Three times a week Debbie Craig, 60, ties on her gym shoes and for one hour sweats her way through a crossfit workout with about 30 other gym junkies all over the age of 55.
Ms Craig said the challenging class is something not many women of the generation before her would think possible.
"For my mum, it would have been seen as being selfish, with all her time being at home doing everything to keep the house and look after children," she said.
"Going to the gym would have been seen as another pressure on the family."
But attitudes towards exercise in older generations are slowly changing according to those in the central Queensland fitness industry. And getting involved at the gym has life-changing benefits for some.
It has been four years since Chris O'Neill, 70, began going to the gym in Rockhampton.
He said his parents would have benefited from regular trips to the gym.
"My dad was a sailor and never left the engine room and didn't handle retirement well," he said.
"When I retired, I started putting on weight and I would get tired doing the littlest thing, and since training I sleep better at night and feel better."
Mr O'Neill said it's not just hauling around heavy weights that has improved his health, but also meeting new people and making friends.
"It's everything from strength, conditioning, balance, cardio and now social as there is such a great social atmosphere, it makes sweating fun," he said.
For Noelene Etherden, 77, her children encouraged her to give the gym a go after a personal loss.
"I lost my hubby and I wasn't in a really good place," Ms Etherden said.
"I said they were stupid to get a woman of my age into crossfit but I came and I love it. It was intimidating as I felt I was a fish out of water but now I'm known as the cheeky one."
Generational shift
Rockhampton gym owner Sean O'Neill said he had seen a generational shift when it came to seniors taking an interest in challenging fitness programs.
His gym runs a specific program aimed at getting over 55s into Crossfit training.
"From a generational point of view, it's a lifestyle participants are trying to adopt into their every day," he said.
"They are out of the house and mixing with other like-minded people and they are accountable to each other, which is one of the biggest successes we have seen."
Mr O'Neill acknowledged some participants were intimidated at first by the challenging exercise regime, but said working out with mates soon made it enjoyable.
"These guys came in here and thought, 'Whoa! What is this?'," he said,
"But they love it and it's great to see how happy it makes them.
"Some of them really like to push themselves. Sometimes we have to hold the reins back and telling them to go easy."
Just what the doctor ordered
Getting involved in a structured exercise program later in life has numerous benefits according to Stephanie Alley, a senior postdoctoral research fellow from the School of Health, Medical and Applied Sciences at CQ University.
"Those types of organised, structured activities not only incorporate the fitness that you would get with walking, but also strength training and balance and flexibility training," Dr Alley said.
"The Australian government recommends not only doing 30 minutes of cardio [a day] but to incorporate strength training as in balance and flexibility."
Dr Alley said group classes had the bonus of offering opportunities to socialise, which made exercising more enjoyable.
"If we have good social support with our physical activity, it's great because it's about a community supporting each other," she said.
"You're not only more likely to stay being active, there are more benefits to your mental health and cognition."
Age is just a number
Brian Merry is the eldest participant at 85, and with a love for dancing also gets a kick out of performing moves using dumbbells and tension bands.
He said the gym offered a two-for-one deal on overall health.
"I always feel as long as you can keep going and doing things, it makes you feel better within yourself, and I think that's the main thing in life," he said.
"So many good friends here and that's important too."
