A fit gran admitted why she’s dedicated to lifting weights – and it’s not to make “booty gains”.
Jacqueline Hooton, 61, from West Sussex, can impressively lift double her body weight and encourages other women to build their strength too. Despite having osteoarthritis, the personal trainer is on a mission to prove you can look amazing at any age if you commit to putting the work in.
She boasts a huge following on Instagram thanks to her positive attitude and super useful fitness tips, but she recently made a big confession. Lifting weights is about a lot more than trying to look good, as it can actually lead to healthier ageing.
In a recent post, she said she’s not interested in making “booty gains”, even though weight lifting undoubtedly changes the shape of your body. Her focus is purely placed on preventing a hip fracture as she ages.
READ MORE: ‘I’m a gran who wears shorts with pride – too many women are shamed for doing it’
She’s on a mission to be fit and fabulous well into her 80s, so she’s putting all the work in to try and make her dream a reality. Not to mention, she said hip fractures are more common in women, so she’s going to give it all she’s got.
Writing on Instagram, Jacqueline said: “At 61 I’m not focused on booty gains despite this 80kg RDL for reps. I’ve got bigger things on my mind.
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hergardengym/Instagram)
“If you want to prevent a hip fracture in your 70s and 80s you will really benefit from getting strong. In the UK more than 76,000 older adults experience a hip fracture each year, and fractures are more common in women.
“In America the figure is over 300,000. Making your bones stronger, denser and less likely to break is a sensible strategy in your 60s. Strength training is key to this.”
She continued: “You can do this at home with bodyweight, resistance bands, handheld weights, or in a gym setting. And here’s the plot twist. Strength training also impacts aesthetics (if this is important to you). So if you haven’t already started, start now, your future self will thank you.”
Since she shared the post, more than 2,000 people have liked it and left positive comments. People told her she’s an “inspiration”, and also shared some of their own fitness stories too.
One person said: “I’m 67 and do a full body workout 3 days a week! I also walk daily and do yoga 5 days. And lots of balance work, mobility and stretching daily.”
Another commented: “Wow, that’s incredible. You keep going good for you.” A third replied: “You are quite the inspiration! I’m working everyday to get there. I’m 59 with degenerative disc disease. What do you recommend for that type of lifting?”
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hergardengym/Instagram)
Another added: “Exactly like that! When I do any weight I’m thinking I want to be independent and able to move around, to stand from chair or sofa safe without holding on anything, to carry bags with food shopping without pain when I reach my 70s.”
Previously, Jacqueline opened up about how she gets trolled because of the clothes she wears. Even though she looks amazing, and helps people to feel great, she still receives cruel comments from trolls who tell her not to wear shorts.
In an earlier video, she revealed keyboard warriors have told her that her knees are “about to break”, but she just laughs it off. This is because she knows, no matter how old she is, that they help her to live, walk, exercise and make the most out of life.
They’ve even helped her take on the London Marathon in the past, so theyr’e not that bad after all. In fact, she’s super grateful she’s still able to use them.
Writing on Instagram at the time, Jacqueline said: “So many women think they can’t wear shorts in the summer or when they exercise or when they are older. Too many women feel embarrassed or ashamed of their legs, thighs, or knees, and worried what others might say.
“Lots of women – like me – are standing up to ageism and body shaming. I have cellulite, thread veins that weave their way around my right thigh like a garter, and worst of all, osteoarthritis in my knees.
“But my knees aren’t ‘about to break’. They just need careful management – which means modifying, adapting and to keep moving. And yes I wear shorts in the summer when I exercise and despite being 61.”
