It's pretty hard to be fit over 40, isn't it?

Or is it?

Well, have you heard about Kelly Nelson or Morjorie Newlin...two body building grandmas?

Read on and learn about Kelly and Morjorie and what each chose to do with "the rest of her life".

People will give you all kinds of reasons for being out of shape, not exercising, or both. Sometimes it's, "I don't have the time" or "I don't feel like it" or "That's just a waste of time". Sometimes these are real sentiments and beliefs, but, upon occasion, they are masks for, "I'm too old to get fit".

Kelly Nelson began weight lifting in 1980, or more specifically, training with weights, at age 53. Up until that point in her life, there had been nothing athletic about her existence. Her mission was simple. She thought the backs of her arms needed some work.

As she found out, they needed a "workout".

She began working out on her own at home, and, when she saw what weight lifting, or more properly, "weight training", could do for the backs of her arms, which she was surprised to learn were called "triceps", she figured maybe this weight lifting stuff could work for the rest of her.

So, this 53 year old non-athlete, began a regular exercise program.

About 6 months later, she convinced her daughter, Colleen Fisher, who is about 30 years younger, to begin training with her, and eventually Colleen began winning body building competitions.

In 1983, after 3 years of training, and never having trained in a real gym, Kelly competed in her first body building competition. She won that competition and never looked back. She has been competing, and training, since.

Is it possible that this body building grandma may be the oldest female body builder around? We will see.

Both mother and daughter have accepting the lifestyle of body building and weight training as the way they wish to live. That may be a bit much for some people, but they certainly serve as role models for what the over-40 crowd can do. At one time, Kelly regularly rode a bicycle to and from the gym where she trained, 10 miles each way, proving again that fitness after 50 is not an impossible dream.

Kelly Nelson has been quoted as saying, "Aging is a disease- and I don't have it. Nor do I intend to get it!" If the photos taken of her in her late 70's wearing a bikini and flexin' up a storm are any indication, she hasn't gotten it yet.

Kelly Nelson, the 77 year old body building grandma, has come a long way since beginning the fitness lifestyle while a housewife in the 80's. Since then she has won numerous body building championships and now, with her daughter, markets her own line of fitness training videos.

As my wife and daughters like to say, "You go, girl!"

I haven't had a chance yet to tell you about 86 year old Morjorie Newlin, and her numerous awards from her thirteen years of body building competitions. Did I say Kelly Nelson was still competing in her 70's? Well, Morjorie Newlin BEGAN TRAINING at age 72.

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