A 65-year-old grandmother has revealed her weekly workout routine and diet – including putting butter in her coffee and eating six times a day.
Lesley Maxwell is known for her rock-hard abs and regularly gets flirty messages from men half her age.
The personal trainer insists age is no barrier to strength and she can perform exercises that many people decades younger struggle with.
She credits her fitness to daily discipline, heavy lifting and a unique workout structure she has perfected over the years.
“I really started taking fitness seriously when my partner at the time said I looked “frail”, Lesley, who has 148,000 Instagram followers, told Need To Know.
“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 came up with a vigorous training plan and has stuck to it ever since.
She said: “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.
“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.
“I’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.
“I actually love training, its my ‘me time’ so motivation isn’t usually my problem.
“And as long as I have eaten something nutritious, usually protein and fats-based, I can train at any time.
“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.”
And Lesley makes sure to avoid injuries too.
She said: “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.”
Plus her diet is “super clean”.
She said: “It is just how I like to eat, so it’s not a challenge to avoid junk or take-aways.
“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 are super supportive.
She said: “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.
“As she 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.
“And 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, from Melbourne, Australia, also she hopes her commitment inspires others.
She added: “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.
“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.”
Lesley’s weekly schedule includes:
Day 1: Chest, legs, glutes
Day 2: Back, legs, glutes
Day 3: Shoulders, legs, glutes
Day 4: Arms, legs, glutes
Day 5, 6, 7: Rest days
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