A PENSIONER is putting youngsters to shame with her gym bunny lifestyle - working out three times a week with boxing classes and weights.
Margot McIntyre, 78, said she wanted to get into fitness after a difficult lockdown.
The Dumfries local felt out of shape after being stuck in the house, and also got diagnosed with COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder).
This meant she was no longer able to do basic cardio, and found even going up the stairs left her out of breath.
When one of her friends passed away from the same lung condition she had, Margot was determined to get healthy and not give in to her illness.
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She said: "She really worried me because she never took any exercise. I did keep trying to persuade her – even if you just walk to the end of the street, make a habit of it, you’ll soon walk further. But no.
"I was determined that I wasn’t going to go like that. Keep going. Don’t give up. Don’t just sit down and not do things."
But she added: "I was a bit nervous about the fact that – would I be able to do any of this? Not specifically about weights, it’s as much, would I be able to do a whole lot of sit ups or press ups or anything?
"I just want to keep getting more fit. I just want to keep improving.
"There’s a woman [at the gym] who’s younger than me and she is just so fit compared to me. My aim is to keep up with her when I’m in a class with her."
And according to personal trainer Ross Turley, Margot's time at her gym, Solway Fitness, has paid off.
He shared that not only is Margot now able to lift weights that daunt younger exercisers, she has also become the sweetheart of the gym.
On her first visit to the gym he thought she was a bit shy, but believes working out has built up her confidence.
Ross said: "She’s been going consistently for quite a while. She was really quiet, she just came in and sampled the classes – an easy stretch class, 30 minutes, just dipping her toes in the water.
"I think over time as the months went by her confidence went up so she started attending other classes and then progressed onto 60 minute classes and then more recently as you see in the video she started venturing into the gym.
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"That machine [leg press] in particular gives people a lot of dread, but she added extra weight onto it as well which was inspiring to see.
"The machine itself is pretty heavy. She added weights on each side so it was about 70kg in total.
"She actually goes to boxing as well which is equally as inspiring because that can be a bit of a scary class to go to. She basically has sampled every single class – all bar one.
"She's certainly fitter now than she was a year ago.
"She’s become the sweetheart of the gym. Everyone actually loves her."
Margot prides herself in being able to do squats and enjoys pushing her body to its limits.
She said: "I can do squats quite well. That’s because I do lots of weeding in the garden where I don’t want to put my knees on the ground because I’m wearing light coloured trousers and you can’t get stains out.
"So if I have a lot of weeding, I have to do it in a squatting position, so I think over the years my leg muscles have worked quite hard.
"I’ve definitely got a bit more supple, more flexible.
"The leg press is my favourite gym equipment. But the bits I like most are actually things where you’re working with your body, pushing your muscles.
"Things like sit ups and leg raises where you’re just using your own muscles rather than using machines. I think that’s even more difficult actually."
Margot revealed that she has made new friends at the gym despite joking she's working out with people that could be her grandchildren.
Most importantly, the Dumfries lady feels more comfortable in her body, and is now able to walk longer distances despite her lung condition.
She added: "It’s definitely improved my health and fitness.
"I feel a sense of pride when I manage to lift a weight that I couldn’t lift before, or to do something for a bit longer.
"Forget the gym being intimidating, just go and try.
"Find someone who goes to a gym and go along with them. You can always ask your children if they know someone who goes to the gym that would go with you.
"I’m now in classes with people that could be my grandchildren."
