Inspiration

[Seanmhair]

Flex Appeal

http://www.citypaper.net/articles/2006-08-03/naked.shtml

At 86, great-grandmother Morjorie Newlin keeps pumping iron.

by Tasha Ho-Sang

Fourteen years ago, when Morjorie Newlin was 72, her neighborhood supermarket had 50-pound bags of kitty litter on sale. Without anyone to help her carry the bags back to her house, she struggled mightily under the load. Never a particularly athletic woman, but staunchly independent, she decided that she had to do something about her deteriorating physical capabilities.

Though osteoporosis was also on her mind, the septuagenarian began lifting weights — for her cat.

"I want to be as independent as I can be, for as long as I can," says Newlin, a great-grandmother and retired nurse who turns 86 tomorrow. "I just want to do things for myself."

After 13 years of weight training, Newlin is more than taking care of herself. At her two-story home in Mt. Airy, Newlin, who runs up the stairs with the sprightliness of a 10-year-old, has a room dedicated entirely to plaques, certificates and trophies (some almost as tall as her) from bodybuilding competitions that have taken her as far away as Italy, France and Germany. She's won more than 40 trophies in her late-blooming career. "There are so many, I don't know what to do with all of them," she says.

[Rainbowreflect]

1. Wow! & Thanks!

I sometime, at 43, feel to old to do this. The inspiration of this women sure helps.

[GardeningGal]

2. Wow - that is inspiring.

It is hard to believe that she is in her 80s.

[wildeyed]

3. Amazing!

She looks maybe 50, and that is only if you saw her face. Just her body, I'd go a very fit 40's. The power of exercise, clean living and very good genetics, I guess.

[IronLionZion]

4. Wow, you really can do anything you put your mind to.

So I have no excuse. I just have to put my mind to excercising and eating healthy.

[patricia92243]

5. I'm going to bookmark this and re-read it ever once in awhile. Thanks!!