Did You Hear The One About the 77 Year Old Body Building Grandma?

It's pretty hard to be fit over 40, isn't it?

Or is it?

Well, have you heard about Kelly Nelson or Morjorie Newlin...two body building grandmas?

Read on and learn about Kelly and Morjorie and what each chose to do with "the rest of her life".

People will give you all kinds of reasons for being out of shape, not exercising, or both. Sometimes it's, "I don't have the time" or "I don't feel like it" or "That's just a waste of time". Sometimes these are real sentiments and beliefs, but, upon occasion, they are masks for, "I'm too old to get fit".

Kelly Nelson began weight lifting in 1980, or more specifically, training with weights, at age 53. Up until that point in her life, there had been nothing athletic about her existence. Her mission was simple. She thought the backs of her arms needed some work.

As she found out, they needed a "workout".

She began working out on her own at home, and, when she saw what weight lifting, or more properly, "weight training", could do for the backs of her arms, which she was surprised to learn were called "triceps", she figured maybe this weight lifting stuff could work for the rest of her.

So, this 53 year old non-athlete, began a regular exercise program.

About 6 months later, she convinced her daughter, Colleen Fisher, who is about 30 years younger, to begin training with her, and eventually Colleen began winning body building competitions.

In 1983, after 3 years of training, and never having trained in a real gym, Kelly competed in her first body building competition. She won that competition and never looked back. She has been competing, and training, since.

Is it possible that this body building grandma may be the oldest female body builder around? We will see.

Both mother and daughter have accepting the lifestyle of body building and weight training as the way they wish to live. That may be a bit much for some people, but they certainly serve as role models for what the over-40 crowd can do. At one time, Kelly regularly rode a bicycle to and from the gym where she trained, 10 miles each way, proving again that fitness after 50 is not an impossible dream.

Kelly Nelson has been quoted as saying, "Aging is a disease- and I don't have it. Nor do I intend to get it!" If the photos taken of her in her late 70's wearing a bikini and flexin' up a storm are any indication, she hasn't gotten it yet.

Kelly Nelson, the 77 year old body building grandma, has come a long way since beginning the fitness lifestyle while a housewife in the 80's. Since then she has won numerous body building championships and now, with her daughter, markets her own line of fitness training videos.

As my wife and daughters like to say, "You go, girl!"

I haven't had a chance yet to tell you about 86 year old Morjorie Newlin, and her numerous awards from her thirteen years of body building competitions. Did I say Kelly Nelson was still competing in her 70's? Well, Morjorie Newlin BEGAN TRAINING at age 72.

What got her upset enough to begin a body building career that has taken her to competitions in Italy, France, and Germany and helped her furnish a room with her awards? She could no longer lift the 50 pound bags of kitty litter she needed to take care of her cat! Two years later, she won her first body building competition.

Now, let's see. At age 53, Kelly Nelson began weight lifting because she didn't like the looks of the backs of her arms. At age 72, Morjorie Newlin decided she wanted to be independent enough to take care of her cat. From such simple starts, each body building grandma gained fame and recognition for deciding that is IS possible to do what most people feel is impossible for them.

They have also proven that women in their 70's and 80's CAN look HOT in a string bikini. How's that for busting up a stereotype?

Even more, they proved that age does not always have the last word on how a person shall live that portion of their lives that has been called the "golden years".

Or, as Morjorie put it, "I want to be as independent as I can be, for as long as I can,"

Looks like if her 80's are an example, her 90's are really going to be fun!

Oh! I'm sorry!

What were you were telling me about how impossible it is for YOU to be fit over 40?

Many people over 40...heck, many people over 30, believe that they are over the hill. They are out of shape and too old to do anything about it. Well, a 77 year old body building grandma can teach them a thing or two.

Donovan Baldwin is a freelance writer living in Copperas Cove, Texas. He is a University of West Florida alumnus, a member of Mensa, and is retired from the U. S. Army after 21 years of service. His interests include art, nature, animals, the environment, global warming, health, fitness, yoga, and weight loss. You may learn a little more about fitness over 40 at http://nodiet4me.com/fit_over_40 .

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