A grandmother in her sixties with an impressive six-pack claims her stunning physique frequently attracts admiring stares from men who often comment that her biceps are bigger than theirs – but insists her husband doesn’t mind.
Lynda Jager, 61, from Ontario, Canada, began hitting the gym in her thirties and says competing in bodybuilding competitions has helped boost her confidence.
The married medical office administrator and personal trainer, who has six grandchildren, first became eager to sculpt her figure when she was in her twenties, with a goal to become stronger.
But she didn’t have the confidence to join a gym until 10 years later, where she became interested in bodybuilding.
Lynda Jager, 61, from Ontario, Canada, claims her stunning physique frequently attracts admiring stares from men
Over the next few years she was encouraged by her fellow gym goers and husband Mark, 55, to participate in competitions.
But it took her 20 years to feel confident enough to do her first show – by which point she she was 51 – and she is now a five-time bodybuilding champion.
Now Lynda – who is grandmother to Max, seven, Ella, five, Victoria, three, Georgia, two, Jack, one, and Nora, 11 months – feels more confident than she’s ever been.
‘My husband loves the way I look,’ Lynda said. ‘He knows that I get some admiring glances and comments from other men but isn’t really bothered by them. He is very confident in our relationship.
Lynda was urged to start competing in bodybuilding competitions by her husband Mark, 55 (pictured)
‘He usually brushes it off and doesn’t say too much. He leaves it up to me to handle it, if it’s unwanted attention.
‘Sometimes I think they flirt when they don’t know he’s in the room and quickly stop when they realise he’s my husband.’
Lynda said her doctor urged to her to exercise more when she was in her late teens as she was often tired, had anxiety and was very shy.
Lynda said men often comment that her biceps are bigger than theirs – but her husband doesn’t mind
She didn’t enjoy team sports so tried exercising at home in her parents’ basement.
‘I would follow shows on TV and learn from them,’ she recalled. ‘The more I started to see results, the more results I was anxious to see, and that kept me going.
‘I enjoyed weight training the most and I continued this throughout my twenties and thirties. It made me feel strong and I began to feel more confident about myself.
‘I became so interested I was constantly reading books and magazines about weight training and bodybuilding.
Grandmother-of-six Lynda only found the confidence to join a gym in her thirties, having previously worked out at home
‘I completely fell in love with it and would lift as heavy as I could with good form, and I also did some cardio.’
After a decade of working out at home, Lynda found the courage to join a gym, as she felt her weight training was limited by doing it at home.
‘I was always drawn to the images both in magazines and on TV of strong women that looked healthy and fit and really wanted to do the same to my body,’ she said.
Lynda, pictured with one of her daughters, said she enjoys the appearance of muscles on her body and wants to set a good example to her kids
Lynda, pictured with husband Mark, said her doctor urged to her to exercise more when she was in her late teens as she was often tired, had anxiety and was very shy
‘I enjoyed the appearance of muscles on my body. I also wanted to set an example for my young children, so they could be strong and self-confident as well.’
Before she began competing, Lynda did not like to be in front of large groups of people.
‘The first time stepped on stage, I thought I would faint and almost didn’t do it,’ she admitted. ‘The girl behind me actually had to give me a little nudge to get me to step on stage.
‘After my first competition was over, I couldn’t wait to do it again, as it gave me such a giant confidence boost.
It took Lynda two decades to pluck up the courage to compete in her first bodybuilding show – by this time she was 51 (pictured with her husband Mark)
‘My confidence through the years grew and my shyness and anxiety lessened immensely.
‘I believe it has given me the confidence to try new things and speak up when I need to. When I was in my thirties I was not as confident in my body or what I was doing to change it.’
Despite men flirting with her, Lynda said her husband, whom she married last year, is so confident in their 15-year relationship he doesn’t even mind.
Her muscular physique has attracted a lot of attention, both good and bad.
Lynda’s incredibly muscular physique has attracted a lot of attention from men and women, both good and bad
While some admire her strength, Lynda said others aren’t fans of her muscular frame, with some men feeling ‘intimidated’ by it.
‘In the beginning I was a bit of a closet exerciser, as weightlifting and muscles on women were sometimes thought strange and not the “norm”,’ she explained.
‘I would hide my muscles to avoid the comments. We’ve come a long way since then, realising that muscles on women is healthy.
‘I get a lot of comments about my body actually; most of the comments are positive, with men and women saying I have great arms and shoulders.
Despite men flirting with her, Lynda said her husband, whom she married last year, is so confident in their 15-year relationship he doesn’t even mind
‘But occasionally I will get a negative comment, with someone saying that’s it’s just too much, or I’m “too fit”. I went to a couple of modelling agencies a few years back and was turned down for that reason.
‘I did however find an agency that liked the way I looked and was eager to promote my look.
‘Sometimes I think that certain men are a bit intimidated by my appearance.
‘I get comments such as, “Your biceps are bigger than mine” and “You look so strong, I bet you could beat me up”.’
Lynda, pictured with fellow gym goers, said she sometimes has people tell her she looks ‘too fit’
For her first competition, Lynda lost around eight pounds and has remained just slightly above that weight since.
‘I want to share my fitness experience and knowledge with others,’ she said.
‘I want everyone to understand that being fit for life is possible, without pain, restrictive eating or drugs.
‘I hope to inspire others to get off the couch, get off the phones and tablets, and move.
For her first competition, Lynda lost around eight pounds and has remained just slightly above that weight since
Lynda, pictured with Mark, said she hopes to inspire others to get off the couch, get off the phones and tablets, and move
‘It starts with a mindset; you should have a clear vision of your reasons for change and that vision becomes your motivation. Picture yourself achieving your goals.
‘With that clear vision in mind, seek out all the information you can and learn how to achieve those goals through informative magazines and books, reliable sources on the internet, or find a qualified coach or trainer.
‘I believe it all starts in the mind but continues in the heart. You need to believe in yourself.’