Amazing grandmother weight loss transformation - ABC 12 – WJRT – Flint, MI

(11/12/12) - A Mid-Michigan woman is proving it's never too late to make changes for the better.

Linda Woodyard is a 63-year-old great-grandmother, turned fitness competitor. She hopes her story inspires others to live healthier lives.

Woodyard, of Swartz Creek, is a grandmother of eight and brags about a great grandson born earlier this year. Like men and women of all ages, she struggled with her weight. Then she made major changes to her lifestyle.

At age 57, she was overweight, often feeling sluggish and lacking confidence, so she decided to begin exercising and eating healthier.

She is now 63-years-old and has gone from 162lbs to a slender 125lbs, dropping 10 dress sizes.

Her trainer, Vincent Candela, calls Linda his poster child client. "She has inspired a lot of my clients. I have people 20 and 30 years younger that have a tough time keeping up with her.  

After her day job, Linda devotes nights to her next challenge, and her next body building competition. Linda says it's not about the judge's scores, it's about inspiring others to take charge of their health.

"I want to encourage young and old that it's never too soon or never too late to start this project and to get yourself in shape. I tell my husband all the time, it's my life insurance policy. People pay premiums, this for me is my life insurance policy. There are no guarantees in life but I'm going to do the best I can to live the best life I can live. I want to watch that little great-grandson of mine grow up and graduate from high school and whatever else I can do."
 
Linda's next competition is the "Figure America" in Las Vegas on Nov. 16. She'll be up against 600 men and women later this week.