After several years without regular sports practice, Pamela Quayle took up bodybuilding at the age of 63. Testimony.
There are stories that prove that nothing is impossible. That of Pamela Quayle, a 68-year-old woman, is one of them. In addition to being inspiring, it shows that there is no age to start sport but also to develop muscle mass. “Most of my life, fitness wasn’t a priority. I wanted to stay healthy and active, so I ate well and exercised a little when I had time“, she tells the British version of Women’s Health. Most of her energy was devoted to her family and her career. But during the COVID-19 pandemic, everything changes. Her daughter starts training with a remote coach and is looking for a training partner: “I wasn’t particularly enthusiastic about starting the sport, but I didn’t want to disappoint her, so I agreed.“
Five times a week, the duo follows a comprehensive program that alternates between upper and lower body using dumbbells. Pamela Quayle obviously has to adapt certain movements since the exercises are designed for her daughter who is less than half her age. “The sessions were demanding and I was sore like never before. Still, there was something incredibly rewarding about lifting weights and seeing concrete proof that I was getting stronger“, she admits. Gradually, the sixty-year-old manages to increase the weight of the dumbbells and realizes that she needs less rest between each movement. She is then convinced: she wants bodybuilding to be part of her life. After two years, Pamela Quayle turns to a coach specializing in muscle strengthening for mature women in order to achieve two specific goals: continue to gain muscle, and lose weight.
With time, regularity, and appropriate nutrition, the British woman has seen her body transform. “I clearly saw better muscle definition, my body fat decreased, I felt stronger in my daily activities and I had much more self-confidence“, she says. In addition to having passed the certification to become a coach, Pamela Quayle continues to train four times a week and favors progressive loading, “even if it means adding only 500 grams per week.“Along with bodybuilding, she combines 30 minutes of cardio on an elliptical bike or treadmill, once a week.”I also walk my dog daily and reach at least 10,000 steps per day. To aid my recovery, I stretch and include mobility exercises before and after each session.“
The sportswoman admits: it was not easy to radically change her lifestyle in her sixties. But once started, she quickly understood that it was “one of the strongest and most rewarding decisions I have ever made.“Pamela Quayle, however, wants to warn: this change requires patience, and the desire to get out of your comfort zone.
The game is totally worth it since at 63 years old, the athlete feels more capable, more energetic and stronger than ever. “I learned that it’s never too late to make yourself and your well-being a priority.“
