My wife helped me lose 14 kilos at 61 years old
<p><em><strong>Greg, 68, and Sheryl, 61, took up competitive bodybuilding later in life. Here, they share why bodybuilding has made them fitter, stronger, slimmer and more confident in their 60s.</strong></em></p>
<p>Too old to change and do new things? No way, age is just a number and a state of mind. Maybe the following will give you the motivation to step out of your comfort zone and you just might surprise yourself.</p>
<p>After many years in collar and tie occupations my wife and I decided to follow our interests and have a change of career. Having run many marathons and half marathons, we changed our focus and sporting interest into a lifestyle and became personal trainers in 1995 at the age 40 and 48. Sheryl had got into weight training while recovering from a broken leg, and went on to do a couple of bodybuilding competitions, with some success.</p>
<p>In 2004 at age 49, she decided to do more cycling and while out training for the “round Taupo” race was knocked off her bike and badly injured her legs. It was over six months before she was able to walk without crutches and she was told that she was not going to be able to run again, and the chance of bodybuilding again was very slight. However determination saw her back jogging and in 2008, back into bodybuilding.</p>
<p>By 2009 my wife had been an active and competitive body builder for 17 years and at 54 she thought it might be time to retire. For those 17 years, I had just been a supporter, helper and bag carrier, and never thought it was my thing. But at age 61, I must have had a rush of blood to the brain and told my wife that I had better give this body building a go, before I get too old. So her retirement was put on hold! (She has since gone on to win the INBA Natural Olympia World Women’s over 60 years’ title.)</p>
<p>On the left is a photo I had taken in October 2009. I was 76kg and mostly fat. The picture on the right was takne in August 2011 (aged 63) when I entered my first competition in Taupo, weighing 62kg. That’s a 14kg reduction in body weight.</p>
<p><img width="499" height="500" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/26110/transformation_499x500.jpg" alt="Transformation" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"/></p>
<p>Since then I have competed in about 20 competitions, always in the Men’s 60 years-plus class, and together with my wife we compete in the mixed pairs.</p>
<p>Yes, it has become a bit of an addiction and I can say that it is not really the actual workouts that I enjoy, but the results. It is a good feeling when the weight drops off and for the first time in my life I could see some muscle definition and a six-pack! We also always endeavour to enter drug tested competitions.</p>
<p>Forget the myths, such as “you have to starve yourself” or “your muscles will turn to fat when you stop”. There is immense satisfaction in being able to stand on stage with other over 60 year olds, and look like you are meant to be there!</p>
<p>I have found that all the other body builders of all ages are very supportive and there is always a good atmosphere back stage at the competitions.</p>
<p>All I can say is, it is worth giving it a go. At the very least you will become fitter, stronger, slimmer and more confident. You will need to find a trainer or a gym that has experience in body building and has the necessary nutritional knowledge as the food you eat plays a huge part in contest preparation. All the best.</p>
<p><em>To find more information, visit Greg and Sheryl’s <a href="http://www.fitnessplusclive.nz"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>website here</strong></span></a>. </em> </p>
<p><em><strong>If you have a story to share please get in touch at <a href="mailto:melody@oversixty.com.au">melody@oversixty.com.au</a></strong></em></p>
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