I started strength training at the age of 62 after a two-organ transplant.

I was always athletic as a child and loved swimming, cheerleading, and running. When I was 11, I was diagnosed with diabetes and developed neuropathy, blindness, heart disease, and kidney failure, which made it much harder for me to exercise.

I was in and out of the hospital. There were many close calls where I didn’t know if I would survive the night. I did everything I could to take care of myself, but nothing worked. My body wouldn’t respond and it was so demotivating.

When my kidneys officially failed at age 34, my doctors gave me a choice: I could start dialysis, but I probably wouldn’t live past 40, or I could undergo an experimental two-organ transplant to get a new kidney and a new pancreas, which could potentially cure my diabetes. The surgery was risky, but I wanted my whole life ahead of me and I didn’t want to live with diabetes anymore.

Fortunately, the surgery was successful. However, at the age of 40, my heart disease progressed and I had a dysfunctional thyroid. I underwent triple coronary artery bypass surgery and my thyroid was removed.

When I was 62, I was so grateful to be alive. To honor my body and resilience, I decided to be as fit as possible.

After a lifetime of struggling with chronic illness, at age 62 I began strength training and began to realize my potential.

I was living in Mexico at the time and came across a three-month online strength challenge for people over 40. It focused on lifting weights and maximizing nutrition while being gentle on the joints. I signed up for the program and committed to working hard. I didn’t realize I would emerge the winner, but after three months I made the most progress and won the challenge.

I had never lifted weights before, but I was hooked. My body finally responded to being taken care of after all it had endured, and I felt great. I had the energy, I could push myself to new limits, and I didn’t want to stop.

A year later, I moved back to the States and hired a personal trainer. My goal was to feel my best. I wasn’t interested in losing weight or seeing a number on the scale. I wanted to lift heavier weights with proper form, learn more about my body, and maximize my potential.

Now I exercise five days a week with a personal trainer.

I still work with the same personal trainer, and we have 45-minute sessions with upper and lower body splits. I typically do four sets of 10 to 15 reps of eight different exercises. These are technically supersets because I only rest for 30 seconds in between. I get a lot done in a short amount of time.

My upper body is my favorite, with shoulders and arms being my favorites. My hamstrings are my weakest link, but I work especially hard on my quads and glutes. I recently racked up eight leg presses with 450 pounds (a new record!).

I never deny myself anything, but I focus on balanced nutrition and track macronutrients to maximize the effectiveness of my training.

I’ve always known how important it is to eat a balanced diet, especially given my health issues, but I started tracking macronutrients to maximize my nutrition and support my training. I use the My Macros+ app to stay organized and eat five small meals a day. I focus on adding color to my plate and prioritize lean protein, complex carbs, and healthy fats. I always have cut-up veggies in the fridge. Salmon, chicken, tuna, Greek yogurt, egg whites, and purple sweet potatoes are some of my favorite things to fill my plate with.

Regardless, I never deprive myself or restrict myself. If I want dessert, I have it. It’s all about balance and I’ve found what works for me.

When I discovered bodybuilding, I took my strength to the next level to be an example to women of all ages.

My trainer saw how hard I worked in the gym and how much I enjoyed it and suggested I enter the bikini masters bodybuilding competition. I thought no one wanted to see me in a bikini but I decided to give it a try and celebrate my body. At the age of 64 and the same month as my 30th organ transplant anniversary, I entered my first championship. I won and was hooked.

It’s hard to gain strength and feel confident in your body. To prepare for the competition, I focused on building muscle through heavy weight training and a calorie surplus. Right before the show, I began “cutting” and reduced my overall calorie intake to shed body fat and expose lean muscle mass. Competition training became my new lifestyle and I thrived with the system of discipline and motivation I built. Working out and feeding my body healthy nutrients became second nature.

The icing on the cake? I can set an example for other women, young and old, and inspire them to do the same.

Julia Linn’s Favorite Fitness Products for Strength at 66

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These three things were key to the success of my strength transformation.

1. I built a community of like-minded women who supported and inspired me on my journey.

Menopause is confusing and your body goes through a lot of changes but finding a community of women who can relate to that made such a huge difference for me and what I was able to do physically. Giving and receiving support from others my age is so inspiring. I truly believe in the power of connection. I have found so much gold in my community both online and in person and growing with other strong women is a recipe for success.

2. I realized that my body is resilient and I can do difficult things.

I have had my share of health issues and I am proud of my body for overcoming the challenges. Despite all the hospitalizations and complications, here I am at 66 years old, not only lifting weights, but winning competitions. Going to the gym and achieving new personal bests is proof that my body is resilient. I am just grateful to be alive.

3. I understand that self-confidence is the key to my success.

My goal is to always take care of my health and treat my body with compassion. I have eliminated all negative self-talk and replaced it with complete confidence. I am strong, proud and capable, and I show up every day as my authentic self.

After decades of illness, I am finally feeling well and I intend to do everything in my power to continue on that path.