Think lifting over 90 kilos is reserved for burly twenty-somethings? Meet Joan MacDonald: 75 years old, seated on a gym mat, calmly doing hip thrusts with a serious barbell on her lap—while wowing 1.5 million Instagram followers in the process. If you’re looking for living proof that age really is just a number, keep reading.
The Turning Point: From Exhaustion to Insta-Inspiration
Joan didn’t always radiate energy and positivity. Just a few years ago, before her 71st birthday, she was caught in a downward health spiral: arthritis, rising blood pressure, relentless fatigue. During a doctor’s appointment, she learned things had worsened. That was her wake-up call. As she candidly told ABC News, “I was tired of being sick and tired.”
Joan decided it was time for a radical change—one that would transform her not only physically, but also mentally and emotionally. With determination (and perhaps a little nervousness!), she traveled to Mexico to join her daughter Michelle, who owns a gym and had the perfect personalized program ready.
Building New Habits: Fitness, Food, and Family
The journey began with a total lifestyle overhaul. Embracing fitness for the first time, Joan dove into a routine of five gym sessions a week—two focused on cardiovascular endurance, the rest on strength training. Why such a regimen? In her words: “I like this routine because it gives me goals.” Judging by the heavy weights and flawless form in her videos, these are goals she’s seriously smashing.
Fitness wasn’t the only change. To tackle high blood pressure and cholesterol, she reimagined her eating habits completely. Gone were the days of skipping meals and mindless snacking while busy—practices she admits to in the past. Now? She eats five meals per day, carefully tracking her intake of essential macronutrients: fats, carbohydrates, and proteins, with the help of an app.
The early days weren’t easy. More than once, Joan wanted to throw in the towel. But the encouragement of her daughter and son-in-law pushed her through the hard moments. Looking back, Joan is emphatic: without their support, “I wouldn’t be here today.”
The Results: Defiance of Age—and Illness
Her persistence paid off quickly. Within months, Joan saw the benefits of her new routine. The needle on the scale steadily moved down, and her medication list shrank by half. Fast forward five years: Joan has lost more than 30 kilos. Goodbye hypertension, high cholesterol, and gastric reflux. “It’s not magic,” she insists. “It’s work, but it’s work you can enjoy.”
Her story has inspired many, and the comments on her Instagram are filled with admiration. Words like “inspiration” and “role model” repeat often—especially because she began so late, proof it’s never too late to take charge of your health. One follower, age 73, chimed in: « Bravo! I do the same thing and I feel great, while my friends have all sorts of problems. »
Why This Matters—For All of Us
Joan’s story isn’t just personal; it’s urgently relevant. On February 15th, France’s ANSES agency raised the alarm: 38% of French people are not active enough, and among adults aged 18 to 64, a staggering 95% do not meet recommended activity levels to maintain good health. Sedentarism is out—and Joan is living proof.
For anyone seeking structure, Joan swears by the « XBX routine. » Originally developed in 1950 to enhance the fitness of Canadian air force women, it includes 10 exercises. If glute workouts are on your radar, start there—but remember good technique and injury prevention are non-negotiable.
- Consistency is key (Joan is living proof).
- Support matters—a cheerleader or two can make all the difference.
- Tracking food and nutrients isn’t just for athletes.
- Fair play and sportsmanship go beyond the gym, permeating work and life.
- Martial arts might not be for everyone, but movement in any form is worth it!
Bottom line: Joan’s journey shows that reinventing yourself is possible—at 75 or at any age. Maybe you’re not ready to hoist 90 kilos just yet, but as Joan would say, if you put in the work (and if possible, bring your family along for the ride), you can enjoy both the journey and the transformation.
John is a curious mind who loves to write about diverse topics. Passionate about sharing his thoughts and perspectives, he enjoys sparking conversations and encouraging discovery. For him, every subject is an invitation to discuss and learn.
