Tip:
Highlight text to annotate it
X
[♪♪]
[trainer] Flex, flex. Yes. Work it. [Producer - Diane Roberts]
[Editor - John Prete] [D. Roberts] Working out, pumping iron,
burning calories to stay fit.
That's the life of Ernestine Shepherd.
This woman with a peaceful spirit spends every day sculpting her body
or helping others sculpt theirs.
Grab the handle.
[Roberts] She's a personal trainer.
[to class] Get those lower abs! Looking good.
[Roberts] She's a fitness instructor.
[♪♪] She runs every day to keep her physique flattering.
Do you run races? >>Yes, I do. I've done 9 marathons.
You've only been running for 4 years. >>That's right.
[Roberts] Ernestine--just about everybody calls her Ernie--
has a credo for life.
I am a very determined, dedicated, and disciplined lady.
That means that I must practice what I preach.
[to class] ...4 and 5.
[Roberts] The class loves this mother and grandmother
despite the torture she puts them through,
because she does it with a delightful disposition.
[to class] It should be burning. If it's not, you didn't do it.
Her positive attitude. She's driven, she's motivated, she gets you excited, into the class.
It just shows me that age is nothing but a number.
You can be 100 years old and pretty much do the same thing,
and that's what I see when I see her.
[trainer] Okay. Are you ready? >>Mm-hmm. >>30 seconds, okay? On 3. Go.
[Roberts] Ernie trains weekly with Yohnnie Shambourger,
a gym owner and former Mr. Universe who organizes bodybuilding competitions.
That's how he met Ernie.
[Yohnnie Shambourger - Ernestine's Trainer] I noticed this attractive lady
walking around at my show with this very long ponytail.
And I said, "Miss, would you mind coming on stage and passing out trophies?"
He asked me to present trophies and boy, did I like the idea of being on stage.
And she walked up to me and said, "You know, there's one thing I always wanted to do--
"stand on stage and compete as a bodybuilder."
I said, "Am I too old, because I'm 71 years old."
And it took me by surprise, because I said, "I thought you were a bodybuilder,
"like a retired bodybuilder watching the show."
[Roberts] You heard right. Ernie started all of this when she was 71.
Her dedication, determination, and discipline come from a place of despair--
the loss of her sister, Mildred Blackwell, called Velvet.
The ladies wanted to improve their bodies and went from aerobics to weightlifting
while in their mid 50s.
Velvet had higher aspirations.
[Shepherd] She said we were going to be in the Guinness Book of World Records
[chuckles] as two senior ladies who really got their bodies in shape
and they were able to inspire and motivate others to be fit.
[Roberts] But they never reached that goal together.
Velvet passed away.
When she died, I just lost everything.
I didn't know what to do.
I was just miserable.
[♪♪] [Shambourger] Push it, push it, push it. Good.
[Roberts] What Ernie did was turn pain into purpose
and returned to the gym after 2 decades away.
Ladies and gentlemen, let's bring on Ernestine Shepherd.
[applause and cheering]
[Roberts] She entered her first bodybuilding competition after just 7 months of intense work.
[applause and cheering]
One of the guys backstage said, "Showtime."
When I heard the music playing, I forgot all about being nervous and shy.
I went out there and strutted my stuff.
I didn't even want to get off the stage I was having so much fun. [laughs]
[Roberts] She placed first right out of the gate.
Her discipline continued with strict attention to diet.
[male speaker] I prepare her meals.
[Roberts] Her husband, Collin Shepherd, or "Shep," is in charge of all her meals.
I'm looking for proteins for her and food that will give her strength and energy.
[Roberts] She also receives energy from thoughts of her sister
and Velvet's idea to make it into the record books.
[applause and cheering]
Ernie was showcased in a Guinness World Records made-for-TV event in Italy in 2010.
[Shepherd] When I traveled to Rome,
I had my sister's thoughts in mind.
I said, "We made it."
And we did, because if she hadn't put that in my head,
I probably never would have done it. [applause and cheering continue]
And the experience--wow!--just on that stage with those big guys--wow!--it was great.
[Roberts] At age 73, she became the world's oldest female bodybuilder.
She continues to share her message with those who will listen.
If there were ever an anti-aging pill, we would have to say it's exercise.
We know we can get fit
because we are determined, dedicated, and disciplined to be fit.
And I love you very, very much and can't wait to see you until Friday.
[Roberts] For My Generation... >>Mwah. Love you!
[Roberts] I'm Diane Roberts.
[♪♪] [my generation]