Feeling better than she did at 40,”Bodybuilding champion Ernestine
Shepherd shows us that ”being out of shape” as we age truly is merely an
option — NOT a mandate! She is a role model not just for senior women
everywhere, but for every one of us.
Ernestine “Ernie” Shepherd, at age 75, is a personal trainer, a
professional model, a competitive bodybuilder and happier and more
fulfilled than she’s ever been in her life. In March of 2010, on stage
in Rome, Italy she was formally given the title of World’s Oldest
Performing Female BodyBuilder (by Guinness World Records). How did
Ernestine transform herself from an average middle-aged woman to
bodybuilding diva?
In her youth Ernestine is said to have been a ”prissy” girl with
little interest in athletics or exercise of any kind. As a 56-year-old
she was a sedentary, well-padded school secretary and “slug” who had
never worked out a day in her life. The obvious question is: What
happened to transform Ernestine into a role model for the rest of us,
and senior women in particular?
What happened was that the 56-year-old version of Ernestine went
bathing suit shopping with her sister, Velvet. While trying on the
suits, they found themselves laughing at each other. Then and there they
knew it was time to get in better shape. Ernestine and her sister
joined a gym and started working out together. A short time later,
Velvet died suddenly from a brain aneurysm. Devastated, Ernestine
stopped going to the gym. After some months of mourning the loss of her
sister and on the advice of a friend that her sister would have wanted
her to continue what they had started, Ernestine returned to the gym
with a reignited determination to get fit.
Starting slowly and building her body step by little step, Ernestine
over time completely transformed not only her body, but her life, too.
She has never been happier. She trains mostly senior women five days a
week and “live(s) to inspire senior women to reach their physical
potential.”
Personally, she likes to compete in 5K and 10K races and run
marathons. She’s up at 4 A.M. to get in her 10-mile runs and puts in
upwards to 80 miles a week when training for an upcoming marathon.
Ernestine also strength trains four or more days a week. In 2007 (at age
71) she asked Yohnnie Shambourger (former Mr. Universe) to train her to
compete as a bodybuilder. Seven months later she entered her first
bodybuilding competition. In this first contest she took first place in
her class at the Natural East Coast Tournament of Champions bodybuilding
competition – out posing women decades younger.
Despite all the exercise, Ernestine says that she has no aches or
pains whatsoever and has never been injured — not at all — in the 17
years of her new improved life. This 5-foot 5-inch, 130-pound dynamo
sports 9 to 10% bodyfat; these single-digit percentages are usually
reserved for elite-professional male athletes in their prime! She takes
no medications. She loves her new life’s work, enjoys more energy than
those decades younger and has never been more successful. What’s her
secret? Let’s look at some of what allows Ernestine to defy “normal”
aging:
- Began slowly under the guidance of an expert personal trainer and gradually conditioned her body
- Ernestine, realizing early on the importance of good nutrition
(including sufficient protein and supplements) sought out the services
of a nutritionist
- Has the full support of her husband of 52 years, Collin, who
prepares meals and makes sure the fridge is always stocked with her
seven convenient small balanced daily meals
- Makes sure she gets the rest her body needs
- Tries to have a positive attitude about everything, views her
workouts as fun and sees her work as being on a “long happy journey”
- Knows where she wants to go and what she wants to accomplish and do
- Believes in encouragement, inspiration and family support and lives
by her mantra ” Determined — Dedicated — Disciplined To Be Fit”
Ernestine Shepherd is having the time of her life at an age when many
folks only see themselves as declining and getting old. She’s in the
best shape of her life by far, more successful than she’s ever been and a
supreme role model to senior women every where — and to the rest of us,
too. She has a lot to teach us about thriving at any age — if we are
but ready and open to learn.
Posts
Sergio possessed the ideal bodybuilding physique, categorized by broad
shoulders, narrow hips and huge arms. Being of medium height, his
well-balanced and proportioned physique served to create for him a
larger-than-life illusion onstage when he was then competing among the
best Olympians from the 1960s. His exceptional physical attributes made
him a very impressive bodybuilder, and also an aesthetic bodybuilder
despite his incredible muscle size and density. As a Chicago Police officer, you can imagine what would happen to
criminals crossing his path! They had to custom cut his blue officer
shirtsleeves to fit his massive biceps. He would commonly cut them off
or split them down the side to carry those arms.
