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Age is just a number. And Jim Shaffer has proved it. Even in his 80s, the fitness enthusiast has been hitting the gym and feels good about himself. Notably, Shaffer had a deadly habit that led his life to danger until one day when he did right by himself. Shaffer was a chain smoker till 54, and to power through such a killer habit, this Chicago-born fitness junkie opted for a gym membership. After all, old habits die hard.

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Until he joined the gym, the Shaffer didn’t know about his hidden passion. In fact, he even competed in contests, showing off his physique. For him, bodybuilding became a reason to better his lifestyle.

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Chain smoker found retreat in bodybuilding

Jim Shaffer spent his childhood in Chicago and was in a Doo-Wop group called the Premiers. After dabbling with some different job profiles, Jim wanted to do something else. And after working initially at a shoe store and then at a restaurant, he found his resort in powerlifting. As per a 2019 Facebook post by Growing Bolder, he always knew the stage was his place, and that helped him to manifest himself as a bodybuilder, regardless of his age.

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After being a smoker for a long time, Shaffer thought about changing his habits and eventually prioritized his health. Wondering what he should do to curb his urges, the then 54-year-old man took a gym membership. The gym became his safe retreat. In the blink of an eye, things started falling in place again. “I just kept cranking it up another notch”, shared Jim talking about his new addiction.

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Read More – “Wrinkles? Cellulite? Man B**bs?”: 90-Year-Old Bodybuilding Legend Sends a Powerful Message to Shut Down Haters

After a period, the gym became Shaffer’s second home. Just then, some of his gym mates suggested him to take part in the competitions. He chose to compete and came up last in a competition. However, losing didn’t shake his confidence. He kept competing and started winning. In fact, Jim started to help others. Besides his workouts, he trains others who are specially-abled.

Jim Shaffer is indeed the embodiment of the belief that if you can keep your mind over matter, every barrier curbs on its own. What do you think about their resilience? Let us know in the comments.

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Soumili Chatterjee

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Soumili Chatterjee is a pro-writer for EssentiallySports. With a Master's degree in English, Soumili's passion for sports writing has taken her on an extraordinary journey in the American sports arena. Inspired by the famous quote by ice-hockey legend Gretzky, "You miss 100% of the shots you don't take," Soumili has taken these words to heart and has made it her mission to meet her idol someday. Her relentless pursuit of her dreams has been reflected in her writing, as she delves into the world of NHL brawls, MMA principles, and bodybuilding routines with the same determination and grace as The Great One himself. Soumili's writing goes beyond just the surface level of sports, as she delves into the minds of legends like Bruce Lee, Alexander Ovechkin, and Arnold Schwarzenegger, exploring the psychology of their successes and failures. She intends to be an authority in sports psychology, marrying her passion for the sporting world, with her love for her favorite sporting icons.

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Simar Singh Wadhwa

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