In this episode of the Ruth Mac Fit Podcast, Ruth is joined by Nina, a nutrition client based in Dubai originally from Germany, who began strength training in her 40s and has since become a German national-level powerlifter. Nina shares what it really looked like in the early days, how she stopped comparing herself to younger lifters, and why a beginner mindset can be your biggest advantage when you start later.

They also break down what powerlifting actually is (squat, bench press, deadlift), why Nina’s bench became her favourite lift over time, and how community and coaching helped her stay consistent. Nina opens up about a major setback before Masters Worlds, how her goals shifted from chasing personal bests to simply qualifying safely, and what recovery has taught her about patience and perfectionism.

Find Ruth on instagram @ruthmacfit

Find Nina on instagram @berlindubai