscleman who is an early riser as some clients come for workouts before the break of dawn.

“Body-builders emphasise proteins, matched with carbohydrates however, incorporating vegetables and fibre into your diet will also help sustain your health and keep you feeling full, if you miss a meal, you don’t get to make up for it at the next meal,” he said.

Even when he travels, Linah is always by her side with his food which he has to consume after every three hours. The diet is, however, not strictly adhered to if Champion is not preparing for a particular competition.

“My husband has great future ahead because we are still a young couple. Getting adequate food is not a problem because we have some sponsors,” said Linah.

He considers himself as a body transformation coach who has helped thousands of individuals locally and abroad to change the way they exercise, look, eat and feel. Champion, who has age on his side, believes that he is destined for greater things in life as he pursues his body building career.

“I want to achieve my dream that of attaining the high rank of body building which is Mr Olympia and I’ll do whatever it takes to get there and I will conquer the Zimbabwean body building industry.

“I chose to become a body-builder and I chose to do what I had to do. Nobody forced me into the sport; I was born with the passion.

“You focus your mind to train your body and the changes that begin to take place impact your mind as well. Dream it, believe it, and you will achieve it,” Champion said.

He has worked with individuals from vast professional backgrounds including doctors, lawyers, businessmen and women, models, athletes and college students.

Champion entered the fitness industry in 2005 at Muscle and Fitness in Gweru where he trained for a year and then moved to Botswana in 2006 where he met his coach, Munashe Matandirotya, who stepped up his training in various aspects of body building. He has a professional certificate in personal training.

“Training gives us an outlet for suppressed energies created by stress and thus tones the spirit just as exercise conditions the body. The mind is the limit.

As long as the mind can envision the fact that you can do something, you can do it, as long as you really believe,” he said in an interview shortly after winning the Musclemania title on Harare last weekend.

Champion said he has attained so many body-building titles, including Mr Zimbabwe and Mr Botswana and his age gives him opportunity to achieve so much more and he owes his achievements to his family for supporting him throughout his career.

“My wife is very supportive of my career; she cooks and also comes at my competitions to rally for me all the time. I think my mother had foreseen the greatness in me hence she give me the name Champion and I thank her because had she been alive she would be very proud of me,” he added.

Champion was raised by a single mother in Kwekwe and attended Mbizo High School.