Before I asked Cathe for help in January of this year, I was diagnosed with Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). With those who have this disease you know how devastating this can be on simply living.
I needed some motivation to help me with diet (my diet certainly wasn’t helping) and exercise, because I was suffering (in pain) so badly. I was at a very low point and truly didn’t know what else to do to relieve my symptoms like; nausea, pinching, sour and burning sensations in my stomach. I was not a healthy person even though I wanted to be so badly.
I asked myself what I wanted to do now? It had to be something I always wanted to do. I came up with wanting to have a body of a body builder like Kelly Nelson (she was 72 when she was competing as a body builder) who was a huge inspiration for me. I know what you are saying, at age 61 she is thinking way beyond her dreams.
Certainly I hadn’t a clue on how to do something like this, even though I knew it was possible, so I asked Cathe. With her very busy schedule she was able to help me in two ways that the doctors couldn’t help. She prescribed me a 9 month rotation and because I needed to lose weight too she also said tweaking the Paleo Diet helped her. Not that she needed to lose weight, but that it’s a diet that would help me reach my goals in wanting to gain strength.
Went on the Paleo diet and my life changed right before my eyes. In just a matter of a few days mind you, I had no more symptoms of GERD. I still have GERD and on occasion some of those sensations comes back to haunt me, but only as a gentle reminder that the particular food I ate is not good for me.
I started out with the STS program, which I thought would be sufficient enough to use the 3 1/2 program. Started in January of this year and used very low weight. I’m Remembering how hard it was to use 9#’s for one arm rows, 8#’s for triceps, 25#’s for deadlifts, 3 #’s for bench presses, just to mention a few. During this rotation my strength gains became remarkable! I now use 30#’s for one arm rows, 12#’s for triceps, 50#’s for deadlifts and 60#’s for bench presses.
In only a little over 3 short months, my strength gains have doubled and in some exercises even more! That is so impressive to me. I am continuing with my rotation and I’m on my way in having my dream come true. Cathe’s STS program gave me all the motivation I could ever ask for to continue with my dream. The adventures of a body builders body coming true right before my eyes, being true to myself and of course most of all to be healthy and fit.
I want to thank Cathe for giving my life back. I certainly didn’t know where it was heading and was frightened that I may not have made it through. What a bright future ahead of me and one I’m gladly a part of. An adventure that will be pain free, fit, healthy and happy.
Enjoyed your article and continue your amazing journey. Good for you, you give older exercisers like me (I am 56) the inspiration to keep it up. Thank you for sharing.
Loved reading your story. I’m turning 56 next Sunday and you have just given me the motivation I needed to restart my workout. I was doing very well until a back injury last summer stopped me cold. Then between my son’s deployment to Afghanistan, deaths in my family, and finding out I have leukemia, the depression and the lazies set in. My weight is good; I just need to tone my body and you are truly an inspiration. Thank you!
Jane, your story is so inspirational and you told it so well. I think you should expand on it and maybe consider writing a book. There are many people out there who would benefit from your experience. I really admire you for setting these fitness goals for yourself. I’m 57 and have been an active exerciser for most of my adult life, but I have many friends in the same time of life who don’t exercise at all. You have really shown through your story how exercise and proper diet can really turn things around – changing negatives to positives. Congratulations on what you’ve accomplished so far. Keep up the good work. Thank you again for your sharing your story with us.
Wow, Jane, what an inspirational story. Good for you! It’s wonderful to hear results like yours. I’m glad you submitted, and it will be great to hear how you do going forward from here. Thanks for sharing!
Thanks for sharing your story. I am 63, and I am on my 3rd time through the STS Strength rotation. I just love it (I love all of Cathe’s workouts). Very effective stuff.
BTW, I had some major stomach and intestinal issues several years ago, did research, found Paleo, and also was able to heal.
It’s wonderful that you have taken your health in your own hands and become healthy and strong. Keep us all posted. You are a warrior woman!
I am so motivated by your success, Janie! I’ll be using the image of you pumping that 65# barbell when I need a push to keep going. I’m starting STS for the first time next week (I’m 50 years young), and feel super charged by your story! Thanx for sharing!!!
I love your story! I am 62, and I also love Cathe’s workouts, have done STS twice and love it. My issues are different–severe osteoarthritis in one shoulder. I find that strengthening those muscles does help manage my pain. I love to hear from others around my age range. I think we can all encourage each other. God bless, and thanks so much for your inspirational story!!
This is an incredible story. Thank you especially for mentioning the weights you started with. It makes those of us starting out less intimidated! So happy for you!
Rock on! How incredible and empowering for you to take control of your own health. You are an inspiration and thanks for sharing this.
Amazing story! Very inspirational! I just finished the STS program, and loved it!! I plan on doing the rotation again. Congratulations on getting closer to your goals!
WOW, your story is not only inspiring but a motivation for the rest of us, no matter what our age is. You’re a great example of what lifting weights and following a healthy lifestyle can do for your body, mind, and soul. You rock! Cathe is certainly amazing too for helping you out 🙂
I’m 54, am on my 3rd rotation of STS and LOVE what doing Cathe’s routines have done for my health. I had no idea about the paleo diet and GERD, though I’ve been doing Dr. Sear’s Zone Diet for about ten years, which is close but not quite a paleo diet. I had an ulcer at 23, took Tagamet for years and now Prevacid ‘for life’ but really wonder if I could stop. I will definitely research and test the paleo approach. Thank you for the inspiration!
Very inspiring, I too have the beginnings of GERD and know I should be making some changes but it’s hard to know where to begin. The advice of a Paleo diet sounds workable. I’m also interested to know what a 9 month rotation looks like since I have a significant amount of weight to lose. How about a follow up post on that??
Thanks Jane and Cathe!
Great story it gives me so much motivation. I’ll be 50 on my next birthday, when i was 48 discovered i have gluten intolerance.. I never heard of the paleo diet can you do it gluten free?
Good to see articles about women who are over 50. I do wish, however, that when people post they don’t use shorthand. I don’t know what the STS or 3 1/2 program is. Please explain. Thank you.
I’m 62 and was diagnosed with osteopenia in my early 50’s. My doctor has had me on Actonel to help slow the bone loss. I’m happy to report that in the 2 years I’ve been lifting weights with Cathe’s DVD’s I was taken off Actonel. My last bone scan showed marked improvement and I attribute the improvement to Cathe and her “torture” workouts!!! It DOES work!!
I love this article, this photo, and this incredible woman! Thank you for sharing. We can all make changes in our lives to improve them. You’ve done wonders.
Great story! I’m so happy for you!
Jane, great inspiring story, thank u so much for sharing it!
Lisa, Paleo is gluten-free by definition because it eliminates grains.
Jane, your story is wonderful!
What a testimonial to the correct diet and exercise. I am 60 and have been using Cathe’s workouts for years. I will continue to use them. A healthy diet and exercise are truly the fountain of youth!
Truly inspiring Jane. Your photo evokes such a powerful statement. I truly wish you all the best.
You had me with the photo ;).
Such an inspiration!!! 🙂 I’d love to know what modifications you made to the paleo diet. I’m following a paleo diet myself, although I do occasionally eat GF oats…so not completely paleo, but I began following it for health reasons as well. I’m allergic to most grains (wheat, rice, corn, rye, barley) and felt better after eliminating these from my diet. I don’t need to lose any weight, but would love to gain more muscle and strength! You give me hope! 🙂
Thank you everyone for your amazing comments. I had no idea that I would inspire so many people. I’m very humbled and excited that I could inspire anyone.
I wanted to answer a few things like how I tweaked the Paleo Diet. I tweaked on two things. I use 1/2 cup of cooked Steal Cut Oats in the morning. Twice during the day I put in 1 tablespoon of live culture yogurt (I use Greek) into 1 Tablespoon of my homemade paleo mayo. I like to put that into my fish/chicken meals and eat it that way. It’s very delicious. So far the rest of the diet is not modified. I feel for me that’s all the tweaking I need to do for now.
Wanted to share my rotation Cathe gave me if you are interested in it:
Do STS in its entirety.
Take one week off.
Do Gym Styles for one month!
Do the low impact series for two weeks.
Do Four Day Split for one month.
Do Shock Cardio Series for two weeks
Do STS Meso two and Meso three
All the while eat a super clean diet. I tweak the Paleo diet to suit my needs. But basically eat very lean lean, natural, non processed foods, lots of dark green veggies, brown rice, sweet potatoes, quinoa, healthy fruits in small portions, fish, poultry, etc. Water, green tea are my main source of liquids. I throw in some organic 100% pure tart cherry juice for my joints and a great source of antioxidants too.
I will post on my fitness and health journey in the Open Discussion forum how my progress is going as requested. Do know I am so humbled by this and at the same time proud so far of my accomplishments. Round one is done, now for round 2.
Thank you again, all of you are awesome and I’m inspired by you as well. It makes me want this even more.
Janie
It was good to see someone 61 who has gone from using light weights to heavier weights. I’ve been going to a gym since finishing PT after having back surgery to continue strengthening my back as well as getting into the best shape that I can before I get to over-the-hill. I also need to lose a few more pounds. I’ve lost 30 so far and that is since December when I started eating better as I new the more weight I lost the better for my back. Thanks for the inspiration. Continued success in your dream.
What an inspiration! I just have a couple of questions. When you are doing STS or Gym Styles, do you add in any cardio, or just do the weights? Also, do you recommend any particular Paleo diet book? Thanks!