I'm not even a third of this 100-year-old woman's age, and I have a back like a shrimp and haven't seen my abs in about 8 years. Somehow, though, this centurion is still working out regularly and putting us all to shame.
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Jerry Leo recently celebrated her 100th birthday, and to commemorate, her local gym gave her a segment on
their page. She's a testament to never giving up and has been a member of the Great South Bay YMCA since 1961.One of her favorite exercises is the plank. This requires the suspension of the body in a completely flat position, held in the air with the arms and feet. It is a huge strain on the core and is a lot harder than it looks. But, despite being 100 years old, Leo is still able to maintain the position for an incredible three minutes. If you think that's not an achievement, get on the floor and see how long you last.
100-Year-Old Leo Loves The Mental And Physical Fitness Of The Gym
Of course, taking care of her body at her age has been wonderful for her quality of life, but she says the social aspect of the gym is a huge draw, too. "The Y keeps me alive and going in all aspects of my life," she said in her interview. "The socialization is fabulous, which is good for you. I come here, and it's my new family."
She has been a member of the gym since 1961. She knows a lot of the people like family by this point. She's probably been there longer than most of the gym equipment. Her fellow gym members have some high praise for the 100-year-old gym rat.
"Her form is beautiful, and she can teach people how to do it the right way," one of her gym instructors said. And one of her classmates revealed that the centurion puts the rest of the room in their place. "She definitely puts some of the class to shame, including me," Leo's friend Marion Saturno said.
It's certainly never too late to get into shape, it seems, and we could all learn something from this 100-year-old gym addict.
