Ernestine Shepherd: A Stunning Lifetime
The 84-year-old Body Builder that has dedicated her life to inspiring others
I have been following Ernestine Shepherd off and on for about a decade now, and she never fails to amaze me with each passing year!
Who is Ernestine Shepherd?
Born on June 16th, 1936, this powerhouse woman holds the Guinness World Record for Oldest Female Body Builder (2010). She is the epitome of strength and grit. And she is an inspiration to women (and men) everywhere!
In her younger years, Ernestine was a model in Baltimore. As she got older, she started feeling sluggish and overweight. One day, at the age of 56, she and her sister (Mildred Blackwell) went shopping to look for new swimsuits. Neither one of them felt comfortable in the swimsuits they tried on. They both felt like they were out of shape.
The Beginning of Her Journey
After their distressing day of trying on swimsuits, they both decided to take up aerobics to start getting healthy and into better shape. A little bit later, Mildred and she decided to take up bodybuilding.
Unfortunately, Mildred passed away in 1992 from a brain aneurism. To keep her sister’s memory alive, Ernestine decide to dedicate her life to becoming as strong and healthy as possible.
She started training her body slowly, every day. She began running every morning, and figured out what food plan worked best for her aging body to keep it strong.
Progress Motivated Her to Step it Up!
Seeing the positive changes in her body, Ernestine decided to increase her running mileage — getting up to 10 miles in every morning at 4:00 a.m.! She strength trained an average of 4 times a week and trains to run in marathons.
After 15 years of running and weightlifting on her own, at the age of 71 she contacted Yohnnie Shambourger (former Mr. Universe) to ask him if he would train her to professionally compete as a body builder. She took 1st place in the very first bodybuilding competition she entered!
Ernestine’s Divine Fitness Tips
- Start out slowly and gradually train your body to get stronger. Seek out the professional assistance of a personal trainer if needed.
- Proper nutrition is the cornerstone of optimal health. Follow the advice of a nutritionist that is familiar with your own dietary needs.
- Always get the proper amount of rest that your body needs to recover and perform its best.
- Appreciate the support of family and friends.
- Have a few specific, time-oriented goals to motivate yourself and work towards.
- Enjoy everything life has to offer!
Other Fascinating Facts About Ernestine
Ernestine wrote an autobiography in 2017 titled Determined, Dedicated, Disciplined To Be Fit : The “Ageless” Journey of Ernestine Shepherd. I have read this book numerous times, and each time I find something different that motivates me. Her attitude is joyous and grateful, honest, and upfront about it all. I highly recommend this little gem!
She is also still highly active on social media. Her Instagram account (with 27,500 followers) has a new post added daily, and her Facebook account (with almost 300,000 followers) has new content added just as often. She interacts with her fans through Zoom Fitness Events as well as personal training with fitness groups near her home.
I can only imagine the number of lives that this genuinely amazing woman has touched! She is definitely one that proves that you can discover your calling in life at any age. She is 84 years old and is still going strong as ever!
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