Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
World
Akanksha Soni & Paige Freshwater

Bodybuilding grandmother calls herself a 'puma' for dating man 15 years her junior

A grandmother who started bodybuilding as an act of rebellion now calls herself a puma for dating a 27-year-old.

Former insurance worker Wendy Levra, 42, from Elko, Nevada is now a professional bodybuilder with 15 inch biceps, 24 quads and a 37 inch chest.

Wendy joined the gym aged 35 after feeling she had gained too much weight for her short frame. It was then that her regular trainer told her she should consider competing.

When she told her then-husband, he laughed at her - which only spurred her on.

Determined to prove him wrong, she started training hard and competed in her first competition a year later, coming in second place in Utah Classic.

Wendy Levra has been with Sean Oflattery for three years now (mediadrumimages.com/@fitwitwendy)
Wendy has a grandaughter and another grandchild on the way (mediadrumimages.com/@fitwitwendy)

After her success, Wendy soon realised that what had started as a bit of a joke had the potential to become a a new career.

With muscular legs and a small upper body, she first decided to take some time off competing to strengthen her top half.

Over several years, her journey saw her quit her job in insurance to become a personal trainer.

She also divorced her husband, and found a younger man who is her rock in her bodybuilding lifestyle.

"I have been with Sean Oflattery, 27, for three years now, we met at the gym a long time ago, Sean is also into the bodybuilding lifestyle," says Wendy.

She joined the gym at aged 35 as she felt she had gained too much weight (mediadrumimages.com/@fitwitwendy)
Wendy eats six meals a day and a lot of protein (mediadrumimages.com/@fitwitwendy)

"We were friends for a while, but a few years later I was having a hard time paying my rent and Sean was moving back to Elko from Iowa so we moved in together.

"We hit it off pretty quickly, we kind of like the same things like going out and travelling. We like paddleboarding and shopping.

"We spend too much money on stupid things and have the same taste in music.

"I like to call myself a puma, not a cougar, I am not old enough to be a cougar yet.

"Sean also gets along great with my children."

Wendy used to suffer from mental health issues, but says that bodybuilding has helped get her to a much better place.

Wendy maintains her weight of 160-pounds (mediadrumimages.com/@fitwitwendy)
Bodybuilding has given Wendy a lot of confidence (mediadrumimages.com/@fitwitwendy)

"I've overcome some depression and eating disorders," she said.

"I used to have really bad anxiety and depression.

"Since I started bodybuilding, I used that as an outlet and you have to have a positive mindset to get through it and get where I am now."

Wendy had her first son at 17 and had to drop out of high school. Her younger son is currently 16 years old and often accompanies her to her competitions.

"My eldest is twenty-five now and he and Sean get along very well," says Wendy.

"The first time they met my son admitted that he thought Sean was going to be a big douchebag because he is a bodybuilder.

"But they are great friends now, age has never been a problem with us.

"My eldest lives in Idaho, he has a family of his own, I have a granddaughter and another on the way.

"My youngest is very supportive. He lives with me now and gets to travel with me to competitions.

"But he is the one that has to deal with me when I get crabby during prep-season and keep yelling at him if I see any tempting snacks around the house."

Wendy exercises two hours a day, every day to maintain her 160lb bodybuilding physique.

"I do cardio for forty minutes in the morning, and go to the gym for half and half in the evening," she said.

"I eat six meals a day and I eat a lot of protein. And in my offseason, quite a bit of carb too.

"So it's like chicken rice, some fish, egg whites, a lot of vegetables, a little bit of fruit. Very healthy, clean diet, and lots of vitamins."

So does, however, admit that bodybuilding can cause body dysmorphia.

"I feel good about my body overall, but bodybuilding kind of causes some dysmorphia.

"Like when you are in your offseason like I am now and I feel fat.

"I know logically that it is stupid to feel this way, but my body looks different now to when I am prepping for competition.

"During prep, I am super lean, and see every muscle striation or every muscle is defined."

Wendy has faced mixed reactions from social media and her friends and family regarding her bodybuilding physique.

"My family and friends tell me I motivate them to work out, but then they say things like 'I want to work out but I don't want to look like you.'

"And some trolls on Instagram leave comments saying things like 'you're disgusting' or pointed comments that I look like a man with boobs.

"I don't let it affect me after all it's my life, and this is something I enjoy doing, and the bodybuilding lifestyle has given me so much.

"Bodybuilding has given me a lot of confidence. I used to be shy. I wouldn't talk to people unless they approached me first.

"I can achieve what I need to you know, I'm a lot more positive now than I ever was before."

Do you have a story to share? Email paige.freshwater@reachplc.com.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.