27 July 2023 , 09:37
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A woman who looks 'younger than ever' has revealed how she started ageing backwards after changing her mindset. Denise Kirtley realised she wanted to make a change after gaining extra weight that even saw her wedding ring no longer fit.
She put on 20kgs during the Covid-19 pandemic due to perimenopause - but decided to turn her life around two months before her 50th birthday. The 52-year-old now credits strength training, nutrition and a positive mindset to her 'new and improved' physique, saying she now has enough energy to "get the most" out of her day.
Denise, from California, America, started out by signing up for an online company that helped her come up with a diet plan and exercise routine. She quickly fell in love with bodybuilding - and has competed in several competitions.
She started her fitness journey in 2020 (fiftyfitnessjourney/Instagram)"We really do get to choose how we age. It's all about your mindset," she said. "Old and ageing are very different - there's nothing wrong with ageing, I embrace my age.
"But the word old makes me think of decline, and like my best years are behind me. What we tell ourselves matters more than anything else. I'm aging, but I'm strong, vibrant, and spirited."
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When it comes to her diet, Denise cut out carbs and switched to a protein-focused diet, eating five meals a day. Her favourite meals include high-protein waffles, salmon, zucchini fritters with salad, and banana protein oats.
Working out five days a week using dumbbells and resistance bands, she focuses on her upper body twice and on her lower body for the rest. She has been documenting her fitness journey online - and now runs her own fitness and nutrition coaching company.
However, her biggest challenge was changing her mindset into believing she could achieve everything she wanted to. She added: "I lost 22kg within the first year and I fell in love with bodybuilding."