On ‘Over 50 & Flourishing,’ A 73-Year-Old Bodybuilder Who Is Rewriting the Rules on Aging with Grace

“I started [weightlifting] when I was 60. So, it’s never too late to start.” That’s 73-year-old Renee Landers—grandmother, entrepreneur, and competitive bodybuilder—proving that the best time to build strength is now, no matter your age.

On Over 50 & Flourishing, host Dominique Sachse sits down with Landers to talk about strength, resilience, and why weightlifting became her secret weapon after spinal surgery nearly left her wheelchair bound. 

Her story is a reminder that fitness is about mindset and dismantling the myth that women over 50 are destined to fade. “I’m 73 and proud of it. A rock star,” she says with zero hesitation. That energy carries through every part of her life, from the gym to the stage to the dance floor on her beloved cruises.

Why weightlifting matters at every age

For Landers, the gym wasn’t always about barbells and dumbbells. She started in the aerobics era, “all about Jane Fonda and whatever, you know, in the outfits,” recalling when the legendary actress was revolutionizing home fitness. But decades later, back pain and a major spinal fusion surgery forced her to rethink what fitness really meant.

The turning point came at 60, when a doctor told her plainly, “You need to be lifting weights.” That advice led her to trainer Dustin Jackson, who has guided her workouts ever since. With his help, she began a program focused on consistency over spectacle.   Post surgery, she worried she might end up in a wheelchair. Instead, pumping iron helped her get back on track.

Weightlifting became more than just exercise—it was a form of freedom. Post-surgery, she worried she might end up in a wheelchair. Instead, pumping iron helped her get her life back on track.

Redefining the post-menopause years

Like many women, Landers struggled with menopause symptoms, especially brain fog. She recalls being terrified: “I thought I had early-onset Alzheimer’s because my brain was so foggy. I mean, I could not remember how to drive myself home.”

The answer, she discovered, was hormone replacement therapy combined with strength training. It wasn’t just about managing symptoms; it was about protecting her bones, muscles, and future quality of life. As she explains, “This is about being strong and fit and vibrant when you are in your 60s, 70s, and beyond.”

Discipline, nutrition, and the mindset shift

Landers’ Instagram features the septuagenarian dancing on cruise ships in bikinis that women half her age would covet. But behind that confidence is discipline. “It requires an enormous amount of discipline. Discipline in all areas,” she stresses.

That means fueling her body with purpose. “I am a pescatarian,” she reveals. “I realized that to get enough protein, which is so important, I needed to eat a little bit more. So I started eating seafood, fish, and I do eat eggs and egg whites.” Weightlifting demands nourishment, and she doesn’t skimp on what makes her stronger.

The bigger picture

Landers’ motto—“no old speak”—says it all. She refuses to let stereotypes about aging dictate what her life should look like. Whether she’s competing on stage, training with weights, or out-dancing everyone on a cruise ship, she embodies possibility.“I really appreciate this opportunity because I feel like we’ve got to spread the word that there’s so much life over 50. You know, ladies need to know that,” she tells Sachse.

Sachse sums it up perfectly: “It is never too late to redefine your story. And do it in a sparkling bikini, no less.”

Read Next

• Keep Your Culture on the Plate: ‘All on the Table’ Tackles Healthy Eating Without the Food Guilt
• From Oprah’s Wake-up Call to Your Doctor’s Office: She MD Explores Why Hashimoto’s Keeps Getting Missed
• Supplements and an Oatmeal Cookie: Lisa Rinna & Harry Hamlin Share Their Longevity Wellness Hacks on ‘LNTAH’