It wasn't until I had my second child at 35 that I experienced so many changes with my body. During this pregnancy, I easily gained 50 pounds and couldn't lose it after he was born. As much I tried, I couldn't lose the weight, setting me up for a downward spiral of yo-yo dieting and minimal exercising. I had never been overweight! I never learned how to diet and to train to accommodate the body changes you go through as you get older.

It wasn't until I was 43 years old that I ran into a friend at the store. She looked fabulous, fit and what I always wanted to look like as a mom. I wouldn't let her leave the store until she told me everything she was doing. She told me she was competing that weekend in her first Figure competition. She had been working with a trainer for a year and was really excited about the whole process.

It wasn't a week later that I signed up with her trainer, Joe Clark at The House of Payne - Personal Training in Lilburn, GA. Although, I had a lot of work to do and weight to lose - I stuck with it and in less than a year, I lost over 40 pounds, gained a lot of muscle and competed in my first competition with Super Natural Bodybuilding and Fitness (SNBF) in the Figure Masters Division.

For my first competition (SNBF- Atlanta October 2, 2010), I placed 2nd. 8 months later, I competed in another SNBF Emerald Classic show and placed 1st in Figure Master Division, won Overall Best Female Posing Award, Best Theme wear routine and Best Theme wear costume.

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Charlotte McDonough

• Cardio: 20 minutes
• Weighted Lunges: 4 sets of 10-12 reps
• Leg Press: 4 sets of 10-12 reps
• Hack Squat: 4 sets of 10-12 reps
• Stiff Leg Deadlift: 4 sets of 10-12 reps
• Leg Extension: 4 sets of 10-12 reps
• Standing Calves: 3 sets to failure

• Cardio: 20 minutes
• Wide Grip Lat Pulldowns: 4 sets of 10 reps
• Wide Grip Seated Row: 4 sets of 10 reps
• Assisted Pull-Ups: 4 sets of 10 reps
• Dumbbell Bent Over Row: 4 sets of 10 reps
• Underhand Close Grip Lat Pulldowns: 4 sets of 10 reps
• Cable Face Pulls: 4 sets of 10-12 reps
• Arnold Press: 4 sets of 10-12 reps
• Upright Row: 4 sets of 10-12 reps
• Rear Delt On Incline Bench: 4 sets of 10-12 reps
• Side Raises: 4 sets of 10-12 reps
• Front Dumbbell Raises: 4 sets of 10-12 reps

• Cardio: 20 minutes
• Dumbbell Incline Bench Press: 4 sets of 10-12 reps
• Dumbbell Incline Bench Flyes: 4 sets of 10-12 reps
• Dumbbell Bench Press: 4 sets of 10-12 reps
• Dumbbell Bench Flyes: 4 sets of 10-12 reps
• Standing Cable Flyes: 4 sets of 10-12 reps
• Pushups: 4 sets of 10-12 reps

• Cardio: 20 minutes
• Superset:
  Lying Leg Curl: 4 sets of 10-12 reps
  Reverse Lunges: 4 sets of 10-12 reps



• Single Legged Squat On Smith Machine: 4 sets of 10-12 reps
• Superset:
  Seated Leg Curl: 4 sets of 10-12 reps
  Step Ups: 4 sets of 10-12 reps



• Superset:
  Glute Kickback: 4 sets of 10-12 reps
  Thigh Abductor: 4 sets of 15 reps

• Cardio: 20 minutes
• Wide Grip Pull-Up: 4 sets of 10-12 reps
• Reverse Grip T-Bar Row: 4 sets of 10-12 reps
• One Arm Seated Cable Row: 4 sets of 10-12 reps
• Close Grip Pulldowns: 4 sets of 10-12 reps
• Dumbbell Pullovers: 4 sets of 10-12 reps
• Pull-Ups: 4 sets to failure

• Cardio: 20 minutes
• Dumbbell Incline Bench Press: 4 sets of 10-12 reps
• Dumbbell Incline Bench Flyes: 4 sets of 10-12 reps
• Dumbbell Bench Press: 4 sets of 10-12 reps
• Dumbbell Bench Flyes: 4 sets of 10-12 reps
• Standing Cable Flyes: 4 sets of 10-12 reps
• Pushups: 4 sets of 10-12 reps

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Charlotte McDonough

• 5 egg whites
• 1/3 cup oats
• 13 blueberries

• 1 scoop whey protein isolate

Or

• 3 egg whites
• 1 small apple

• 6 oz chicken or turkey
• 1 small sweet potato
• 1 cup greens (broccoli, green beans or asparagus)

• 6 oz chicken or turkey
• 1 cup greens (broccoli, green beans or asparagus)

• 6 oz chicken or turkey
• 1 cup greens (broccoli, green beans or asparagus)
• 1 small sweet potato

• 6 oz Greek yogurt

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Charlotte McDonough

• Top Secret Multivitamin: 1 cap

• Flaxseed Oil: 1 softgel (1,000 Mg)

• Beverly International Joint Care: 2 caps

• Syntrax Nectar Strawberry Kiwi: 1 scoop

• Top Secret N.O. 370: 1 scoop
• Top Secret Astravar: 1 cap

What Motivates You To Follow A Healthy Lifestyle?

I motivate myself...knowing that you are never too old to get into shape or back into shape. In addition, it has also motivated me to support local causes that will highlight and bring more awareness to Child Obesity in Georgia. I want children to learn early in life that a healthy lifestyle minimizes childhood diabetes and many other diseases.

What Made You Want To Achieve Your Goals?

I just wanted to know that I could do it! Plus all my friends cheering me on during the whole entire process.

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Charlotte McDonough

What Features Do You Use On Bodybuilding.com?

Everything, especially the SuperSite articles and exercises, I have gained a great deal of knowledge from reading these articles.

Photographer Credit:

Creative Images

Trainer Credit:

Joe Clark

You Could Be Our Next Amateur Of The Week!

Male Amateurs. No longer content to sit on the sidelines? These guys & gals have gone from wimp to ripped!

Fitness Amateurs. Done with giving excuses, these ladies have given themselves the bodies they always wanted!

Teen Amateurs. These amazing teenagers have made changes in their lives that most adults only dream about!

Over 40 Amateurs. Age is no excuse for these over 40 men & women who have decided to feel and look young again!

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