Spicewood resident Joyce Okun is pumping iron and winning gold at the age of 61. She took first place last year as the top bodybuilder in her age group at the National Physique Committee Texas State Naturals bodybuilding contest and in the NPC Adela Garcia Natural contest, both in the women’s physique competition in the 55-and-up category. 

She has been bodybuilding for most of her life and competed in her 30s. After a long hiatus, she returned to competition last year.

“I’m one of those people who believes if you have a dream or a goal, you should just do it,” she said. “I put a finite pin in it and just do it.”

Okun is originally from New Hampshire. She settled in the Highland Lakes around 2018 for the warmer weather. She and her husband, Gary, live in Spicewood, where she works as a traveling physical therapist. 

She developed a close circle of friends at The Athletic Club in Marble Falls, all women who compete in bodybuilding. They motivated her to get back into competition.

“I think you have to have a good amount of self-motivation (to compete in bodybuilding),” she said. “And if you don’t, you should hang out with people who do.”

To compete at the state level, Okun dedicates herself to a rigorous exercise routine and a strict diet that adjusts depending on how close she is to a show. She lifts weights six to seven days a week, runs 2-5 miles every morning, takes yoga classes, choreographs posing routines, and closely tracks her calorie consumption to ensure she is in peak shape when she steps on stage.

“I really like the mental and physical discipline that it takes to change your body,” she said. “I feel the same about anything else in your life.”

While The Athletic Club is her home base, she has to find other gyms to use when she is on the road for work, adding another layer of complexity to her rigorous workout regimen. That has not proven to be a big obstacle, however, not with her determination.

“I’ve trained during some very busy and difficult times in my life,” Okun said. “If you think you can’t, then the only obstacle is you. If you want to do it, do it.”

Achieving the iconic leanness of her competitors requires weeks of preparation, which involves progressively reducing calories and cutting out carbohydrates such as bread, rice, potatoes, and pasta. 

She is mostly vegetarian but occasionally eats fish to supplement her diet.

“I’m not saying I don’t eat pizza, because I do every once in a while,” she said. 

About four weeks out from competition, Okun consumes only 1,350 calories a day while working out six to seven days a week. On top of that, she runs—a lot. She calls this process of leaning out her body “shredding.”

“I hate the shredding process, but I love the results,” she said. “I like the idea of manipulating the human form. The results are really what drive me.”

To achieve the final stages of leanness—to complete the shred—she also reduces her water consumption in the days leading up to a show. During heavy training, she drinks 1-2 gallons a day. She cuts that to half a gallon a few days out and finally to just a few sips on competition day.

Okun’s chosen field, women’s physique, is judged on strong muscle development, leanness, physical symmetry, stage presence, makeup, hair, tanning, and attire, all part of a choreographed posing routine to music of the athlete’s choice. 

Women’s bodybuilding competitions include categories such as bikini, figure, wellness, femfit, physique, and pure bodybuilding. Each category has specific judging criteria and requirements that are used to determine who has the best body of the day.

Okun eats and competes naturally, which means she does not use any body-enhancing substances, like steroids or supplemental hormones, to achieve her physique. 

She is still training but has no competitions planned this spring and early summer due to a recent shoulder injury. While taking it a little easier on her upper body, she turned her focus to her legs, adding more running and anything else she could manage despite the temporary limitation.

“It’s definitely easier when you’re younger, there is no doubt about that,” she said. “But, when you tell me that you don’t have enough time, you’ve never done it before, you don’t know how, I say ‘Stop arguing for your limitations and just do it.’”

dakota@thepicayune.com