Meet The World’s Oldest Body-Builder: 80 Year Old Ernestine Shepherd

By Jasper Gee 3 min read

Being a bodybuilder is an enormous challenge for young people, let alone for those who are above 50.

Bodybuilders are forced to deal with grueling gym regimens, restrictive diets, and finding clothing to fit their bulging muscles. A bodybuilder’s schedule is packed full with building and maintaining their physique while maintaining planned diet that requires you to consume a ton of calories… and money.

As difficult as all of that is for the average person, 80-year old Ernestine Shepherd is no average woman. It’s been said that fitness starts with your mindset, and Shepherd thoroughly proves that to be true with her amazing lifestyle.

Here’s how Shepherd’s average morning routine looks: a 3 a.m. wake-up time followed immediately by a healthy dose of egg whites, a lengthy run, and finally her bodybuilding routine performed at the gym.

As unpleasant as that schedule may sound to most of us, anyone that’s accomplished their fitness goals knows that a well-kept routine is what determines results. Shepherd’s youthful appearance and remarkable body is a testament to the power of a good routine.

Most people don’t just wake up one day and decide to become a bodybuilder, and Shepherd didn’t just randomly make this lifestyle decision either. She was spurred on by her sister, who motivated her to get into bodybuilding so that they could eventually be deemed the world’s oldest sister bodybuilders.

Unfortunately, the journey of Shepherd’s sister ended when she suffered a brain aneurysm and passed away. After mourning the death of her sister, Shepherd attempted to continue on the path they had started down together, but she battled with anxiety and depression. As many can no doubt relate, she found that exercise and routine helped her to deal effectively with her grief.

Renewing her focus on bodybuilding not only helped Shepherd to cope with the emotions she was experiencing, but her hard work paid off when she was eventually inducted into the Guinness World Records for being the oldest bodybuilder.

Shepherd has kept working hard even after such a great accomplishment. Not only is she continuing her bodybuilding routine, but she’s also working as a personal trainer to senior men and women.

Sometimes it takes inspiration from others to overcome trials, and Shepherd claims her main inspirations are Sylvester Stallone and Michelle Obama. One day she hopes to meet both, and we’re guessing they would love to meet her!

One of Shepherd’s famous lines that she shares with her clients is, “Age is nothing but a number, and you can get fit.” These are words she clearly lives by herself, and no doubt she inspires her clients and many others to lead healthier lives.

Shepherd has a personal website that she shares updates and her biography on. She also wrote a book which was released in April 2016 titled, “Determined, Dedicated, Disciplined To Be Fit.” We’re starting to doubt there’s anything that this woman can’t do!