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I started bodybuilding at age 64 and competed in my first bodybuilding competition at 65 when many of my peers were enjoying retirement.
On October 28, my 70th birthday, I competed once again, dressed in a sparkling sequin bikini, five-inch platform heels, and with the biggest smile—ready to go for the Gold.
This time around, competing is much more meaningful for me. I'm pushing the limits of what a body is capable of at this age. Turning 70 years old is a milestone for anyone, let alone competing in a bodybuilding competition.
It's a particularly memorable year for me because of something I thought I'd never have to say: I am a cancer survivor.
Two years ago, I was diagnosed with cancer and had my thyroid removed. When I heard the 'c' word, although the prognosis was good, I didn't know if I'd even be celebrating my 70th birthday.
I'm not 100 percent cancer-free, but I continued with my rigorous training schedule and focused on getting my body and mindset in top shape for this competition.
Bodybuilding fit like a glove. It fit my love for the gym, my understanding of nutrition, and my need to continually challenge my fitness goals. I've always loved being in the gym. I love the energy of the weight room—it's vibrant and full of life.
I feel a special bond to this community of people of all ages and genders pushing themselves and motivating each other and I love the tips and inspiration I get from my gym buddies.
I often get asked what motivates me to continue bodybuilding and put my body and mind through another three grueling months of hour-long strength training workouts, intense cardio, and a strict nutrition plan.
I lost my dad to a heart attack when he was just 52 years old. I was 21. It was traumatic. Then my doctor told me my cholesterol was 350. I had no idea what cholesterol was and why I should care about it.
Reality had set in that whatever killed my dad would kill me too if I didn't change my lifestyle including how I ate and exercised. I did my research and decided to switch to a diet rich in natural foods, whole grains, vegetables, fruit, no red meat or refined foods.
I now call myself a flexitarian, following a plant-based diet with some fish—with a stamp of approval from my cardiologist, who has already seen significant changes in my heart health.
In my 20s, I had already adopted core fitness practices that I still maintain at 70, like strength training, swimming a mile several times a week, yoga, and meditation.
I consider myself a visionary in the fitness world: Weight training in 1975 when there were very few women lifting in the gym, running in the second-ever women's only 10K Bonnie Bell races, and practicing yoga and meditation with Jon Kabat Zinn, the father of mindfulness. Between my 30s to 50s, I competed in sprint and Olympic distance triathlons.
I've always been ahead of the curve in terms of fitness and training, so the fact that it was challenging to see myself as a bodybuilder told me it was all in my head. My self-doubt would eventually grow into one of the three core beliefs in my bodybuilding career.
My secret to fitness is "The Berg Method" which balances the three Ms:
1. Mindset: How You Think
2. Muscles: How You Move
3. Macros: How You Eat
This is a formula that I live by, created after many years and challenges, trials, and tribulations.
At my first contest, I won first place in Masters Bikini 50+, the oldest age class. I was the only competitor in this class and I was 65. With or without other competitors, my win is that I accomplished my goal of showing myself once again what my body and mind are capable of.
Age knows no limits if you know what you want and are committed to making it happen. In this case, it means being all in, being super disciplined, determined, and trusting the process so that I'll be ready to take the stage on contest day.
The age range of the competitions I enter is for women 20 to over 50. At both shows, I felt like a celebrity as I stepped off stage, when I was surrounded by several women competitors to take selfies with me: "I want to be you when I'm your age!"
I love that I'm breaking the mold of what an aging body can do, and proving that age is not a limitation to live your dreams.
Was I intimidated next to the younger competitors? Yeah, a little. No one would mistake me for a millennial, but I was proud of my toned 65-year-old body and I'm excited to continue to flaunt my toned body at 70!
And I'm lucky that my own personal fan club—my 29-year-old daughter, her boyfriend, and many close friends were there to support me and cheer me on.
The training for the competition feels like an eternity and lasts for twelve weeks. It's not for the faint of heart. It requires strength training four to five times a week in the gym for at least an hour, intense cardio sessions for 45 minutes several times a week, and a focus on eating a prescribed amount of macronutrients—protein, fats and carbs—to build lean muscle. Swimming a mile a few times a week and spinning are my go-tos for cardio. I'm a natural athlete—I take no steroids.
Recently, I made a hard decision to end my nine-year relationship. In spite of life's challenges, I'm keeping my eye on the ball, and staying the course to make my dream a reality.
For the past 40 years, I've successfully juggled my priorities: Staying fit, getting my Masters's degree at Harvard, managing a demanding career as a leadership development consultant, master facilitator, executive coach, and speaker for Fortune 500 companies, and being a single mom and breadwinner.
At 70, I'm still working because I believe that having a purpose and keeping your mind–not just your body–active is key to longevity.
Having a strong body has helped me have a strong mind, be fearless and courageous, and know I can overcome even life's most challenging obstacles. And, yes, it's an adventure every day that I wouldn't trade for anything.
I'm a prime example that adversity knows no limits. With a positive attitude, you can overcome anything and truly live a healthy, happy lifestyle, surround yourself with friends and family, and live your true purpose.
I know my purpose is to spread the message of well-being and longevity. Being fit is not necessarily about adding more years to your life but adding more 'life' to your years.
Carpe diem—seize the day and have an attitude of possibility.
I certainly did on October 28, on my 70th birthday, as I took a deep breath, faced hundreds of piercing eyes, and walked onto the stage to compete to take home the Gold.
Gerilynn Berg, 70, is a Leadership Development Consultant, Master Facilitator, Executive Coach, and Speaker based in Santa Monica, CA. You can reach Gerilynn by email.
All views expressed in this article are the author's own.
As told to Newsweek's associate editors, Carine Harb and Monica Greep.
Do you have a unique experience or personal story to share? Email the My Turn team at myturn@newsweek.com.
