Ruth Lemay says staying active and eating well have helped her live a long, happy life. She shares one simple exercise that always lifts her spirits—and a surprising favorite food that makes her smile every time.
At 100 years old, Ruth Lemay is still showing everyone what it means to stay active. She goes to the gym three times a week—yes, three!—where she rides a stationary bike for an hour and then walks more than a mile on the track.
Ruth still lives in her own home in Virginia Beach, Virginia. She loves to cook, used to model, and even drove herself around until she was 98.
“I’ve always exercised,” Ruth shared with TODAY.com. “I feel fine. I might be a little tired after my bike ride and walk, but that’s OK. I don’t expect not to feel tired.”
Born in June 1925, Ruth says staying active and eating well are the secrets behind her long, healthy life.
Now a proud great-grandmother, Ruth has become a bit of a star online. A video of her working out went viral on evrydayclub, an Instagram page that celebrates healthy living. The clip—where she talks about her exercise routine—has earned nearly 600,000 likes!
At 100, Ruth is living proof that age really is just a number.
The Instagram page is run by Evynn and Ryan O’Leary, a young couple who couldn’t help but notice Ruth Lemay at the gym one day. She stood out in her bright pink sweater—and because she was one of the few older people there, working out with real determination.
“We were honestly shocked when we found out she was 100 years old,” Ryan, 31, told TODAY.com. “She looks amazing for her age! The biggest lesson we’ve learned from her is that staying active really does make a difference.”
Ruth is soaking up all the attention with a big smile, says her daughter Annette Parker, who lives with her and helps care for her. The two even work out together. Annette, now 78, knows how special it is to still have her mom around.
“I probably take it for granted sometimes,” Annette admitted. “We’ve had her for so long, and we just do everything together.”
Here are Lemay’s tips for a long life:
Move Your Body
Every morning, Ruth starts her day with gentle stretches, knee raises, leg kicks, and a bit of light weight lifting. On days she’s not at the gym, she still makes sure to walk around her house to keep moving.
When she is at the gym—three times a week—Ruth hops on a recumbent bike for 30 minutes, takes a short five-minute break, and then rides for another 30 minutes. After that, she walks more than a mile on the indoor track!
“One of my favorite exercises is walking,” Ruth says with a smile. When she was younger, she used to walk four miles every single day. “That always made me feel better.”
She says her late husband, who she was married to for 56 years, helped her stay active. “He’d tell me, ‘You take the dog and go for a walk, and I’ll fix dinner,’” she remembers fondly. “It was wonderful.”
Eat a Healthy Diet
Healthy eating has always been a big part of Ruth’s life. “She’s always been very conscious of what she eats,” says her daughter, Annette Parker.
A typical breakfast might be non-fat yogurt, walnuts, and oatmeal with banana and milk—or sometimes a scrambled egg with toast. For lunch and dinner, she enjoys lean proteins like chicken, turkey, or seafood. She rarely eats beef or pork.
Ruth also loves her fruits and veggies. Her favorites include red grapes, blueberries, string beans, corn on the cob, cabbage, pickled beets, tomatoes, lettuce, squash, and onions.
“I love vegetables,” Ruth says. “I grew up in the country, and my dad grew all kinds of them. They were wonderful for you.”
Even now, Ruth still cooks for herself. She avoids salt to keep her heart healthy, doesn’t drink alcohol, and has never smoked.
With a soft laugh she adds, “I’m in pretty good health for my age.”
Enjoy a Favorite Treat
Every Friday, after getting her hair done, Ruth treats herself to something special—two hot dogs from her favorite local spot.
“That’s my one treat a week,” she says with a grin. “I like hot dogs, and I get two. They have chili on them, mustard, and lots of onions. That’s just the way I like them.”
Even at 100, Ruth believes life should include a little something to look forward to.
Genes Aren’t Everything
Ruth doesn’t come from a long line of people who lived to 100. Her mother passed away at 65 from colon cancer, and her father lived to 74 with a heart condition.
But Ruth has been lucky. Aside from one heart valve replacement, she’s never faced major health problems.
“I’ve been luckier that way,” she says gratefully.
Her story is a reminder that living well often comes down to how you take care of yourself, not just the genes you’re born with.
Be Independent
Ruth’s independence has been one of her greatest strengths. For many years, she worked at the corporate headquarters of a grocery store chain—first as a credit union manager, then as an analyst. She even negotiated her own pay raises along the way.
At one point, the company sent her to modeling school so she could help promote new products in the store—a job she remembers fondly.
Today, Ruth still lives in her own home, the same cozy place she’s had for 57 years. She even drove herself around town until she was 98!
Be Social
Ruth’s daughter, Annette, says staying social has a lot to do with her mom’s long, happy life.
“She’s very outgoing and friendly,” Annette shares. “And people just love her right back.”
Whenever Ruth steps outside, the neighbors stop their cars just to chat. Annette laughs, “She probably does more talking than walking—but that’s OK!”
The two are always on the go, attending birthdays, holiday get-togethers, and gatherings with friends. They already have visits planned for every weekend this fall.
“We’re very social people,” Annette says proudly.
Read Also: Jane Goodall’s 11 Daily Habits That Helped Her Live 91 Years
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