This is the story of a woman, Joan MacDonald, at the age of 70, who defied the odds against and changed her life by embarking on her fitness journey.
Joan MacDonald grew up in Newfoundland in a small and very remote village. When she was a girl, her family moved to Cobourg, Ontario.
She battled her weight for the most part of her life. She using food as comfort as she went through a difficult marriage. In her forties, she had high blood pressure, high cholesterol, acid reflux, and arthritis.
As she got older and her health became worse, she got depressed and felt hopeless. She was on several medications for high blood pressure, high cholesterol, acid reflux and weighed 198 pounds which were her peak.
After doctors told her she’d have to take more medication to treat her declining health, Joan MacDonald decided it was time to turn her life around.
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In 2017 she joined an online program for women and committed to getting into shape. She had no expectations. Her only goal was to get off her medication and stay out of the hospital.
Given her old age, Joan was not ready to give up as she remembered her mother’s ordeal with medication, she said;
I knew I had to do something different. I had watched my mom go through the same thing, taking medication after medication, and I didn’t want that life for myself.
Joan MacDonald to Shape
Joan decided to a make change regardless of her age
Her daughter, Michelle, grew worried about her mother’s physical and mental health over the years.
To help get her started off the right foot, Michelle coached her mom on healthy eating, taught her safe fitness exercises with gym equipment, free weights, and how to use an iPhone.
Her daughter also introduced her to apps for working out, meal planning, and keeping track of progress.
Joan followed her new exercise routine, eating habits, was trained with weights five times a week, and does cardio exercises 3 to 7 times a week.
Today Joan, who is now 73 years old, has lost 62 pounds, and her doctors have given her a clean bill of health. She no longer needs to take all the medications for her blood pressure, acid reflux, and cholesterol.
That’s not all.
Her daughter got inspired by her mom’s transformation that she created an Instagram account for her so that she could share her fitness journey with others
Well, what do you know? Joan’s account has gained more than half a million followers. Through her hard work, perseverance, and consistency. Inspiring others to embark on their journey to healthy living.
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Her health is better, she is much stronger, self-esteem increased.
I feel much better about myself now and getting compliments from younger men and women sure boosts the self-esteem.
Joan MacDonald to The Daily Mail
We are strong [and] capable of change, but we’re often viewed as fragile. I hope that more women my age embrace being pushed and appreciate that someone is interested in seeing you try harder. Even though you can’t turn back the clock, you can wind it up again.
Joan MacDonald
Isn’t she incredible? This goes well to say that AGE IS NOT A LIMIT to achieving your goal.
I hope sharing her story with you will help inspire you to commit to your goals and adopt a healthy lifestyle.