At age 55 I was suddenly faced with the fact that I was now an older woman. I looked around at the general vision of older people in the community and I was far from impressed. it seemed to me that older people had been sidelined and were creeping about trying to stay out of the way. I wanted more, so I decided to do something to try and raise the profile of an older woman, something which as it turned out, inspired some and shocked others. I announced I was going to compete in Natural Bodybuilding. At this time there were hardly any females competing over 40. The immediate response was: “You’re too old to be a bodybuilder,” You’re over 55, you can’t build muscle,” You’re too old to wear a bikini,” It’s not fit and proper for a lady your age to be on stage in public in a bikini,” “You’re too small to be a bodybuilder.”
But I went ahead anyway and worked very hard to improve my body shape and strength. There were those who treated my eforts with disdain and there were those who were inspired by my achievements but one night I had a most validating and wonderful experience.
It was the occaision of the 2007 INBA (International Natural Bodybuilding Association) Australian Championships and I was aged 65. I was walking through the auditorium at the end of the evening and two girls aged about 20 came running up to me all excited.
“We love you,” they said. This took me by surprise. Then they said, “Until we saw you on stage tonight we didn’t know that a woman 60+ could be muscular and in-shape, and wear bikini!” They then added with absolute joy, “We don’t have to be like our grandparents, we can be like you!”
The girls were genuinely in raptures about their new found vision for their older age. I wafted home that night on a dream. I was over the moon. Out of the blue these girls had verified for me that I was actually succeeding in my quest to present a more posiitve vision of the older age female.
You truly are inspiring. To get past the ‘what will people think’ mentality is difficult at any age but you did it and look what you’ve achieved. I love your positive outlook and determination. When I think of being 70 it used to be a vision of someone having a very quiet, sedentary lifestyle. I no longer think this way and its all thanks to you and your motivation and positive thinking.
Thank you.
“The Older Aged Female | Janice Lorraine” ended up being a great read and thus I actually ended up being extremely content to come across the blog.
Many thanks,Maxine
Dear Janice, I heard you on “Life Matters” at 4.30am today and truly had an “ah hah” moment. I am 65, have exercised 6-7 days a week for 35+ years (primarily lap swimming 3km, walking up to 12km). Usually 45-50kg but have gained some weight recently (not from lack of exercise, more like psychological comfort eating) and become very depressed looking at women of my age, most of whom are overweight and put their increasing ailments down to “getting older”. There is something inside me that simply will not accept that theory and you are the first “kindred spirit” I have come across. You have reinspired me to take control and not accept the common overweight, unfit stereotype of older women and the mantra that “that is the way it has to be”. Many thanks, Judy