Josefina Monasterio, 71, is glad she didn't think about her age when she took up bodybuilding at age 59. I would have missed out on the past 12 years of fun and success," said the former educator, competitive athlete and author, who recently returned from the NPC Southern States Championships in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. "I took second place this year, and Im not used to that. I'm used to winning!" said Monasterio, whose enthusiasm is contagious. Dr. Josefina, as she likes to be called, was inducted in the NPC Southern States Hall of Fame in 2005 and then [won] for three years in a row starting in 2014. The Vero Beach, Florida resident recently published a book, Vibrant at Any Age, based on her lifelong journey of self-improvement. She hopes to inspire people to achieve their goals just as she has. "I reinvent myself every ten years, and so I started my 60s as a bodybuilder and now I begin my 70s as a writer," she said. "I dont impose limitations on myself. People limit themselves by age, nationality, gender, it's very frustrating. Age is a mindset." Dr. Josefinas war on ageism has rubbed off on her two daughters, both in their early thirties. "They both take care of their bodies and minds. Theyre very proud of me now and brag about me. If you give them a good foundation as a parent, know that they will always come back to their roots."