Ruth Lemay did not set out to become a longevity inspiration, but a short gym video changed that fast. The Virginia Beach great grandmother was filmed pedaling a recumbent bike with the kind of energy most people hope to have at any age. When someone asked how she stays so fit and looks so good at 100, her answer sounded refreshingly practical. For her, long life is not a mystery, it is a set of daily choices.
In the clip shared by the wellness brand evry.day club, Lemay is finishing 30 minutes on the bike, about three miles, and casually mentions she will do another half hour. After that, she adds a walk, aiming for a mile and steadily building toward a mile and a half. She says she began walking four miles a day after retiring, and she still treats movement as the backbone of her routine. Her summary is straightforward, plenty of exercise, plenty of sleep, and a plate filled with vegetables.
Lemay has turned consistency into a lifestyle with her 78 year old daughter, Annette Parker. The two go to the gym three times a week, even though they usually do their own workouts once they arrive. On days she does not make it to the recreation center, Lemay still finds a way to keep moving at home. She told Women’s Health that she walks from one end of her house to the other, counting 170 steps and repeating it 40 times for a total she estimates at 6,800 steps.
Her routine is not about pretending she feels 25, and she does not sugarcoat the effort. In an interview with TODAY.com, she said she has always exercised and feels fine, even if she is a little tired after the bike and walk. She simply accepts that tired can be normal when you have earned it. She also sticks to an early bedtime, turning in around 9:30 p.m.
Lemay still lives in her own home, enjoys cooking, and kept driving until she was 98. She also credits the quiet support in her life, including her late husband of 56 years, who used to nudge her out the door after work with the dog while he handled dinner. That kind of partnership made healthy habits feel less like a chore and more like a rhythm.
Food is another place where she keeps things steady rather than extreme. Parker says her mother has always been mindful about what she eats. Breakfast might be nonfat yogurt with walnuts, oatmeal with banana and milk, or a scrambled egg with toast, while protein often comes from chicken, turkey, or seafood. Lemay also reaches for red grapes, blueberries, and lots of vegetables, a love she traces back to growing up in the country where her father grew produce.
She says she has never smoked and does not drink alcohol, and she notes she is in pretty good health for her age. Aside from a heart valve replacement, she has largely avoided major health complications. While genetics can play a role, she has pointed out that she does not know anyone in her family who lived as long as she has, and she lost her mother to colon cancer at 65 and her father to a heart condition at 74. For Lemay, that makes her everyday habits feel even more meaningful.
Lemay and Parker also emphasize what happens beyond the gym and the kitchen, keeping up mental well being and staying socially connected. The message is less about chasing a magic trick and more about building a life you want to show up for, day after day.
What do you think matters most for aging well, daily movement, simple food, strong relationships, or something else entirely? Share your thoughts in the comments.
