I’m a 75-year-old weightlifting champion – men shout from cars to admire my arms
WEIGHTLIFTING is a sport of perseverance and one woman says she won’t let anything, her age or cancer diagnosis, hold her back.
Marilynn Larkina 75-year-old bodybuilding champion and fitness coach at Break freehad to stop lifting weights for two years after suffering a torn meniscus in her knee and a frozen shoulder.
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Last year she was diagnosed with breast cancer, which left her with a weight of only 5 pounds, and she was trying to regain her strength after breast-conserving surgery.
Larkin, who entered her first fitness competition at age 54, was inspired by an aerobics trainer who encouraged her to enter.
Despite her initial interest in aerobics, she was rejected when she tried to register for a competition.
“Everyone was tall, blonde and young, and they said, ‘No, you can’t do that,’” she told The US Sun.
But someone showed interest and set her on her path
“I had a trainer who said, ‘You’re perfect for bodybuilding,’” she recalls.
Although she has received many accolades in her career, Larkin does not do it for the glory.
She explained that her health journey has always been “internal” and that she follows the philosophies of choreographer and actor Mikhail Baryshnikov.
“It’s like Baryshnikov said: ‘I dance for myself, I train for myself, I challenge myself,’” she said.
She explained that she never saw her age as a barrier to what she could and wanted to do.
“I’ve had fitness clients who said, ‘I’m 40 years old, I can’t do this,’” she said.
“That has nothing to do with this. It has to do with your body and where you are; age has nothing to do with it.
“These numbers are artificial. What is real is assessing where you are now and accepting that.
“You may have run a marathon 30 years ago, but if you want to do it again, you don’t start where you left off.”
People come up to me and tell me I inspire them because I feel like I’m just living my own life.
Marilynn Larkin
Larkin wasn’t deterred by her cancer diagnosis. In fact, she believes her physical condition helped her get through it.
“I am absolutely convinced that my condition has enabled me to overcome this cancer. The cancer had already spread when it was diagnosed and was destabilized,” she said.
FOOD FOR THE THOUGHT
Larkin explained that her diet is her top priority to help her prepare for competitions and stay in the best possible shape.
She avoids fried and fatty foods, follows a 16-week restrictive diet, avoids carbohydrates and fats, and eats home-cooked meals.
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However, the bodybuilder admitted that she believes in moderation: a typical day in terms of meals, she explained, consists of three full meals and even occasional snacks.
For breakfast, Larkin normally eats old-fashioned oatmeal porridge (with nuts like pecans, walnuts and almonds), blueberries, milk and whey protein.
As a snack she makes an omelette with three egg whites, one yolk, cheese and avocado.
Lunch and dinner usually consist of a lean protein source, such as a turkey or chicken burger, leafy greens, and a sweet potato with Greek yogurt on top, with sides of quinoa, asparagus, and spinach.
When people think of an older person, they probably think of someone who walks hunched over. That is a stereotype based on age.
Marilynn Larkin
She said she avoids “empty calories” like white rice and sauces.
“Sauces can be deadly if you’re a sauce lover. You pour it on everything; it definitely keeps your weight up,” she said.
Larkin never forgets to treat herself: she makes room for her favourite Pret A Manger Harvest cookies and a ‘free’ meal once a week.
SOME TIPS FOR TRUST
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The fitness coach even has a personal trainer, who she meets with three times a week to help her progress.
“Even though I’m a certified trainer, I need someone who will push me more than I would push myself, and I know that about myself,” she said.
In addition to the various training exercises with barbells and machines, she emphasized the importance of posture, especially for someone in their 70s.
“When people think of an older person, they probably imagine a person who walks hunched over. That’s an ageist stereotype,” she said.
I think I’ve experienced reverse ageism, where I tell people how old I am and they want to drop to the ground.
Marilynn Larkin
“Besides not being able to breathe properly, you also can’t connect with your own self-confidence when you’re hunched over and closed off.”
Her discipline and hard work have given her a body that regularly attracts the attention and admiration of strangers.
“I think I’ve experienced reverse ageism, when I’ve told people how old I am and they’ve wanted to fall to the ground,” she joked.
“People come up to me and tell me I inspire them, because I feel like I’m just living my life.”
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Larkin said strangers have even interrupted her workout sessions and approached her in public to compliment her.
“My arms have been a topic of conversation since I was a teenager,” she said.
“I walk down the street and guys come out of cars and say, ‘Wow! You’re strong!’
“Women say they want arms like mine. I love my arms, but you have to love your whole body, because my arms are part of my body.”
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Larkin explained that her journey to self-acceptance also depends on the way she talks to and treats herself.
“Self-talk can sometimes put you in a box, keep you from breaking out and stepping out of your comfort zone,” she said.
“One of the hardest things when you’re starting out is just getting started.
“What I usually say is: if it doesn’t work now, when will it work?”
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