73-Year-Old Woman Defies Expectations and Becomes a True Fitness Goal

• Joan MacDonald got tired of being helpless and taking maintenance meds.
• Along with proper diet, she started lifting weights and doing yoga
• She spends at least five days a week at the gym.

For most people, getting old means less activity and taking it easy. This is not the case for Joan MacDonald, a septuagenarian from Ontario who defied expectations and transformed her body into something the younger ones can only dream of.

Three years ago, MacDonald was told by her doctor that her health was quickly deteriorating. She was on maintenance medicines for high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and acid reflux.

MacDonald decided to take her health in her hands and initiated a lifestyle change.

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Here is my first 10 months of transformation, and two more recent photos, just to share with you the reality of this long, slow process that I’m still on..😅😅 The year I started was 2017. The first number is the date. Second number is my weight. Third number is my waist. Fourth number is my hips at the widest. 😅 Last number is my upper right thigh at the widest. . 🙏 That first crucial year was full of all kinds of challenges and heartbreak, but somehow I kept plugging along. I lost my mom who I still miss very, very much. I had to learn to be content with each step forward, and with each stage of my transformation. I had to really fall in love with my habits and learn to take pride in my meal planning and food prep (I’m still working on that one, trust me!). I’m sharing this with you so that those of you starting out will see what a big transformation actually looks like over the months. I get to enjoy great health and a size small body now because the woman in the photos worked her booty off to change her ways. Now I enjoy meditation, learning Spanish, using apps, and I’m medication free, and I owe it all to her! I also owe it to my future self to KEEP ON GOING and to never again take my health or my habits for granted . 💕 You can catch more of my story at 1 pm EDT at @thesocialctv today! Keep on spreading the message that deep, lasting change is possible AT ANY AGE! 🏆🏆🏆 . #transformation #fitover70.

A post shared by Joan MacDonald (@trainwithjoan) on Jan 20, 2020 at 4:54am PST

The doctor advised her that the dosages for her medicines will have to be increased unless she makes the effort to do a drastic lifestyle change.

Tired with taking multiple medications and feeling helpless with her health, MacDonald decided to make the change. She knew she had to do something different, she said. MacDonald’s mother went through the same thing and so she decided she didn’t want that kind of life.

With the help of her daughter Michelle, who has been pushing her mother to prioritize her health, MacDonald developed healthier habits.

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Thank you @gordweber for the lovely memory of me with my daughter @yourhealthyhedonista . I never in a million years could have dreamt up this chapter of my life. It just goes to show you that life is, indeed, a box of chocolates, as the great Forrest Gump once said. You just never know what you’re about to bite into. I’m grateful, and I am praying for the courage and grit to keep on going, to keep dreaming, and keep acting out my dreams for a better quality of living. Have a wonderful day everybody. You. Are. Worth it! 💕💕 . With love, Joan xo

A post shared by Joan MacDonald (@trainwithjoan) on Oct 20, 2019 at 8:23am PDT

Michelle, who is a competitive powerlifter, yogi, and an owner of a fitness club, made a workout program for her mother.

Soon MacDonald was doing walks for cardio strength and practicing yoga. She started lifting weights as well.

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🤗🤗 Every time I go visit my son and daughter in Tulum I learn so much! I’m working on my Romanian Deadlift here, which Michelle says will improve my back strength as well as my glutes and the back of my legs. These are really tough! I’m only liftin 95 lbs here but boy I get winded.😅😅😅😅 Do you do these? Do you use dumbbells or barbells? Would you like to learn these? 😀 . #age #aginggracefully #fitness #fitover70 #deadlift

A post shared by Joan MacDonald (@trainwithjoan) on Jul 2, 2019 at 9:18am PDT

Her initial focus was to establish overall strength and endurance. She exercised as much as she could while still remaining on a safer level.

Eventually, she started going for more, spending two hours at the gym, five days a week.

With hard work and consistency, MacDonald built a body that can put people 10 years younger to shame.

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I’ve now been sitting at 135 lbs give or take a few, since October. I never would have thought this was possible. Many of you are asking what I did about my loose skin. Well, the truth is I’ve done nothing about it so far. If I bend over or slouch it’s all there, and if I don’t flex my muscle I have some drooping skin like most other women my age. I’m certainly not opposed to surgery, but it’s something that would honestly scare me. Plus I’m afraid at my age of the recovery and time away from the gym. Right now I’m happy just to love where I’m at, wear flattering clothes like these pants by @womensbest , and this cute top by @forever21 . 🥰 It’s better to focus on doing the best you can with what you have, and not start fixating on things you “want to improve”. It’s a balance but an important one. Love yourself, love where you are now, and keep improving your habits. That’s the real key. 💕💕 . I’d love to hear your thoughts especially from those of you who have tried surgical procedures to take care of lose skin, etc. Are you happy? Do you recommend it? . . #fitover70 #silverhair #fitness #surgery #agingbackwards #oldladygains #transformation #weightloss.

A post shared by Joan MacDonald (@trainwithjoan) on Jan 26, 2020 at 8:01am PST

“I just get my workout out of the way first thing in the morning,” MacDonald explained. “So, usually every day at about 7 a.m., I head to the gym, then I have the rest of the day to work on other things on my schedule.”

At present, MacDonald still spends at least five days at the gym, although her workout has changed over the past three years. She dedicates two of those days for cardio, using the tower or stationary bike.

Then and Now…

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3 years ago I began this long, slow journey and now I realize that there really isn’t any end to it. Each day I move in a direction based on my choices. Each month is a new milestone. Each year I seem to have changed so completely I think I can’t change any more and yet I do.💕💕 At this point, I truly realize that we are limitless. At any moment we can make a decision to change. No matter how difficult or challenging life is, we must remain steadfast in our aim and keep inching forward. When I got started I never imagined I’d be where I am today. I just wanted to get my health back and get off my medication. Each door we step through leads to another door and then another. I hope you all keep choosing to grow! To learn to love yourself, take the best care of yourself, and dare to dream and love with your whole heart again.🙏🙏 . Pink outfit by @womensbest . . #transformation #hope #justdoit.

A post shared by Joan MacDonald (@trainwithjoan) on Feb 8, 2020 at 1:10pm PST

MacDonald didn’t just rely on exercise. She knows that her overall health also needs a change in diet. She said she was eating way less back then, but was eating the wrong kinds of food.

Now she eats more but still continues to lose weight and feel better overall .

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Boy, i never thought I would ever, ever wear tight fitting clothes like this! 🤷🏼‍♀️🤷🏼‍♀️ what in the world is happening to me? I’m supposed to be getting older, not younger! 🤣 . So many of you are asking for Michelle’s Banana Cupcake recipe and Hattie Cake recipe. Both of these are in my YouTube channel. I’ve put the link in my bio up above! 💕💕 For those of you new to following me, I am a @womensbest athlete. I joined this company last year because they 100% support women’s health and they make great products. I use their Fit Whey Protein every day. It’s easy to bake with too! 🎂🎂 Surround yourself with the best; surround yourself with people, ideas and products that help you to be your best. Life is too short! Take care of yourself ❤️❤️❤️ Please use my code JOAN10 to save some $ at the checkout 🙏 . If you make these cupcakes please tag me so I can see your hard work ladies. For more recipes follow my @yourhealthyhedonista . You can get a copy of her free ebook that I used to lose the first 50 lbs, from her website www.yourhealthyhedonista.com . Have a beautiful day. Never give up on your goals! . #weightloss #fatloss #protein #baking.

A post shared by Joan MacDonald (@trainwithjoan) on Jan 10, 2020 at 5:30am PST

Now MacDonald’s goals are less about losing weight but more on strength and power.

“I’ve been working on doing unassisted pull-ups,” she shared. “I was actually able to do a few just the other day, but I’d like to be able to do it like all the youngins. That’s my goal.”