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.

MDWfeatures / Clayton Paterson
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.

MDWfeatures / Clayton Paterson
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 wasnât 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.

MDWfeatures / Clayton Paterson
âI was in shape in my twenties but not like I am now and virtually everyone is in shape in their twenties – itâs not that hard. I think it is much more striking to be this fit at sixty,â Clayton said.
âI know that my childrenâs friends are impressed with my fitness and Iâd like to think that I relate well to them (the thirty-something set).

MDWfeatures / Clayton Paterson
âHonestly, I donât feel a difference with them. Yes, I donât 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.
âNow, I recognise that I canât 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.

MDWfeatures / Clayton Paterson
âMany people are surprised that a sixty-year-old can be this fit. I donât 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.
âI often get asked if Iâm on steroids or what supplements do, I take; I do none of those and my natural testosterone level is actually above the normal range.

MDWfeatures / Clayton Paterson
âI attribute that to the fact that I have maintained my muscle tone. Iâm retired and have maintained my quality of life, health, fitness and sex life. I see no reason to slow down, I donât want to.
âI feel attractive, confident and the response from others has been very positive. I like to think that Iâm a very sex-positive person.

MDWfeatures / @falocco_swimwear
âMen I have dated are impressed and often are incredulous that Iâm sixty years old. I have not found that they are intimidated.
âThe age range of those that have dated is quite wide, ranging from late twenties to mid-fifties –Â I always seem to be older.

MDWfeatures / @photography_kf_
âHonestly, maintaining my weight is easy. Iâve been blessed with a naturally thin body and healthy metabolism.
âSince Iâve never faced being overweight or out of shape, Iâve never had the challenge of âtrying to get in shapeâ. For me, it was always just a matter of being âmore in shapeâ.

MDWfeatures / Clayton Paterson
âI have been fortunate that my weight has never varied much; I graduated college at 12st 2Ib and now am 12st 7Ib and I still fit into my wedding tuxedo.â
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.

MDWfeatures / Clayton Paterson
He says his newly muscular tone has made him feel physically fitter now than when he was in his teens and twenties.
âI was always active and fit, but I was naturally very skinny. My older brother would tease me, as he was naturally well muscled,â he said.

MDWfeatures / Clayton Paterson
âI 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.
âOnce 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.

MDWfeatures / Clayton Paterson
âMy 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.
âThatâs 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.

MDWfeatures / Clayton Paterson
âI feel amazing; healthy, strong, capable and I can still ski with my kids, swim long distances, mountain bike, play my piano and bagpipes. At sixty, I donât feel that there are any limits yet.
âI improved my diet and workout program and the result is what you see today. But I like to think that I have a great life/exercise balance.

MDWfeatures / Clayton Paterson
âI got a coach to help me with my workouts and diet. That substantially changed my body. Â Now, it is simply part of my lifestyle.
âI canât imagine not going to the gym six to seven days-a-week. 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.

MDWfeatures / Clayton Paterson
âNot 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.
âJust get started and donât worry what people at the gym might think of you. Really, most of them will be simply impressed that youâre at the gym or they will ignore you.

MDWfeatures / Clayton Paterson
âThere are days when I donât 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.
âFitness 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 flu and you will keep your physical capability for years to come.â