Health Hero

My health hero doesn’t even know she’s my health hero. I’ve been inspired and motivated to stay fit and healthy by Ernestine Shepherd, 74. Ernestine Shepherd is the World’s oldest female bodybuilder, and has a place in the Guiness Book of Records as such.

At age 56 Ernestine and her sister, Velvet, were motivated to start working out after trying on bathing suits and finding they were both out of shape. Soon after they joined a gym and started working out her sister died from a brain aneurysm. After a period of mourning Ernestine decided that she was going to finish what she and Velvet started and she returned to the gym with a reignited passion, determined to get fit.

Along with that determination to make changes in her own life, she found a passion for helping others change theirs. Ernestine became a personal trainer and trains clients five days a week as well as leading group fitness classes.

Unlike people half her age who are out clubbing till 3am, she wakes up at 3 a.m. to run 10 miles before hitting the gym to strength train. She hits the weights hard four times a week which led to Ernestine competing in her first bodybuilding competition at age 71, taking first place in her class.

With her husband of 52 years she lives my her mantra of “determined – dedicated - disciplined to be fit” and certainly goes above and beyond to prove that. While most people in their 70’s are suffering with joint, heart or other health issues Ernestine takes no medication and has no aches or pains, or even suffered a training injury. She puts this down to a customized slow progressive training program and good nutrition.

  

Since that fateful day trying on those swimsuits with her sister, Ernestine has won two bodybuilding titles and run nine marathons. Ernestine Shepherd proves age is just a number.

I was inspired to write this blog because of Oscar Health Insurance. Oscar provides health insurance to those living in New York and offer many features that help members be proactive about their health like their gym reimbursement and doctor on call feature! If you live in NY I suggest checking them out. www.hioscar.com