Lesley Maxwell is a 65-year-old grandmother and personal trainer who has rock-hard abs and regularly gets flirty messages from men half her age. She credits her fitness to daily discipline, heavy lifting and eating six times a day
A 65-year-old grandmother and personal trainer has disclosed her weekly exercise regime and eating plan – including adding butter to her coffee and consuming six meals a day. Lesley Maxwell, who boasts 148,000 followers on Instagram, is famous for her rock-solid abs and routinely receives cheeky messages from men half her age.
The personal trainer, from Melbourne, Australia, maintains that age poses no obstacle to fitness and she can execute moves that many people decades younger find challenging. Lesley attributes her physical condition to daily commitment, heavy weightlifting and a distinctive training system she has refined over the years. “I really started taking fitness seriously when my partner at the time said I looked ‘frail’,” Lesley, who boasts 148,000 Instagram followers, told What’s The Jam.
“The word ‘frail’ made me think of being old and weak, so when I heard it about myself it really struck a nerve.
“Then shortly afterwards I was hospitalised with pneumonia. These two experiences made me realise I needed to do something about my health and strength.
“When we are feeling weak and helpless, it’s a frightening experience, I think.”
Lesley devised an intensive training programme and has adhered to it ever since. She explained: “My routine consists of training my lower body with every workout, so that’s four days week.
“And I do my signature ‘alternating sets’ so that a lower body exercise followed by an upper body exercise.
“Sometimes I can do 50 hanging knee raises as I like hanging from the chin-up bar. It’s a great stretch for the spine, plus a challenging ab exercise.”
She added: “Even grip strength while holding your body weight from a chin-up bar is an indicator of longevity and good health.
“I wish more women knew the benefits of lifting a few weights. O’d advise it any day above all other exercises.
“Lift weights as a priority – then you’ll be strong enough to do your other sports or for genuine health benefits.”
Lesley says she loves training as it’s her ‘me time’ so motivation isn’t usually a problem.
“And as long as I have eaten something nutritious, usually protein and fats-based, I can train at any time,” she said.
“I see the body like a beautiful work of art, like a painting or sculpture where we wouldn’t skip parts. So I don’t skip muscle groups.”
Lesley explains how she avoids injuries as well, saying: “I begin with two ‘warm-up sets’ on my first exercise. Then I slowly increase the weights until I’m lifting more challenging weights.
“I only do this on the first upper body and first lower body exercises.
“I don’t believe in wearing myself out on the cardio machines as many women do.”
Her diet is also “super clean” She revealed: “It is just how I like to eat, so it’s not a challenge to avoid junk or takeaways.
“For example I prioritise protein and fat including saturated fat, I love whole eggs and steak plus slow cooked food.
“And I eat about five or six meals per day. However I do love a couple of squares of organic dark chocolate after my meals and I put butter in my coffee.”
Her family provide tremendous support. She shared: “My granddaughter Tia is supportive and proud of the way I train. Occasionally we go to the gym together!”.
“My sister Sandra has also taken up weight training over the past couple of years, I think she sees the value in it now asshe lives on a property with horses she is active already.
“However weight training gives us the balanced body and strength to continue doing the sports and hobbies you love.
“Whether that is horse riding, golf or even gardening.”
Talking about her children, she added: “My kids never tell me to slow down as they know this is who I am. They’ve seen how training and competing has kept me strong.
“They see how happy and focused I am and it reassures them I’m living my life fully doing what I love.”
Lesley also expressed her hope that her dedication inspires others. She continued: “It’s amazing that we can change the shape and health of our body, shape our glutes, tone our arms, tighten our waist regardless of age.
“I wish more people were aware of the power of what we eat and training effectively.
“I think many women worry about getting too much muscle from weight training at a gym.
“It sounds too masculine so they think lifting weights will make them bulky. But muscle is really just tone, the shape we all want.”
Lesley concluded: “If we changed the wording, I think more women would feel confident stepping into the gym.
“Just remember, it’s never too late to start.”