A 100-year-old woman has gone viral after revealing her simple but powerful fitness routine that keeps her active and thriving.
Ruth Lemay, from Virginia Beach, became a viral internet sensation in August when Instagram account ‘evrydayclub’ shared a video of her pedaling away on a recumbent bike. At 100, she was finishing a 30-minute, three-mile ride and casually said she’d do “30 more minutes” before walking a mile.
“I eat a lot of vegetables and try to keep healthy,” she explained, adding that she goes to bed at 9:30 to make sure she gets enough rest. After retiring, she started walking four miles a day and never looked back.
100-year-old’s healthy lifestyle goes viral
The clip exploded online with millions of views, and Lemay’s story didn’t stop there. In an interview with TODAY, her 78-year-old daughter, Annette Parker, revealed that her mom’s active lifestyle isn’t just physical.
“She’s very, very social,” Parker said. “People stop their cars to talk to her. She probably does more talking than walking, but that’s OK.”
“I probably take it for granted because we’ve had her for so long and we just do everything together,” Parker added. “She’s always been very conscious of her diet and what she eats.”
Lemay has one indulgence: after her weekly hair appointment, she treats herself to two chili-and-onion hot dogs. “That’s my one treat a week,” she said with a smile.
She credits part of her lifestyle to her husband, to whom she was married for 56 years.
“He said, ‘You just take the dog and go for a walk and I’ll fix dinner.’ It was wonderful,” she reminisced.
The centenarian’s combination of daily movement, good sleep, healthy eating, and social connection has turned her into an inspiration for millions, proving it’s never too late to stay active.
The Surreal Practicality of Protesting As an Inflatable Frog