Toni Stahl was still hitting the gym well past her 100th birthday.
The centenarian worked out three times a week, enjoying balance and strength conditioning the most. She also loved the friendships she made there.
“I do as I feel, and I like to stay active and be around people,” said Stahl, who was at Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941, survived cancer, and worked part-time into her 90s. “I still want to keep moving. If I sat down, I think I’d just give up.”
Stahl died in March, just a few days after she turned 105. It was a short death to close a long, independent life.
Like Stahl, more people are living to 100 than ever, and the trend is predicted to continue for decades. Exercise is playing a major role.
In short, longevity is having a moment.
Fitness culture is now full of discussions of the distinction between “lifespan” (how long a person might live) and “healthspan” (the period of life when you’re generally healthy and free of serious or chronic illness).
Maintaining strength, endurance, and flexibility means you’re less likely to grow frail, dependent, or sidelined by common chronic illnesses like type 2 diabetes, obesity, and heart disease.
One study published in the journal Circulation suggests that sticking to these five behaviors could extend a woman’s life at age 50 by 14 years, and a man’s by 12 years. They are:
- Don’t smoke.
- Keep a healthy weight.
- Get regular physical activity (30 minutes a day in this study).
- Consume a healthy diet.
- Drink alcohol moderately, if at all.
All five factors are tied to the top killers – cancer and diseases of your heart and blood vessels. Taking these steps can make a big difference in your quality of life, as well as your longevity.