Search Weight Loss Topics:




Mar 31

‘At 43, I Started Lifting Heavy Weights. Now, I’m A Bodybuilder’ – Women’s Health

Exercise Programs Comments Off on ‘At 43, I Started Lifting Heavy Weights. Now, I’m A Bodybuilder’ – Women’s Health

Ive always tried to eat well and exercise, but I lacked consistency. Whether it was the

In April 2021, I finally had enough. I realized doing the same thing over and over without results is scarier than trying something new, so I set up a meeting with a personal trainer at my local gym. I experimented with lifting weights in my early 20s here and there, but I was never consistent and didn't follow a program. But Im a lifelong learner who enjoys getting out of my comfort zone. My goals were simple, yet ambitious: I wanted to master the big liftsbench press, squat, and deadliftand I wanted to understand how to increase weight progressively to reach my full potential.

My first session was tough. Everything was hard, my form was all over the place, and the moves felt awkward. I was also nervous that people thought I didnt belong in the gym. But instead of saying, This is hard I cant do it, I said, How can I improve? Approaching this new challenge with curiosity, rather than fear, empowered me. I was determined to get stronger, and I was ready to put in the work.

I committed to training four times a week: two days with my trainer and two days on my own. I wanted to stay consistent, improve my form, and build muscle. I was excited for the challenge and motivated to get better.

Jenna Seguin at the start of her strength transformation journey in April 2021.

On Instagram, I came across a video of Michelle MacDonald bench pressing and was in awe of her form and heavy weight. I wanted to level up, so I applied to Michelles personal training community, The Wonder Women.

In August 2022, I started virtual training with The Wonder Women five days a week: three lower body days and two upper body days. I prioritized form and focused on progressive overload, but I also got curious about bodybuilding.

Jenna showed offher progresswhen she joinedThe Wonder Women virtual trainingprogram.

I decided to start training for my first bodybuilding competition in June 2023, but 12 weeks into prep, my competition was canceled. The Wonder Women didnt have spots available to transfer into the current bodybuilding training group, so I switched teams and joined Dynasty Training.

Im preparing for my first show at the end of 2024, so I recently started my build phase, which consists of four days of weight training: two lower body days and two upper body days. My goal is to build muscle, but instead of only focusing on how much weight I can lift, I also prioritize tempo and increasing my reps and sets.

For lower-body workouts: I do a glutes and quads day and a posterior chain day. My workouts are typically an hour and a half, and I do seven to 10 moves per session. The number of reps and sets varies, but most of my current lower-body lifts are based on a ladder model: 12 reps, 10 reps, eight reps, and six reps of each move, increasing weight as the number of reps decreases.

For upper-body workouts: I do a shoulders and back day and a chest and arms day. These workouts are typically an hour, and I do seven to 10 moves per session, including bench press, pullups, man makers, lat pulldowns, and pushups.

I also do 35 minutes of cardio six days a week and have one day designated to core and high intensity intervals, and one day of stretching. Sunday is my day off.

Lower body is my favorite to train and I especially love deadlifts, Bulgarian split squats, and hip thrusts. Now, I can deadlift 195 pounds and thrust 300 pounds. Im currently working on adding a pause at the top of each hip thrust and let me tell you it adds a whole other level of intensity.

Im capable of lifting more than my grip can hold, so these lifting straps take some pressure off my hands and allow me to focus on form and heavier weight without worrying about slipping.

I love overnight oats and oatmeal, and adding a scoop of this glazed donut protein powder satisfies my sweet tooth. Theres also no fillers or preservatives which is always a plus.

Ive tried every diet in the book, but nothing was ever sustainable or satisfying. Then, I learned to count macros and realized I could still eat my favorite foods when I paid attention to portion size and nutrition labels.

I eat four to five meals a day and focus on my protein, carb, and fat intake. I always prioritize protein, and chicken, turkey, and fish are my go-to sources. Its also fun to try new macro-friendly recipes, and meal prepping on Sunday sets me up for success during the week.

That said, it took me a long time to get over the idea of restriction. I was so used to eliminating foods and eating as little as possible, but once I learned nothing is off limits and macros are about balance and variety, I felt better than ever. Instead of a month-long, restrictive, fad diet, I realized the most sustainable plan is listening to my body and eating the foods I love.

1. I let go of the notion that my strength journey needs to be perfect.

When I started strength training in 2021, it wasnt necessarily the perfect time to embark on a new journey. But I decided to stop waiting and took control of my situation. Is every workout perfect? Nope! But thats okay. I realized if I keep trying and continue to show up its going to pay off in the long run.

Jenna shared a check-in photo whiletraining for her first bodybuilding show.

2. I became more self-aware and understood the value of the mind-body connection.

Its so easy to operate on autopilot, but Ive learned to evaluate my *entire* lifestyle when something feels off. If my energy levels are low, I look at my diet and sleeping habits. When I'm stressed, I reflect on why instead of letting anxiety rule my day.

As a result, Ive learned the importance of the mind-body connection. How Im feeling physically and mentally can have a direct impact on each other and the overall sense of self-awareness has gotten me closer to my goals.

3. I gave myself the opportunity to be good at something and realized consistency is key.

Most of my life, I participated in diets and fitness programs that had a clear start and end date. Once I understood that people become good at things by being consistent, a light bulb went off. I realized I had never given myself a chance (or the time) to get good. I always expected quick results and a long-term program seemed daunting, but when I challenged myself to start weight lifting without an end date in mind, my whole mindset changed.

Not only do I love that consistency brings me closer to my goals, but I found value and motivation in the process. Whether its perfecting my form or mastering a recipe, the sense of accomplishment after nailing a new skill keeps me determined to get better and stronger. Its fun to show up for yourself and consistency in the gym has given me the opportunity to believe in myself.

More:
'At 43, I Started Lifting Heavy Weights. Now, I'm A Bodybuilder' - Women's Health

Related Posts

    Your Full Name

    Your Email

    Your Phone Number

    Select your age (30+ only)

    Select Your US State

    Program Choice

    Confirm over 30 years old

    Yes

    Confirm that you resident in USA

    Yes

    This is a Serious Inquiry

    Yes

    Message:



    matomo tracker