By Liana Jacob
MEET THE dad-of-four who sees himself as SEXIER at SIXTY and claims to have maintained the body of a TWENTY-YEAR-OLD allowing him to keep up with the younger guys he likes to date.
At 12st 2Ib, retired and former lawyer, Clayton Paterson (60), from Ohio, USA, has always been fit and active throughout his teens and in his twenties; adopting hobbies like skiing, swimming, mountain biking and running.
Despite never feeling insecure about his naturally skinny body in his twenties, Clayton would at times compare himself to his more muscular older brother, who would sometimes tease him. He became aware that he could achieve more with his body.
In December 2015, he came out as gay and has since attracting men of a wide age range thanks to his bulked up body.
Over the years, his career and duties as a father to four children, Jacob (33), Nathaniel (32), Anne (30) and Luke (23), made it difficult for him to maintain his fitness routine. It wasnāt until 2017, when Clayton discovered physique competitions, that he discovered his passion for bodybuilding.
Thanks to his newly bulked-up body, he has maintained his physique at 12st 7Ib and can comfortably socialise with his active children and their friends.
āI was in shape in my twenties but not like I am now and virtually everyone is in shape in their twenties – itās not that hard. I think it is much more striking to be this fit at sixty,ā Clayton said.
āI know that my childrenās friends are impressed with my fitness and Iād like to think that I relate well to them (the thirty-something set).
āHonestly, I donāt feel a difference with them. Yes, I donāt party like they do, and I go to bed early, but when I ski with them or have dinner, it all seems very equal. They treat me as one of them.
āNow, I recognise that I canāt live my life through my children, but I appreciate my relationship with them and their friends. I think being fit, youthful thinking, and active allows you to really fit in with any age group.
āMany people are surprised that a sixty-year-old can be this fit. I donāt want to be conceited, but I know that I have been able to maintain a body of a twenty-year-old, well from the neck down.
āI often get asked if Iām on steroids or what supplements do, I take; I do none of those and my natural testosterone level is actually above the normal range.
āI attribute that to the fact that I have maintained my muscle tone. Iām retired and have maintained my quality of life, health, fitness and sex life. I see no reason to slow down,Ā I donāt want to.
āI feel attractive, confident and the response from others has been very positive. I like to think that Iām a very sex-positive person.
āMen I have dated are impressed and often are incredulous that Iām sixty years old. I have not found that they are intimidated.
āThe age range of those that have dated is quite wide, ranging from late twenties to mid-fifties –Ā I always seem to be older.
āHonestly, maintaining my weight is easy. Iāve been blessed with a naturally thin body and healthy metabolism.
āSince Iāve never faced being overweight or out of shape, Iāve never had the challenge of ātrying to get in shapeā.Ā For me, it was always just a matter of being āmore in shapeā.
āI have been fortunate that my weight has never varied much;Ā I graduated college at 12st 2Ib and now am 12st 7Ib andĀ I still fit into my wedding tuxedo.ā
Clayton has competed in two national physique shows in 2018. He competed in the NPC Masters Nationals in July 2018 (the 50 plus age group), where he came fifth and he competed in the NPC North American Championships (the 60 plus age group), where he came third.
He says his newly muscular tone has made him feel physically fitter now than when he was in his teens and twenties.
āI was always active and fit, but I was naturally very skinny. My older brother would tease me, as he was naturally well muscled,ā he said.
āI think that that stuck in my head and made me, not self-conscious about being skinny, but more aware that I could achieve a more robust body.
āOnce my kids were mostly grown up and my career was on solid ground, I took the time to really focus on my fitness and health.
āMy children were also very supportive, and I always wanted to be a good role model for them. I got much more serious about my gym time in my early fifties and then at fifty-nine, I decided to compete in physique competitions.
āThatās when I really transformed my body into what you see today. But, while how I look is wonderful, the more important outcome is how I feel physically.
āI feel amazing;Ā healthy, strong, capable andĀ I can still ski with my kids, swim long distances, mountain bike, play my piano and bagpipes. At sixty, I donāt feel that there are any limits yet.
āI improved my diet and workout programĀ and the result is what you see today. But I like to think that I have a great life/exercise balance.
āI got a coach to help me with my workouts and diet. That substantially changed my body. Ā Now, it is simply part of my lifestyle.
āI canāt imagine not going to the gym six to seven days-a-week.Ā But as a retiree, it is much easier now than when I was working. The decision to bulk up really came when I finally, after so many years of thinking about it, decided to compete in physique.
āNot wanting to embarrass yourself in front of hundreds of people is a great motivator, but also the positive feedback from friends, family and the trainers at the gym were critical factors.
āJust get startedĀ and donāt worry what people at the gym might think of you. Really, most of them will be simply impressed that youāre at the gym or they will ignore you.
āThere are days when I donāt feel like going to the gym, but I know that once I get there and feel the energy of those around me, I will have a great work out and get inspired.
āFitness is the one thing that we can do for ourselves that will pay dividends forever. Nothing is certain, but the data is pretty overwhelming that you cut your risk of cancer, heart disease, even the common cold or fluĀ and you will keep your physical capability for years to come.ā