“Age is simply a number”: have you heard this old adage and maybe were not quite convinced? Well here is some proof to show you that you can do amazing things, even well into your golden years.
Here are 4 bodybuilders that haven’t let age stop them from crushing the iron:
Ernestine Shepherd
This amazing 81 year old woman (yes, I said 81!) looks absolutely incredible and could easily pass for someone 40 years younger. Ernestine has been in the Guinness Book of World Records for being the oldest female bodybuilder in the world, which was declared in 2010.
Ernestine was a model in Baltimore for many years, but at the age of 56 her and her sister went to try on swimsuits and noticed their bodies were not what they had once been! This sparked her interest in fitness and Ernestine and her sister continued to train together for many years. Her sister passed away when Ernestine was 71, and she continues training to honor her sisters memory.
Ernestine wakes up at 2:30 am every day, and walks / runs a total of 10 miles to start her day. She then heads to the gym where she trains a group of women, who range in age from 20 all the way to 80 years old.
Sam Bryant Jr.
This man right here is a true inspiration to get your butt in the gym and start putting in the work, no matter your age or physique. Sam Bryant Jr. is a senior bodybuilder who started lifting at the age of 44 as a way to relieve stress in a bad marriage. Eleven months later, Sam entered his first bodybuilding competition in Columbus, Georgia at the suggestion of a friend. He placed 3rd in the Novice division and 4th in the Masters. Just like that, he was hooked. He got back into the gym and started working out with a purpose, to start winning titles.
Sam packs in two workouts a day, in between his full time gig as a fork-lift driver. He can deadlift 425 pounds with a body weight of 176 pounds.
Sam believes in the power of the mind over body. If you tell yourself you are old, or weak, or tired, your subconsious mind will take ahold of that and the effects will manifest in your body. He hopes to be an inspiration to others and show them that age means nothing.
Jim Arrington
Jim Arrington, 85, was recently named the 2018 Oldest Male Bodybuilder by the Guiness Book of World Records and is a 16 time bodybuilding champion.
Arrington started training at age 13 as a way to impress the ladies, and quickly fell in love with the sport. Arrington’s homebase is Gold’s Gym in Venice, California where Jim trains 2 to 3 times per week and continues to go hard. Jim admits that his workouts have lost some intensity, but he is still going at a clip that most of us probably couldn’t touch, let alone when we are 85!
Check out this video on Jim and see if you can’t find some advice or tips that you can use to up your game.
Art Peacock
Art Peacock has been training for over 50 years, and at the golden age of 80 he still managed to woo crowds at bodybuilding competitions across the country. Art has continued on through two heart attacks, cancer, and metal hip replacements and continues to workout through it all.
Over the course of his career, Peacock has taken the stage in more than 100 shows, winning an incredible 57 titles. Art has also trained alongside Arnold Schwarzenegger and Franco Columbu in their prime years in Venice, CA.
These days, Art has taken a break from competing after winning a national title and earning a IFBB pro card to enjoy the simpler things in life. While he has stopped competing, Art says he will never stop training!
There you have it, 4 bodybuilders who are still kicking butt into their 70s and 80s. If this doesn’t show you that it’s never to late to do something, I don’t know what will!
So stop with the excuses and get to work on your dreams, it’s time to grab them full force and make them a reality!
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Hey! My name is Stephen and I’m the owner of Ultimate Core Health. Since we started, we’ve grown into a trusted resource for unbiased, science-based articles and reviews on fitness, nutrition and supplements. Check me out on social media, feel free to add me if you want to talk health!
