It’s not too often that you meet a woman who at 57 years old, earned her black belt in taekwondo.
But today’s your lucky day: Meet Anne Cuellar.
Tired of her everyday boring workouts, Anne’s friend mentioned taekwondo. “I considered myself healthy and active, but in reality I was dragging,” says Anne. Though she was uncomfortable and the sport was difficult, she kept going back. After earning her colored belts and seeing advancement, Anne decided to aim for a black belt, the highest belt color used in taekwondo.
“The grueling training was taking a toll on my body,” says Anne as she recalls preparing to take her test. “As I continued training, I gained stamina, endurance, and strength.”
Earning a black belt in taekwondo is no easy feat. Anne explains the intense two-day testing includes hours of performance and drills with squats, push-ups, lunges, stretches and sparring – sparring multiple black belts and then the instructor, who is a sixth-degree black belt. The testing finished with required board breaking and, if after it all, you do not break your boards, you don’t pass. “It’s really about endurance. For two to three months before, you’re conditioning and training, working out every day,” Anne explains.
Anne is extremely active – two days a week she’s at the gym, participating in boot camp or getting in strenuous resistance training. Three days a week she is training in taekwondo. Anne says that AdvoCare was the catalyst that changed her nutrition. “Before AdvoCare, I tried to eat better but always failed. Since AdvoCare, I quit eating foods filled with sugar and make healthier choices,” Anne admits.
At the age of 57, the grandmother of 10 earned her first-degree black belt in 2009 and is now a third-degree black belt at 63 years old. She has also earned the title of World Champion in form and sparring for her age range and rank, which she says is her crowning achievement in taekwondo.
Amazing work Anne!
Total Results: Maintained her weight, gained strength, energy and endurance and earned a black belt in taekwondo
How long: 8 years
How she did it: Changed her eating habits, cutting out fast food and sugar; Trained and conditioned five or more days a week