Joan MacDonald a 73-year-old from Ontario, Canada, had hit 198 lbs and reached a size 22 after turning to food during a difficult time in her marriage.

The grandmother is showing off her shredded bod after losing 55 pounds, which she managed to do by tracking her workouts using her iPhone — according to Daily Mail.

Like most people, it took a simple struggle to jolt her into her new habits. After struggling to walk up the stairs after a knee surgery — enough was enough.

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A lot of you keep asking me how I got started. I know for those of you just beginning with this, it all seems so overwhelming and maybe you doubt yourself, and wonder if you have what it takes. I know sometimes those doubts and fears can take the wind right out of your sails before the boat even gets a chance to leave the harbor. Well, I’m here to tell you that you CAN do it, that you DO have what it takes and that all the changes that this long journey will entail will be worth it. ? . When I look back I find it difficult to remember exactly what motivated me to get started. At this point I need an old photograph or video to really remind me of where I started from. But when I really go back in time I can catch little glimpses..I start to remember how angry and easily upset I used to be, how frustrated and disheartened I used to feel. I never let people take photos of me because I couldn’t accept where I was and yet, I also couldn’t seem to change. It was a very tough place to be, and I stayed in that place for a very long time. It was a night just after New Years when I had my breakthrough. My daughter was home for a powerlifting meet, and she must have tried everything in the books to try to get me onboard with her online training program for women. She was very worried about my health, and especially because she found out I was taking pills for my heart. I remember she made up a little chant for me to help me get out of my head, and into my heart. I think at some point we can become our own worst enemy, and lose faith in our ability to take care of ourselves and to make a change for the better. I love to sing, and the words of the chant were: “My life, my body, is a gift to the Lord”. We sang it over and over again, and I cried. For me, it really helped me tap into something greater than myself. Thinking that the work I faced was a duty I owed to a force greater than me helped me out of that dark place. That idea, plus hard work, helped get me to where I am now. If my journey can help some of you light your own candle and get going, then I am at peace knowing I’ve helped you in some small way. Love Joan xo . @paulbuceta

A post shared by Joan MacDonald (@trainwithjoan) on Oct 16, 2019 at 6:05pm PDT

In January 2017, MacDonald kicked off her new healthy habit at the gym four times a week, doing cardio, and radicalized her diet by focusing on whole foods like vegetables and meat instead of the sweets and high-calorie bagels she used to regularly eat.

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?? Every time I go visit my son and daughter in Tulum I learn so much! I’m working on my Romanian Deadlift here, which Michelle says will improve my back strength as well as my glutes and the back of my legs. These are really tough! I’m only liftin 95 lbs here but boy I get winded.???? Do you do these? Do you use dumbbells or barbells? Would you like to learn these? ? . #age #aginggracefully #fitness #fitover70 #deadlift

A post shared by Joan MacDonald (@trainwithjoan) on Jul 2, 2019 at 9:18am PDT

MacDonald told Daily Mail, “I was on a meal plan set up by [daughter] Michelle with ‘X’ number of calories; primarily protein, carbs and good fats, and as the weight and inches came down my intake of food went up.”

Naturally, people started to notice — including her husband, Joan noted, “My husband started remarking about how good I looked, and my family was so proud of my efforts.” In a year’s time she had dropped 55 lbs and a dress size.

“This fitness journey will undoubtedly improve my quality of life as I move deeper into old age. I’m very grateful for that,” she said.

Daily Mail reports, getting compliments from others – including much younger men – was not the biggest victory in MacDonald’s weight loss journey. She was able to get off of all her medications, which she used to take for high blood pressure, high cholesterol and acid reflux, among other conditions.

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How many do you think I can do by the end of the year? ?? . Okay the big trick here is us using a bench so I’m starting from the bottom position but not hanging. This has helped me a lot because I have a trick shoulder that gives me a lot of pain. Two years ago I started with the machine. Then I moved on to heavy rubber assistance bands. And finally at my daughters gym I worked my way up to unassisted chin ups. They are now one of my favorite exercises and I have a real sense of accomplishment from them. I’d love to know what your favorite exercise in the gym is, and if you do chin ups, how many can you do? Would you like an instructional video on how to do these? I think I could do that for you! ???? . #progressnotperfection #olderwomen #silverhair #oldermodel #fitover70 #chinups #inspo #fitspo #stronggirls #trainwithjoan

A post shared by Joan MacDonald (@trainwithjoan) on Sep 13, 2019 at 6:32am PDT

Watch and follow her journey on her Instagram account Train With Joan.