Video: Local Weightlifter Breaks Gender Barriers

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LOUISVILLE, Miss. (WCBI)- One Louisville woman can hang with the guys when it comes to pumping iron, and she’s also showing us you can be fit at any age.

If you’ve ever been to Anytime Fitness Gym in Louisville, you’ll find Patricia Whitcomb and Dexter Yarborough pumping iron. No excuses. No exceptions. They are dedicated workout partners, and they challenge each other’s potential.

“We go back and forth with the workouts,” Yarborough said. “She tries to use that senior citizens  card but it doesn’t work with me because she’s a great athlete.”

If you match his strength and muscle with hers, anything he can do, she can do.

“Their weakest areas are their legs so they look for me to train them on their leg. My weakest parts are my upper body,” Whitcomb explained. “So they push me to work the upper body and it balances out.”

Whitcomb’s motivation to workout began long before hitting the gym with the guys. She used someone closer to home to kick-off her fitness journey.

“I have an autistic son,” Whitcomb said. “I want to make sure I am able to take care of him.”

Weighing at 169 lbs, Whitcomb dropped down to 115.  She says she gained 26 pounds of muscle after that, and now at the age of 56 she stands at 141 lbs with rippling muscles and toned arms.

Her advice to other women? When the going gets tough, keep going because your health is priceless!

“You’re never to old to get started,” Whitcomb said. “People say being fit is expensive but its more expensive to take off from work and have to go to the doctor, now that’s expensive.”

Whitcomb said her day starts at 5 AM with cardio, then in the evening she’s back at it again lifting weights. When she’s not at the gym, Whitcomb is a corrections officer at the Winston County Jail.

If you have a remarkable weight loss story you’d like to share with us, email rskinner@wcbi.com.