I can't tell you how many times I've heard...well I'm just getting old and I guess I can't do those things anymore. Now, it's no secret that your body handles things differently than a 20 or 30 year old when you hit 40+. BUT, let's never use that as an excuse. You can do so much more than you think, all you have to do is try. And being in the last year of my 40s, I've found myself pretty passionate about wanting to stay strong.
I see a heckuva lot of strong women over 40, over 50 and over 60 at our gym and I've asked them to share their stories. They are so inspiring! And they aren't just strong for their age - they are just simply STRONG!
It's only fitting to kick this off with the baddest of the bad - Maggie Bell! She is a force! Maggie lifts heavy, gets in her cardio, stays consistent, aims for the best form and she smiles and is so kind while doing it all! She truly 100% embodies anything and everything that Dragonfly is and that we could ever want it to be.
Here's more about Maggie! Also I would never ask our members to share their age, but it's necessary to drive this message home and that's why it's first!
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Your age: 61
When did you start strength training? What's your previous experience (if any)?
No previous strength training at all!! I started at Dragonfly in 2017 when I was 54 and it was the first time I did strength training. I started going to classes 2 twice a week and one of those was cardio. So my strength training started slowly but it was probably all I needed and could do at that time.
As my strength and stamina improved I increased the number of classes per week. Previously did some cardio (spinning) and walking but that was about it.
What have you found to be the most challenging part of sticking with training? Have there been hard moments? How did you overcome those challenges?!
I actually never had a problem sticking with the training. That being said I never was a group class kind of person and also had the mindset that I was not coordinated or athletic at all.
Joining Dragonfly was really taking me way, way out of my comfort zone. When I first started at Dragonfly I barely used weights (bodyweight only) and needed a lot of guidance to learn the movements but I kept noticing how strong everyone was. Plus everyone was helpful and encouraging.
There are probably two things that helped me stick with training. The first is how positive the Dragonfly community was and is today and the second reason is recognizing that in my 50s was a good time to work on stability and strength and hopefully it would help as I aged. I watched my mother struggle with osteoporosis and other back issues that affected her mobility and knew that I needed to do something.
Are there times when I am tired and don’t really want to go to class, absolutely, but I still powered through and always feel so much better afterward. Overall, I just really like going.
What has surprised you the most about your strength and progress?
It can be really slow and then all of sudden you realize that you are lifting heavier weights easier and your overall stamina has improved. Some movements have a quick progression and each week I can go up in weight and then other movements are just so much harder to progress. In particular the bench press is one of those that the increase in weight is in small increments, but if I think about where I was at the beginning when I did not even progress to the barbell it is a huge improvement .
When I first started I didn’t think I would ever get this strong! I can see the muscles in my arms!
How has your strength and fitness impacted life outside of the gym?
My overall confidence has improved so much and I have so much more awareness about how my body moves and what it can do.
I guess you call it functional fitness, but I have helped move my kids out of college dorms into apartments and helped carry furniture from one no elevator apartment to another with no problems. Doing yardwork, biking, going on long walks all so much easier and fun!
One of my more proud moments was when I went to the podiatrist and they asked my about exercising and I explained my training and she then described me as an athlete. I would never describe myself like that and started to disagree, but then stopped myself and realized that I am doing things that an athlete does!
What do you feel like is your strongest quality when it comes to the gym/training?
I would say being consistent in coming to class and not being intimated by lifting heavier weights. Besides consistency, I would say patience. Patience with the progress and slowing down and thinking about my form.
What are some of your proudest moments in the gym? Brag brag brag!
35# Turkish Get up
BB Front Squat 105# (feel like I may have done heavier but can’t remember!)
BB Back Squat 115#
Deadlift 175#
Weighted hangs
Assisted pull ups
What would you say to a friend who wants to start strength training, but is maybe nervous?
Go for it! Speaking from someone who took about a year of stalking Dragonfly before getting up the nerve make the call. It will be beneficial in so many ways that you will soon get over the nerves.
Anything else you would like to add?
My decision to join Dragonfly is been one of the best things I have done for me. I can’t say enough about the coaches and the supportive community of women.
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