As a child I was always sporty and loved swimming, cheerleading and track and field. When I was 11, I was diagnosed with diabetes and developed neuropathy, blindness, heart disease and kidney failure, which made training much more difficult.
I’ve been in and out of the hospital. There were many close calls where I didn’t know if I would make it through the night. I did everything I could to take care of myself, but nothing helped. My body wasn’t responding and it was so demoralizing.
When my kidneys officially failed at age 34, doctors gave me a choice: I could start dialysis but probably wouldn’t live past 40, or I could undergo an experimental double organ transplant to get a new kidney and a new one To get a pancreas and possibly cure the diabetes. The operation was risky, but I wanted to have my whole life ahead of me and no longer live with diabetes.
Fortunately, the operation was successful. However, when I was 40, my heart disease progressed and I had thyroid dysfunction. I had triple heart bypass surgery and had my thyroid removed.
When I was 62, I was so grateful to be alive. To celebrate my body and my resilience, I decided to get as fit as possible.
After a lifetime of battling chronic illness, I began strength training at age 62 and began to realize my potential.
I was living in Mexico at the time and came across a three-month online strength challenge for people over 40. The focus was on lifting weights and maximizing nutrition while protecting your joints. I signed up for the program and committed to working hard. I didn’t know there would be a winner, but after three months I made the most progress and won the challenge.
I had never lifted weights before, but I was excited. After everything he had been through, my body finally responded to being cared for and I felt great. I had the power to push myself to new limits and I didn’t want to stop.
A year later, I moved back to the States and hired a personal trainer. My goal was to achieve optimal well-being. I didn’t care about losing weight or the number on the scale. I wanted to lift heavier weights with proper form, learn more about my body, and maximize my potential.
I now train with a personal trainer five days a week.
I still work with the same personal trainer and we do 45 minute sessions with an upper and lower body split. I typically do 4 sets of 10 to 15 reps of eight different exercises. Technically they are supersets because I only rest for 30 seconds in between. I get a lot done in a short amount of time.
The upper body is my favorite and I love anything that has to do with the shoulders and arms. The hamstrings are my weakest link, but I work especially hard to train my quads and glutes. I recently completed eight 450-pound leg presses (a new PR!).
I never deprive myself, but I do focus on eating a balanced diet and tracking macros to maximize my workouts.
I’ve always understood the importance of a balanced diet, especially given my health issues, but I’ve started tracking macros to maximize nutrition and support my training. I use the My Macros+ app to stay organized and eat five small meals a day. I focus on adding color to my plate and prioritize lean proteins, complex carbs, and healthy fats. I always have chopped vegetables in my fridge. Salmon, chicken, tuna, Greek yogurt, egg whites, and purple sweet potato are some of my favorites to fill my plate.
Other than that, I never deprive or limit myself. If I want dessert, I have it. It’s all about balance and I’ve found what works for me.
When I discovered bodybuilding, I took my strength to the next level to be a role model for women of all ages.
My trainer saw how hard I was working in the gym and how much I was enjoying it and suggested I enter a Masters Bikini Bodybuilding competition. I thought no one would want to see me in a bikini, but I decided to give it a try and celebrate my body. At age 64, in the same month that marked the 30th anniversary of my organ transplant, I competed in my first championship. I won and was thrilled.
It’s hard to become strong and have confidence in my body. To prepare for the competition, I focused on building muscle with heavy weight training and a calorie surplus. Just before the show, I began my “cut,” reducing overall calorie intake to lose body fat and reveal lean muscle. Training for competitions became my new lifestyle and I thrived on the system of discipline and motivation I had built. It became second nature to exercise and fuel my body with healthy nutrients.
The icing on the cake? I can be a role model for other women, younger and older, and inspire them to do the same.
These three things were key to my strength transformation success.
1. I have built a community of like-minded women to support and inspire my journey.
Menopause is confusing and your body goes through a lot of changes, but finding a community of women who can get along made a huge difference to me and what I was able to do physically. It is so inspiring to give and receive support from others in my age group. I truly believe in the power of connection. I have found so much gold in my community both online and in person, and growing together with other strong women is a recipe for success.
2. I realized that my body is resilient and I am capable of doing hard things.
I have had my fair share of health scares and am so proud of my body for overcoming the challenges. Despite all the hospitalizations and complications, I am now 66 years old and not only lifting heavy weights but also winning competitions. Going to the gym and achieving new personal bests is proof that my body is resilient. I’m just so grateful to be alive.
3. I understand that confidence is the key to my success.
My goal is to constantly take care of my health and treat my body with compassion. I eliminated all negative self-talk and replaced it with absolute confidence. I am strong, proud and capable and show up as my authentic self every day.
After decades of illness, I am finally well and will do everything in my power to continue on this path.