Lately, I’ve been paying close attention to longevity. For instance, there’s an older woman I’ve since admired for her surprising energy, beauty, and, for lack of a better word, vitality! (She was just mentioned in my newsletter- get on it if you haven’t subscribed already!) In my mind, she’s how I’d like to become when I grow older. Still fit, strong, and full of life! I don’t want to age prematurely or fall into a quick decline of poor health. So now I’m starting to look at my lifestyle with a broader lens. And because of that, I’ve since found some inspiring stories about seniors defying convention by practically putting a stop to the aging process. (To be fair, they don’t necessarily look like spring chickens, but they move and speak as if they were in their twenties!)
Of course, I had to find out the secret behind these amazing people. What was it? A superfood? A special workout? Or ancient practice? It turns out, one of the common denominators behind the majority of these cases was fitness! Although to them it wasn’t working out- it was simply staying active as much as possible on a regular basis.
Not convinced? Here are some examples that will knock your socks off!

Charles Eugster, age 96

Charles proves that building muscle isn’t a young man’s game. Everyone young and old can benefit from sculpting and shaping their bodies thanks to sound exercise! “I was 87 and realized my body was deteriorating. I had a muffin-top waist and my muscles were getting weaker and weaker. I felt so old. But because I was s vain, I didn’t like the idea of it at all. So I joined a body-building gym and employed a personal trainer who was a Mr. Universe to rebuild my body from scratch…. I feel like a youngster of 60, tops. Being fit is a wonderful thing. Before I turned 90, I got severe colds every November, but now they’ve completely stopped- I’ve had two in six years…. You see, the stupid thing is that people don’t’ realize that you can have a beach body at 90 and turn the heads of the sexy 70-year-old girls on the beach. I am living proof of that, if you eat right and exercise properly, you can be that guy at any age.” [1]

Hidekichi Miyazaki, age 105

“The Golden Bolt” is a special case in that he picked up sprinting at the tender young age of- wait for it- 90 years old. He would later become a competitive sprinter and Guinness World Record holder for the fasted man over the age of 105. According to Miyazaki, “The doctors are all surprised. It’s all about being in good health. The doctors gave me a medical examination a couple of days ago and I’m fit as a fiddle. My brain might not be the sharpest but physically I’m tip-top. I’ve never had any health problems. The doctors are amazed by me. I can definitely keep running for another two or three years…. I can’t think about retiring. I have to continue for a few more years, to show my gratitude to my fans.” [2]

V. Nanammal, age 99

Nammal is close to breaking 100 and is one of the oldest living and active yoga teachers in the world. She practices yoga (or ‘asana’) for an hour each day and credits it towards her longevity. “My grandparents introduced me to it. They would work all day at the farm in a village near Coimbatore. When they returned in the evening, they would bathe, and start doing the asanas on a mat. As a kid, I would join them. I have never visited a hospital in my lifetime…. Yoga can keep you healthy and help mitigate stress, sugar, high and low blood pressure. I wish every house had a yoga exponent and everyone lived healthy.” [3] [4]

Ernestine Shepherd, age 81

Another example of why it’s never too late to commit to an active lifestyle! Ernestine looks amazing for her age and has the right mindset to accompany her physique. Her transformative journey began just in her mid-50s and continues well into her 80s. “This exercising and training started as a result of vanity. My sister Velvet was 57 at the time, and I was 56. I lost her not long after a brain aneurysm, and I vowed to keep the promise I made over 25 years ago to continue this journey as long as I have the strength. I have the words, ‘Determined, Dedicated, and Discipline to be fit’ and that encompasses everything I do. I feel if you use your mind and follow the three Ds, you can’t fail.” [5]

Jump Into the Fountain

These extraordinary cases not only demonstrate the power of the human body, but they also slash the myth that getting old equates to being weak and immobile. Not only can you be in great shape, but you can be better than you were in your younger years! Every year is like another opportunity to advance to an even greater capacity.
If you’re ready to jump into the fountain and hold on tight to your youth, try out these tips!

• Improve Your Mindset

You can go as far as the lengths your mind is willing to go to. In other words, if you think you’re resigned to very little (or no) exercise or are coming up with excuses why you shouldn’t be working out and staying fit, then, unfortunately, that is going to be your fate. On the flipside, if you believe in your body’s ability to overcome both obstacles and age, you’ll be reaching heights you never thought possible. It’s all just a mind game at the end of the day. (Here’s a video I made about the 3 Levels of Success to help steer you in the right direction.)

• Make Exercise a Daily Habit

Something that all of the seniors I mentioned shared today was consistency. Each of them made exercise into a regular, daily habit. That gives me a bit of pride because I’ve already managed to do that for myself. Unless I’ve been really sick or injured, I’ve always stuck to my workouts. Even when I’m was busy I find ways to squeeze even a 5-minute challenge just to keep the momentum going. If you’re struggling to make a habit, then check out my post here for some very easy tips.

• Find Something That You Enjoy

In addition to staying consistent with exercise, it really helps to pick something that you actually enjoy doing. Think of it as a relationship. Not only does it take work, but it also involves attraction. If you’re forcing your way into something you hate, you’re most likely going to fall into a nasty breakup. And just because you’ve cut ties with one activity doesn’t mean you should swear off of exercise forever! So, if you absolutely hate working out in a regular gym (like I do), then why not take your workouts at home? (That’s what my ZGYM was created for!) Find ways to stay inspired so that you never fall off the wagon. What I do is constantly switch things up with different pieces of equipment (right now I’m really digging the Bosu Ball), duration, and style (going from low impact training to higher impact training). What matters at the end of the day is that you look forward to exercising. And in doing so, you’re keeping one of the healthiest habits in the world.

Now over to you. Did any of these people inspire you? How do see yourself once you reach their age? Let me know in the comments below!

Sources:

[1] https://www.vice.com/en_ca/article/nn9xzg/charles-eugster-fittest-oap-on-planet?fbclid=IwAR1GQndBo_mv8YkXSoagH-HFtCj13cEQJPVJpo-8SMtgUGH6gtKUB5e8bAM
[2] https://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/sep/25/japans-105-year-old-golden-bolt-beats-his-own-world-sprint-record
[3] https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/coimbatore/nanammal-the-yoga-grandma-wins-padma-shri/articleshow/62657160.cms
[4] https://www.thehindu.com/life-and-style/fitness/nanammal-the-98-year-old-yoga-instructor-on-her-the-secret-of-her-energy/article19102766.ece
[5] https://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/aurora-beacon-news/news/ct-abn-aurora-body-builder-st-0327-20180326-story.html