| It's pretty hard to be fit over 40, isn't it? | | | | gym where she trained, 10 miles each way, proving |
| Or is it? | | | | again that fitness after 50 is not an impossible dream. |
| If you think it is, let me ask you a question; have you | | | | Kelly Nelson has been quoted as saying, "Aging is a |
| heard about Kelly Nelson or Morjorie Newlin...two body | | | | disease- and I don't have it. Nor do I intend to get it!" If |
| building grandmas? | | | | the photos taken of her in her late 70's wearing a bikini |
| Read on my young friend, or maybe not so young, and | | | | and flexin' up a storm are any indication, she hasn't |
| learn about Kelly and Morjorie and what each chose | | | | gotten that disease yet. |
| to do with "the rest of her life". | | | | Kelly Nelson, the 77 year old body building grandma, |
| People will give you all kinds of reasons for being out | | | | has come a long way since beginning the fitness |
| of shape, not exercising, or both. Sometimes it's, "I don't | | | | lifestyle while a housewife in the 80's. Since then she |
| have the time" or "I don't feel like it" or "That's just a | | | | has won numerous body building championships and |
| waste of time". Sometimes these are real sentiments | | | | now, with her daughter, markets her own line of fitness |
| and beliefs, but, upon occasion, they are masks for, "I'm | | | | training videos. |
| too old to get fit". | | | | As my wife and daughters like to say, "You go, girl!" |
| A lady named Kelly Nelson began weight lifting in 1980, | | | | Now, if you think that Ms. Nelson is something, I haven't |
| or more specifically, training with weights, at age 53. Up | | | | had a chance yet to tell you about 86 year old |
| until that point in her life, there had been nothing athletic | | | | Morjorie Newlin, and her numerous awards from her |
| about her existence at all. Her mission at the time was | | | | thirteen years of body building competitions. Did I say |
| simple. | | | | Kelly Nelson was still competing in her 70's? Well, |
| She thought the backs of her arms needed some | | | | Morjorie Newlin BEGAN TRAINING at age 72. |
| work. | | | | What got her upset enough to begin a body building |
| As she found out, they didn't just need work, they | | | | career that has taken her to competitions in Italy, |
| needed a "workout". | | | | France, and Germany and helped her furnish a room |
| Originally she began working out on her own at home | | | | with her awards? One day while shopping she realized |
| just to make the backs of her arms tighten up. When | | | | she could no longer lift the 50 pound bags of kitty litter |
| she saw what weight lifting, or more properly, "weight | | | | she needed to take care of her cat! |
| training", could do for the backs of her arms, which she | | | | Two years later, in her early 70's, Marjorie Newlin won |
| was surprised to learn were called "triceps", she | | | | her first body building competition. |
| figured maybe this weight lifting stuff could work for | | | | Now, let's see. At age 53, Kelly Nelson began weight |
| the rest of her. | | | | lifting because she didn't like the looks of the backs of |
| So, this 53 year old non-athlete, began a regular | | | | her arms. At age 72, Morjorie Newlin decided she |
| exercise program to see what would happen. | | | | wanted to be independent enough to take care of her |
| About 6 months later, she convinced her daughter, | | | | cat. From such simple starts, each body building |
| Colleen Fisher, who is about 30 years younger, to | | | | grandma gained fame and international recognition for |
| begin training with her, and eventually Colleen began | | | | deciding that it IS possible to do what most people feel |
| winning body building competitions. | | | | is impossible for them. |
| In 1983, after 3 years of training, and never having | | | | They have also proven that women in their 70's and |
| trained in a real gym, bodybuilding grandma Kelly | | | | 80's CAN look HOT in a string bikini. How's that for |
| Nelson competed in her first body building competition. | | | | busting up a stereotype? |
| She won that competition and never looked back. | | | | Even more, they proved that age does not always |
| She has been competing, and training, since. | | | | have the last word on how a person shall live that |
| Is it possible that this body building grandma may be | | | | portion of their lives that has been called the "golden |
| the oldest female body builder around? We'll talk about | | | | years". |
| that in a minute. | | | | Or, as Morjorie Newlin puts it, "I want to be as |
| Both Kelly Nelson and her daughter, Colleen Fisher, | | | | independent as I can be, for as long as I can," |
| have accepting the lifestyle of body building and weight | | | | Looks like if her 80's are an example, her 90's are |
| training as the way they wish to live. That may be a bit | | | | really going to be fun! |
| much for some people, but they certainly serve as role | | | | Oh! I'm sorry! |
| models for what the over-40 crowd can do. At one | | | | What were you were telling me about how impossible |
| time, Kelly regularly rode a bicycle to and from the | | | | it is for YOU to be fit over 40? |