Supported by Arnold Schwarzenegger, researcher Todd M. Manini, Evertrue, and Vista Grande Villa.

A 90-year-old grandfather is proving that age is just a number, and his fitness trainer granddaughter, Jennifer Martinnn, is sharing his secrets. After a video of him exercising gained traction on Instagram, she revealed the five key habits that keep him thriving just eight months after a hip replacement.

On March 3, the fitness coach shared a short clip showing her grandfather doing some exercises.

Before sharing her grandfather’s habits that made the difference, she said, “This is my 90-year-old grandpa. He still lives alone, still drives, and even got a hip replacement eight months ago. No one believes me that he's 90, but I promise you he is.”

In the meantime, in the captioned post, she revealed the 5 things or secrets that he follows and that others can follow too. Let's dive into this.

Strength training three times a week

According to Jennifer, her grandfather “drives himself to the gym and has been consistent with lifting weights for years. His secret is consistency. His routines are basic and repetitive.”

And that philosophy completely echoes Arnold Schwarzenegger’s narrative. According to an edition of the Pump Club newsletter, the 7-time Mr. Olympia says, “the usual sentiment is that the training in your younger days protects you in your older days. That’s true, but the workouts you log during your older days resonate even more and continue to pay off later in life.

If you choose to slow down, so will your body. There’s a myth that you can’t lift as heavy as you age, but doing so is what research finds gives you the best chance at fighting off physical and mental decline.”

The next habit that Jennifer’s grandfather has includes:

Active lifestyle

According to the granddaughter, “he is active OUTSIDE of the gym”.

The 90-year-old fit man does not like to waste his time just sitting. After finishing his morning workout, he focuses on activities like “things around the house” and keeps moving.

A study by Todd M. Manini, published by the NIH in the USA, found that free-living activity energy expenditure is strongly linked to a lower risk of mortality in older adults. It suggests that adults must expend energy through any movement or activity that affects their survival rate.

Proper and pure sleep

This is another habit the 90-year-old grandfather has adopted. Martinnn said, “He takes his sleep very seriously.

He is a creature of habit and usually is in bed by 8/8:30 pm. He strives for 8 hours of sleep and also takes a non-negotiable afternoon nap.”

According to Vista Grande Villa, some benefits of proper sleep for older people include:

• It supports brain health
• It improves mood
• Sleep enhances the immune system
• It helps enhance daily functions
• Sleep is beneficial for heart health and metabolic health.

Active social life and routine lifestyle

Martinnn said her grandfather “maintains a social life and routine.”

He gets coffee with friends every.single.morning. This gives him something to look forward to and gives him routine & structure.”

According to Evertrue, socially involved and active older people feel a sense of belonging, and this can provide added health benefits, such as better cognitive function, better emotional health, and a stronger immune system.

Enjoying life

This is another factor many people lack. The fitness coach said her grandfather enjoys his life.

She added, “This one might be the most important one. He focuses on long-term consistency & balance. He eats a well-balanced diet, sleeps deep & prioritizes movement, but he still loves going out to dinner and having pizza and Manhattans 🍸🍕.”

This story about the 90-year-old grandpa shows that, at this age, when people often prefer to rest at home and be cared for by someone, there are grandparents who continue to inspire many younger generations.

For instance, Jacqueline Hooton, the popular fitness coach who recently wrote the book "Strong: The definitive guide to active aging," shares how older people can maintain a healthy version of themselves. Or, Joan MacDonald, the 80-year-old fitness influencer, communicates that it is never too late to start your fitness journey, as she started at 70.

True longevity comes from consistently balancing movement, social connection, enjoyment, strength, and rest.

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Written by

Supradeep Dutta

Edited by

Ashvinkumar Patil