She 's the super fit mother of four who is so dedicated to bodybuilding that she gets up everyday at 3am to train before her kids wake up . Amanda Doherty spends three hours each morning at her Melbourne gym before preparing enough food so she can eat seven times a day . The competitive bodybuilder , who turns 40 next month , has spent the past several weeks getting ready for the Arnold Classic Australia competition in Melbourne this weekend . Scroll down for video . Amanda Doherty is the super fit mother of four who is so dedicated to bodybuilding that she gets up everyday at 3am to train before her kids wake up . ' I 'm really quite dedicated to the sport ... But I try not to take to much away from the children – that ’ s the reason I get up so early , ' she told told Daily Mail Australia . ' I get up really early at 3am and have a coffee before heading to the gym for my fasted cardio , which means I have no food in my tummy . I get on the stepper for 40 minutes . ' I make myself a protein drink and then I hit the weights . I get home by 6.30am and it 's time for me to make the lunch boxes and get my kids off to school . ' Ms Doherty then spends time preparing her meals for the day before heading back to the gym she runs with her husband Tony in Brunswick to train her clients . ' I really like to eat fresh food so I prepare six to seven meals for the day , ' she said . The mother of four spends three hours each morning at her Melbourne gym before preparing enough food so she can eat seven times a day . The competitive bodybuilder , who turns 40 next month , has spent the past several weeks getting ready for the Arnold Classic Australia competition in Melbourne this weekend . Amanda gets to the gym at 3.30am and is back home by 6.30am to make the lunch boxes and get her four children , aged five to 13 , off to school . ' I generally eat oats for breakfast with protein powder and then I 'll eat five ounces of protein with one third of a cup of brown rice every two hours . 'You have to work hard and it takes a little bit of sacrifice . ' Ms Doherty says she sacrifices a lot of sleep and , to an extent , a social life . ' I 've never been one to go out and drink alcohol but there 's small sacrifices along the way . I ca n't stand around at school and talk to other mums because I 've got to get back to the gym . ' I prefer to spend any other time with my kids . ' Ms Doherty said her lifestyle has a flow on effect with her children , now aged five to 13 . 'They watch what I do and I think mostly they ’ re proud of me . Sometimes they get angry when the smell of salmon or meat fills the kitchen , ' she said . Amanda , who started bodybuilding when she was 19 , took a break when she was 27 to start her family . As soon as she had her fourth child at 35 , Ms Doherty was straight back into it and has n't looked back . Amanda and her husband Tony run a gym together in Brunswick , Melbourne : Doherty 's 24:7 Gym . 'This has definitely educated them about nutrition . We have a draw at home full of treats but it never gets empty . 'The children want to eat healthily . If my kids want a pie for dinner , they can have one . I 'm not worried because they 're active children . ' Ms Doherty , who started bodybuilding when she was 19 , took a break when she was 27 to start her family . ' I put on 15-20 kilos when I had my first child . I was eating more and gave into cravings . People told me I would be eating for two . That was a real learning curve - you 're not eating for two , you have to have enough nutrition for two , ' she said . Amanda documents her bodybuilding on social media and she has clocked up well over 50,000 followers . Amanda competed in three shows last year and is aiming for five in 2015 , including the Arnold Classic . As soon as she had her fourth child at 35 , Ms Doherty was straight back into it and has n't looked back . She competed in three shows last year and is aiming for five in 2015 , including the Arnold Classic this weekend . Ms Doherty documents her bodybuilding progress on social media and she has clocked up well over 50,000 followers . ' I really enjoying sharing my journey through Instagram and Facebook . That ’ s the real reason I came back to the sport ... to inspire people , ' she said .
Amanda Doherty trains for 3am and eats seven times a day . Mum of four has been preparing for Arnold Classic Australia this weekend . She has been bodybuilding for 20 years but took time off to have her kids . Amanda says she sacrifices a lot of sleep and social events for lifestyle .