A BODYBUILDING mum has insisted she's more ripped than women half her age thanks to her toned tummy and legs at 68. Pensioner Linda Young says she's regularly mistaken for someone in their early 50s thanks to her muscly arms and chiselled physique. The mum of two, from Glasgow, Scotland became a regular gym-goer after a hip replacement aged 65.
And her strength and commitment didn't go unnoticed by her personal trainer who suggested she should take up bodybuilding. Linda said: "When my PT suggested it I fell about laughing - I thought it was a joke. "He told me to think about it so I spoke to my husband, Peter, 68, and my kids - Jamie, 28, and Kirsty, 35 - and they said why don't I go for it.
"I then spoke to a posing coach and she said all I had to bring along was high heels and a bikini - I thought that was funny. "So I had to source a diamanté bikini and these stripper-like heels - I thought I was out of my head. "But I thought if I don't do it now, I'd never do it.
" The fitness-mad mum then began her gruelling seven-week training camp. She reduced her food intake, underwent muscle and strength training and even attended posing classes to learn how to stand on stage. The pilates teacher munched on salads, measured out her protein, drank lots of water and had no sugar or processed foods for seven weeks.
She also had to buy her bikini, heels and layer up with three coats of fake tan. She added: "In your prep, the week before the competition you cut out a lot and you're dow.