Kitty Duffy had to think about her health and fitness during quarantine. It started with long walks by the sea, which were easy for the 67-year-old who lived in Brighton. Then he did Joe Wicks workouts to build strength. So far, so far so good. But when Kitty started lifting small weights, something clicked. She soon moved on to bigger barbells and didn’t stop there. Kitty laughs, “I ate and drank a lot during lockdown.” “But I was also walking a lot, and when I did Joe Wicks because my grandkids were doing it, I realised that I really liked it.”
Starting Powerlifting Journey
Kitty started doing powerlifting, which is a type of strength training that includes three lifts: squat, bench, and deadlift. She was drawn to it because she liked lifting weights. “It’s the beauty of lifting heavy things,” she says. “I began working with a personal trainer and realised I was very strong—strong not just for my age, but strong.” That made me feel better.
Career Change and Growth
Kitty decided to switch careers in her early sixties because she was becoming more confident. “I was a Director of Children’s Social Care, and then someone told me to become a personal trainer,” she says. “I finished the course to become a personal trainer when I was 62. It was fine that I was the oldest person in the class. Kitty heard about a powerlifter named Betty Grey during this time. Betty is “a little bit younger than me.” She was interested. “I had never heard of powerlifting,” she says. “I got a coach. He has the great name of Delroy McQueen, and he’s a superstar. I started powerlifting when I was 63.
Overcoming Fear and Limits
Competitions aren’t for everyone, but Kitty says they are a welcoming and helpful place for everyone. Going beyond limits What if the main thing holding you back is not believing in your body or your skills? Kitty, surprisingly, felt the same way. “I was scared at first! We all think that people are judging us that we’re not very good, or that we’re doing it wrong.
Core Strength After 55: 5 Beginner Exercises That Build Stability Faster Than Traditional Planks
Kitty was able to get over this, which is a good thing because for many of us, one good thing about getting older is that we learn to care less about what other people think. And even though gyms can seem scary, most of them are nice, including where Kitty trains and coaches. “I’m based at Kings Gym Brighton, and there are some great people here. Once people come in, they’re likely to stay,” she says.
Helping Others Transform
Her oldest client is 70, and her powerlifting clients range in age from 15 to 63. This shows that it’s never too late to start. “And I have one client who has been overweight her whole life. We work with what she brings, and we’ve cut down on her insulin needs by a lot,” Kitty says.
Nutrition and Supplements
Getting your body ready Kitty’s diet is very important to her. She can train harder and maybe get hurt less if she eats the right foods. But even if you don’t work out, protein should be a big part of every woman’s diet. It helps keep bone density and muscle mass. Kitty says, “I make sure that every meal has a source of protein.” I also take supplements because our need for protein grows as we age. Adding protein powder to my porridge gives me an extra 22 grams of protein to start the day.
’90s Bob Gets a Modern Update for Spring as Stylists Refresh the Classic Cut With Softer Movement
Some supplements can also help with training. For example, Kitty takes creatine. “It’s cheap has almost no side effects, and lets you train a little harder,” she says. “There’s also some interesting new information about creatine and brain health.”
Mindset and Discipline
How to keep your mind on track So, what is Kitty’s secret to being successful in her old age? “You need to be disciplined, and it needs to become a habit. She tells you that you won’t get that in a few weeks. “You need to tell yourself, ‘This is what I do because it will help me when I’m really old and need to use the stairs and pick up my grandchildren.'” I want to be able to run! I believe that if we’re over 50, we need to start making plans and thinking about why we’re doing this.
A lot more women, including older women, are now powerlifting. Many studies have shown that both resistance and strength training are important for staying healthy as you get older and living longer. This is especially true for women going through menopause.
It’s important to be disciplined, but most of us will quit if something doesn’t interest us. That’s why it’s so important to find an activity you enjoy. “I do it because it makes me feel great. “I train four days a week, but if I had the time, I would do it every day. But I think my family would divorce me!” Kitty says. She is not only a mother of three, but also a grandmother of five. It has really changed my life. Every day I feel grateful and lucky, and I will keep doing this until I can’t move.
How to start powerlifting
- Practice the compound lifts: “In powerlifting, you want to lift as much weight as you can, which could mean moving for one squat, bench and deadlift. “These are the three compound moves,” she says.
- If you’re just starting out, Kitty says, “You can start training with just resistance bands or your own body weight to build muscle and strength.”
- Think about getting a coach: “I think it’s important to have some training sessions and a program. Otherwise, you start to feel stronger and stay at that level when you need to push yourself a little harder by increasing the intensity or the volume or both,” she says.
- “Most gyms give inductions and show you what to do,” Kitty says. “If you can’t get a coach, then weights at home are fine as long as you make progress and improve.”
