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100-Year-Old Virginia Woman Reveals Her Daily Fitness Routine and Longevity Secrets

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Longevity is a lifestyle practice, according to 100-year-old Ruth Lemay, who went viral for sharing her vibrant energy and fitness routine.

Lemay, who lives in Virginia Beach, was featured in a video while pedaling a recumbent exercise bike at the gym, which was posted by health brand evry.day club (@evrydayclub) on Instagram.

The centenarian was asked what she does to stay so fit and “look so good” for her age, as she cycled three miles after 30 minutes.

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“Then I’ll do another 30 minutes,” she commented. “And I walk – (I’ll go) a mile.”

Lemay shared her “longevity secret”: that she started walking four miles every day after retiring.

“It’s just what keeps you going,” she says. “Lots of exercise. Lots of sleep. I go to bed at 9:30 at night and eat lots of vegetables, to try to stay healthy.”

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Lemay said she and her 78-year-old daughter attend the gym three times a week, where they usually do individual workouts.

Her sessions include recumbent cycling, angled to support the lower back, for two 30-minute stints, reaching about three miles each time.

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This is followed by a 1.4-mile walk, as Lemay currently strives to reach a mile and a half.

“When I’m not going to the rec center, I still try to walk from one end of my house to the other,” she told Women’s Health. “That’s 170 steps, 40 times, or 6,800 steps (3.22 miles).”

split image of 100-year-old Ruth Lemay and her feet walking on a treadmill

Ruth Lemay, 100, bikes and walks every day to stay healthy. (Instagram/@evrydayclub; iStock)

In an interview with TODAY.comLemay said she lived in her own home, loved to cook and drove a car until she was 98.

“I’ve always exercised,” she said. “I feel good. I might be a little tired after cycling and walking, but that’s okay. I don’t expect to not feel tired.”

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According to Lemay, her late husband of 56 years encouraged her to walk after work.

“He told me, ‘Just take the dog, go for a walk and I’ll make dinner,’” she recalls. “It was wonderful.”

Senior couple walking in a park on a path with trees in the background.

Lemay’s late husband always encouraged her to walk when she came home from work. (Lemays not shown) (iStock)

Lemay’s daughter, Annette Parker, shared with TODAY that her mother has “always been very conscious of her diet.”

This includes fat-free yogurt, nuts, oatmeal with banana and milk or a scrambled egg with toast in the morning. For protein, Lemay sticks to chicken, turkey or seafood.

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Lemay’s diet also includes red grapes, blueberries and many vegetables.

“I love vegetables. I grew up in the country and my dad grew all kinds of vegetables, and they were wonderful for you,” she said.

four senior friends talking and laughing

Maintaining social relationships and good mental health have been shown to promote longevity. (iStock)

Lemay, who has never smoked and does not drink alcohol, added: “I’m pretty healthy for my age.”

Although genetics can impact longevity, Lemay shared with TODAY that she doesn’t know anyone in her family who has lived as long as she has. His mother died of colon cancer at age 65, and his father died of heart disease at age 74.

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Aside from a heart valve replacement, the great-grandmother avoided major health complications.

In addition to paying attention to nutrition and fitness, Lemay and Parker said maintaining good mental health and a vibrant social life have been key factors in longevity.

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