Lesley Maxwell, 66, from Melbourne, Vic, shares her story with Take 5…
Lying in my hospital bed, I was flicking through the channels when I suddenly paused, seeing muscular women in bikinis and high heels strutting on my screen.
Wow, I thought in amazement. They were competing in a body sculpting competition and looked incredible. I longed to be fit and healthy like them.
It was 2004, and I’d been hospitalised with pneumonia and asthma, giving me the kick up the bum I needed to adopt a more healthy lifestyle. Though I’d never been overweight, since the age of 18, I had often fluctuated in size.
I didn’t know how exercise correctly and found it hard to stick to diets, particularly when my three kids – Vanessa, 22, Anthony, 18, and Damien,16, were younger.
But now at 49, it was time for change.
The day after I left the hospital, I joined the gym with one goal: to look like the women I’d seen on TV.
The show had been about a local trainer, so I sought him out and asked him to train me.
“It’s not going to be easy,” he said.
And he was right! The gym was up two flights of stairs, and the first sessions were so hard I could barely walk back down the stairs afterwards.
I worked out for several hours, four days a week, slowly building my strength.
After six months of training, my coach felt I was ready to compete, so I entered my first competition – Masters over 40.
Stood on the stage, my heart nearly leapt from my chest when they announced my name as the winner.
“I can’t believe it,” I said, stunned.
Over the next 14 years, I won 35 titles in sculpting competitions worldwide.
During this time, I decided to use my experience to help other women over 40 achieve their fitness goals.
I signed up to courses online and qualified as a personal trainer.
Slowly, I started to build up clients. Some have different health issues, such as sarcopenia and osteoporosis, others just want to feel good in their clothes.
I build exercise programs to suit each person’s needs.
Slowly, I started to build up clients. Some have different health issues, such as sarcopenia and osteoporosis, others just want to feel good in their clothes.
I build exercise programs to suit each person’s needs.
Recently, one of my younger clients broke down while we were training.
“I’ve been diagnosed with osteopenia Les,” she told me through tears.
I was positive and encouraging.
“Let’s catch it in its tracks,” I said. “We’ll do weights for at least two hours a week, and it will keep you strong.”
As we age, our health deteriorates.
Women often suffer from bone density issues like osteoporosis and muscle mass weakness after menopause, but this can be avoided with the proper training and diet.
I’ve recently written a book called My Easy Clean Eating Guidelines to help people eat the right food while they train.
Many older women have never been in the gym or picked up a weight.
My advice is to get started as soon as you can and not leave it too late. There are loads of programs online to follow.
I have some on my website www.lesleymaxwell.fitness.
If you don’t want to do it alone, try a beginner’s session with a personal trainer or go with a family member or friend.
There are four lifts that women should learn if they want to avoid health issues – squat, lunge, push and pull.
Teamed with the right diet, they’ll stay healthy and strong longer. It’s never too late to make changes.
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