Grandmother regains her zest for life - and how! - Bodybuilding, Fitness and Health Forum Axiolabs Steroids Board

irontraining · **Grandmother regains her zest for life - and how! -** 04-03-2008

Grandmother regains her zest for life - and how!

By IAN SMITH

A GRANDMOTHER has regained a zest for life and transformed her figure in just three months since embarking on a tough training regime and strict diet.

Mandy Putt aims to put her new found fitness to the test when she competes at the Mr & Miss Scotland 2008 bodybuilding championships next month.

The hard-work ethic has helped the 51 year-old from Highfields overcome the deep depression she had been suffering since the death of her mother, Jessie Stokes, from cancer last July.

"I looked after her for the last 18 months which was very traumatic and her death hit me really hard and I lost my way a bit," said Mandy.

"For months afterwards I didn't get dressed until mid-afternoon, I wouldn't open the curtains and I felt really dowdy but now with the help of a Macmillan bereavement councillor I'm on the mend and with the hard work I've been putting in down at the gym since Christmas I feel 10 years younger."

Mandy, who used to run the Fishers Arms pub in Horncliffe, was persuaded to start working out again by her son Shaun Ryan, himself a dedicated bodybuilder.

The fact she works at FX Fitness on the East Ord Industrial Estate in Berwick, owned and run by current professional Mr Universe Stephen Sinton, makes it easier to stick to her training schedule.

"I had always looked after myself until my mother died but I was never competitive so this is something completely different for me and I'm loving it," she admits.

"There are still occasions when I wake up in the morning and find it difficult to motivate myself but they're getting fewer and further between."

She plans to compete in the Over 35's Trained Figure section of the contest being held at the Corn Exchange in Edinburgh on May 10.

"I never thought I'd say this but I'm at the stage now with five weeks to go where I think I can win a medal at the championships," said the grandmother of four.

"I don't want to look like a man so the trained figure section is ideal because it's not bodybuilding, it's more about creating a fit aerobic toned look," explained Mandy.

"I started out at 7st 11lbs and now nine weeks into my training I am just over 7st and look and feel great. There's no cheating involved, no tummy tucks - just pure hard work!

"I've had great support along the way, especially from my daughter-in-law Vicky Ryan who has been helping with the training and Steve and Li
sa at the gym."

She is on a strict protein diet six days a week, taking a day off every Sunday to pile lots of carbohydrates on board.

"A typical day would be to wake up and have a protein shake and half a grapefruit, then go down to the gym for a half hour cardio session at 7.30am," she reveals. "I come back home and have an oat pancake (which are ridiculously bland), and for lunch half a baked potato, vegetables or salad and another protein shake.

"In mid afternoon I will have cottage cheese or smoked salmon then for tea have either chicken, tuna or steak with 30g of brown rice and a salad or vegetables, another protein shake, then finally around 9pm I will have a suet steak with a little peanut butter."

Mandy aims to raise at least £5000 in sponsorship which will go to Berwick's recently opened chemotherapy unit and help support the Shokk youth lifestyle gym at FX Fitness