Here’s What ‘Elderly’ Can Look Like

By Patricia Glynn

I recently had a conversation with an elderly woman about the subject of aging—or, more precisely, what she believes happens to us as we age.

According to this particular 75-year-old lady, getting older equates, with no exception, to decline. In other words, watch out! Because the worst, she menacingly warned me, is yet to come.

It was, I’ll admit, easy to understand her rather dour opinion: she shuffles along with a walker, plagued by a dowager’s hump. She also suffers from diabetes, high blood pressure, and a thyroid condition. So truth be told, I suppose her rather curmudgeonly perspective on the topic was to be expected.

But does getting older really mean the best years of our life are already behind us?

Perhaps the best way to answer this query is to consider another “elderly” woman: Ernestine Shepherd.

At 74, Shepherd is vibrant and vital. It’s almost inconceivable to think the word elderly actually applies to her. She is, in harsh contrast to the stereotypical grandmotherly figure, a stunning woman who flaunts a taut tummy and enviable biceps. And while she could easily be dismissed as an anomaly, she is, in fact, an example of what old age can look like—that is, if we are willing to be proactive (emphasis on the “active”).

As she rightfully observes, “Life is what you make of it.” Simply put, our choices, the good as well as the not-so-great, dictate, to a certain extent, how our life, as well as our body, will turn out. If you eat a junk-laden diet and do your very best couch potato imitation, for instance, the odds of aging healthfully will be greatly reduced.

Cognizant of the decisions-influence-outcomes phenomenon, Shepherd strives to choose wisely—particularly when it comes to nutrition and exercise. Up at about 4 a.m., she begins her morning with a smile and a song (“I’m very happy,” she confides) before heading out, on most days, to Randallstown, Maryland’s Energy Fitness Center for either a workout or a session with a client—she’s a certified personal trainer. Along with three days of weight-lifting (she can bench-press upwards of 150 pounds!), she also runs—“10 miles each day, Monday through Saturday.” Shepherd, who consumes 1,700 calories per day and takes no supplements apart from vitamin D, averages a 9-minute mile. She has competed in a number of races, including eight marathons. New York and Boston, she reveals, are next on the list. “The old lady’s comin’,” she promises.

While such a level of fitness seems incomprehensible considering her age, what’s equally as amazing is that she didn’t even begin working out or watching her diet until she was 56. “I was too prissy to exercise.” Only when she saw herself in a swimsuit during a trip to the mall with her sister did she began to rethink her attitude. “We didn’t look too good in those suits,” she recalls.

Nowadays, at 130 pounds with only 10% body fat, Shepherd confidently dons a bikini. And her hard-earned figure even helped her snag first place in her class in the 2008 Tournament of Champions. She was also recently named the oldest female bodybuilder by The Guinness Book of World Records.

Her mantra, “determined, dedicated, disciplined to be fit,” keeps her focused. So, too, do her trainer, former Mr. Universe Yohannie Shambourger, and her husband of 54 years, Colin Shepherd. Her spouse gives her credit for inspiring him to be active as well. “She is a very determined person and she is not only in this for herself; she’s interested in helping other people, including myself. Sometimes I get lazy, but she gets on me. I learned that you are never too old to exercise.”

Indeed, as she eagerly attests, “Age is nothing but a number. I would like to reach out and help people understand the importance of being fit. Do not think of exercise as work,” she observes. “Make it fun. You only live once, so enjoy it. I never want to skip (working out) because I am very happy. It feels great to take care of my body.”

Shepherd’s advice to us is simple: “Find an exercise you know you will do. Make certain you do it every day. And try to leave the junk food alone.” 

Comments

[Mia Coen]

AMAZING! What an inspiration!! I hope to look that good when I'm a "senior citizen." A true testament to the phrase, "age is but a number." GREAT post, Patricia!