This woman's day, meet Reeni Tharakan, the 63-year-old powerhouse from Cherthala, who defies the notion that fitness is a tiresome task. A grandmother and devoted mother, Reeni has not only claimed over 10 gold medals for India in national and international powerlifting competitions but also excels in the art of making jams, pickles, etc.

Commencing her day at 4 AM, Reeni adheres to a fixed routine, hitting the gym in Kochi thrice a week, coupled with a dedicated daily workout regimen and a disciplined diet. The journey of a sexagenarian female powerlifter is far from easy, yet Reeni emphasizes the indispensable role of constant hard work and determination.

Once an active student involved in athletics, Reeni ventured into a gym for the first time at 53 years of age, aiming to enhance her fitness. Her coaches recognized her talent and encouraged to compete in powerlifting competitions.

Trained initially by Jagan K.G, she garnered recognition with a significant win in the 2023 International Masters Championship in Mongolia. Realizing the need for refining her technique, Reeni shifted to Beena Stevenson's gym, where she mastered powerlifting, lifting 110 kg in deadlift, 45 kg in bench press, and 70 kg in squats.

Competing in the 64-69 kg category, Reeni maintains a strict ketogenic diet with intermittent fasting with an 18-hour fasting window. Reflecting on her fitness journey, she shares, 'My last meal is at 6 PM, and I eat nothing until lunch the next day. This is what has worked for me to maintain my fitness.'

Impressively, Reeni persisted in her powerlifting routine even after overcoming a stroke, thanks to the careful guidance of her coach and unwavering support from her doctors. She asserts, 'We should not let physical setbacks become an obstacle in our road to fitness. My coach Beena is someone who continues to powerlift despite having suffered a heart attack and her records are such that they cannot be broken in the near future.'

Highlighting how exercise and a nutritious diet helped her overcome age-related challenges, Reeni encourages women to embrace a fitness regimen passionately. She also shared how exercises and nutrition saved her from issues like low bone density that plagues women after 50 years of age.

As she gears up for her next event on Saturday, Reeni expresses her commitment to the powerlifting journey, vowing to continue along this path as long as her body permits. Her husband Antony and daughters Anya and Roshina stand tall with Reeni and encourage her to continue along this path of success.