At 61 years old, Dr. Mimi Secor was working towards a doctorate in the field of nursing; however, it was taking a toll on her health.

“I was gaining weight, losing sleep, super anxious, heading in the wrong direction and realized how ironic it was that I was letting my physical and emotional health crash and burn after I’ve spent a career caring for others,” said Secor, an Onset resident.

So, she focused on fitness. It became a two-and-a-half-year journey that earned Secor a fifth place finish in her first bodybuilding show, Battle of the Godz, held on Nov. 19 in Providence, Rhode Island with the help of personal trainer Bill Anger of Fall River.

Using “Debut at 62” as a tagline, Secor entered the show in the figure novice over 40 category. After asking around, she quickly discovered her competition was mostly 20 years younger.

“I was definitely out of my comfort zone,” said said. “This is not an average activity for a 62-year-old woman.”

She wants to change that mindset though, and inspire others to workout – especially women over 50. Strength training has multiple benefits, she said, no matter how late a person starts.

To that end, she’s working on an ebook filled with fitness tips and a documentary about her transformation.

“People need to keep in mind the impossible may be more possible than they realize if they’re willing to put in the work,” said Secor.

Since starting, Secor has lost 40 pounds and 12 inches of fat off her waist while increasing core strength, balance and energy.

That intense focus on personal fitness is a fitting addition to her professional career.

For more than 40 years, Secor has been a board certified family nurse practitioner, specializing in women’s health. Currently, she is based at Just Us Women, a private practice in North Attleboro. She also travels across the country as a consultant and speaker, addressing health issues. She earned her bachelor’s degree in nursing in the 1970s and her master’s in the 1990s.

Her initial workout routine began with small steps while earning her doctorate following a nudge from her daughter, who is a professional bodybuilder and fitness trainer.

Secor would study while using an exercise bike in her living room, and she used light hand held weights to build muscle. Her routine became more intense once she had more time after earning her doctorate. Becoming "exceptionally fit" was partly spurred on by a long family history of health problems.

“I thought: ‘man, if I can buck my genetics wouldn’t that be great?’ I can get a return on my educational investment if I live another 30 years,” she said.

When she decided to start bodybuilding, Secor enlisted the help of personal trainer Bonnie Pappas from Bourne to teach her proper technique.

Initially, there was some trepidation.

“It’s very intimidating for a woman to walk into a gym,” she said. “Also, injuries are a danger if you don’t know what you’re doing.”

Getting in the best shape of her life was enough incentive to continue, she said. Plus, the jock stereotype is misleading, saying she’s found nothing but support while training.

“I was pretty clueless in the gym at first,” said Secor, whose home gym is Powerhouse Gym in Plymouth. “Recently, I was able to take off the training wheels and work independently. It’s been a two-and-half-year process.”

Ultimately, she hopes others will realize that it’s never too late to get in shape.

“My message is: it’s not too late to chase your dreams, it’s not too late to think big.”

For more information on Secor, visit her website: www.mimisecor.com or her Facebook page.