A gran who took up weight training after leaving an unhappy marriage says she's in better shape now than she was in her 30s.
Lesley Maxwell, 65, separated from her husband in her late 40s and turned to fitness when she started suffering from anxiety.
Today she works as a personal trainer and say she's never felt and looked so healthy and toned.
Lesley loves to show people they can change their lives well into their 50s and 60s, saying it doesn't matter how old you are when you start training.
She's even won bikini competitions in her sixties!
Lesley said: "I've always been into fitness, but I was thin with a lack of muscle.
"I then separated from my husband and felt a sense of anxiety, so my doctor prescribed me Valium which I took for two weeks, but it felt like a band-aid solution and not something I wanted to continue.
"I stopped the medication and re-focused my energy on weight training. My anxiety started to diminish, and I was in a positive state of mind.
"After deciding to walk away from my marriage when I was in my late forties, I decided I would do a personal training course.
"I was inspired by seeing a fitness competition and curious as to how this look was attained. So, I started my fitness journey which became a passion of mine.
"I soon took part in my first bikini competition and won. I've been competing ever since and am now fitter and in the best shape of my life in my sixties.
"Leaving my marriage in my forties was daunting because society thinks after a certain age, a woman's life is over. However, life is just beginning then."
Becoming a personal trainer was just the start of Lesley's new chapter, she had to prove to herself the benefits and changes in her body and find what works best to pass it on to others.
The gym-going gran, from Melbourne, Australia, added: "I focused on training and shaping my body, and then I moved on to competing.
"I discovered I was able to create a younger, stronger body incorporating weight training and eating the right foods, and that's exactly what I've done. After competing several times in the 'masters' category, I felt confident and decided to compete in the 'open' categories.
"I then won a world title in New York and my most recent was the bikini competition, in 2019, in the 'open' category which I also won. I was so proud of myself. It felt amazing!
She says her secret to being healthy and strong is being consistent with training, plus eating the right food.
"Nourishing foods are essential, I avoid wheat, sugar and preservatives, and make sure I consume enough protein and good fats."
Lesley achieves her incredible toned body by working out five times a week for 45 minutes per session.
She said: "I mainly do weight training, but I also go for beach walks, quick dips for cold water therapy and I love roller skating.
"I feel like a kid because of how good my body feels. I can jump, climb, and roller skate. I can do whatever I want.
"It's great to feel healthy and strong, as our bodies are our most important possession as this is the vehicle that takes us through life.
"Leaving my marriage led me to be the fittest and healthiest I have ever been, and it also allowed me to follow my passion.
"I think women are judged more for their age and how they look, so I want other women to have the confidence to enjoy life instead of thinking life is over after you turn 50.
"I love to feel ageless. In my opinion, there are two ways of ageing, chronologically and biologically. Knowing your body is fit and healthy is the ultimate wealth."
