Iñaxi Lasa, 101, from Spain, has defied the odds to reach the remarkable milestone. The centenarian shares her secrets to a long life as she dedicates two hours a day to the gym
A 101-year-old bodybuilder who spends two hours a day in the gym has shared her secrets to longevity. Iñaxi Lasa survived World War II, breast cancer, two hip fractures, glaucoma surgery, macular degeneration, and hospitalisation for Covid-19 at the age of 98.
“And every day I fight osteoarthritis,” she declared. Now, with a following of over 130,000 on TikTok and Instagram, she is hailed as an inspiration.
The centenarian – who hails from Beasain near Bilbao, Spain – never misses a day of exercise, often accompanied by her 63-year-old son, Iñaki. Her fitness journey began when her carer suffered an injury and passed on a gym membership card to her.
She said: “I started going to the gym when I was 94, but I was already very active before that. Now in winter, I get up at 8am and go for a walk, if it’s not raining.
“Then I go to the gym with my son. We spend two hours doing strength training; we don’t do cardio at the gym,” reports the Mirror.
“Strength training makes me feel alive, and it’s also very good for my mind. At first, I had two personal trainers, but now that I’ve learned the exercises, I can do them on my own.
“And as my eyesight isn’t great, my son helps me. Exercise is the best thing an elderly person can do for their health.”
She further stated: “And it’s the best medicine for longevity.”
Iñaxi maintains a diet of fresh vegetables and poultry sourced locally. She attributes her impressive milestone of reaching 101 years to a diet rich in olive oil and vegetables which excludes two common ingredients.
The elderly fitness influencer shared: “We live in the countryside and have plenty of fruits and vegetables. “And we eat white meat, although we used to eat beef.
“But we hardly eat any flour or sugar. Any food to live longer? I’d say olive oil and vegetables. Being active is the best, but diet is also important.”
Since gaining internet fame, Iñaxi believes social media has served to “empower” senior citizens like herself. With assistance from her son, she unexpectedly amassed a following of 112,000 on TikTok.
Iñaxi explained: “We started messing about on social media like a game. We have a good time recording them, but we didn’t think anyone would pay attention to us. Social media serves to empower older people and give visibility to a community that has been hit hard by life.”
Iñaxi, who spent her career in agriculture, added: “I really like that I’m an example for other people. At least that’s what they tell me when they write to me.”
She reminisced: “I was born in 1924 in a farmhouse in the Basque Country. I was the third of five sisters; my father died when I was eight years old.
“I got married quite late at 34. My husband’s name was Gregorio, and we had one son, who is single and available. I don’t have any grandchildren. Gregorio and I worked in the fields for many years.”
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