A 57-year-old woman from Derby has shed 10 stone and transformed into a competitive bodybuilder after a moment of realisation during a trip to the shops. Gaynor Bickley, an IT professional, says she is now fitter, stronger and more confident than she ever thought possible.
Ten years ago, Gaynor weighed 21 stone (133kg) and struggled with low self-esteem. She said: 'I hated myself. I knew that wasn’t who I was or where I wanted to be.' The turning point came when she saw an elderly person struggling with a shopping trolley and realised that could be her future if she did not change.
She booked a week-long boot camp, losing about 10 pounds (4.5kg) in that week. 'Something clicked,' she said. Over the next decade, she took on half marathons, 10ks, mud runs and charity events, and worked as a job leader motivating others to get active.
Four years ago, she reached 14 stone (89kg) but still felt she had not reached her goal. Last year, after being introduced to bodybuilding by her former partner, she began training with personal trainer Fazal at Flex Physiques. 'The discipline, the structure, the focus. It just clicked for me,' she said.
Now around 11 stone (70kg) in her off-season, Gaynor is preparing for her third bodybuilding show. She said: 'I didn’t want to be skinny, I wanted to be strong. Strength is the medicine people over 40 need.' She believes physical strength brings mental strength and confidence, and says the reaction from others has been overwhelmingly positive.
