5 Longevity Lessons From a 100-Year-Old Woman Who Lifts Weights

Mary Coroneos has a busy schedule.

By mid-afternoon, she’s read through two newspapers, hit the gym, and gone to the beach. And she’s been doing it since before many of us were even born.

Coroneos turned 100 in June of this year, and she celebrated with a huge party in Norwalk, Connecticut, where she lives with her daughter.

“She’s a pistol,” her daughter Athena, 65, told Business Insider.

If you, too, want to join the centenarian club, consider her best advice for longevity, from working out regularly to enjoying the good things in life, like root beer floats in moderation.

“Just keep moving, step carefully, and look where you’re going,” Coroneos said.

Challenge yourself

Coroneos had a lively childhood, growing up in a coal mining town in western Pennsylvania. The family didn’t have much money, but she got plenty of exercise (and fun) helping her mother around the house as her father worked at the mine. In her free time, she ran wild with her four brothers, exploring the surrounding area.

“We were always doing things, hiking up in the woods, finding old artifacts,” she said.

An energetic youth, Coroneos found a way to make a game of chores, challenging her mother to see who could pick the most vegetables, or racing her siblings to complete household tasks like weaving rugs.

“It was a friendly competition,” she said. “I won quite a bit, but I was the oldest, so I tried to give them a turn.”

In high school, Coroneos was an athlete, lettering in basketball and volleyball. She also excelled academically, going on to graduate from college at 21 and later obtaining a Master’s in education from Temple University.

Athena recalled her mother’s intensive work ethic. She served as a full-time teacher into her 70s while also taking shifts at Dunkin’ Donuts to help support the family. But retirement didn’t stick — Coroneos pitched in as a substitute teacher well into her 90s and still would, if she had her way.

Athena said her mom’s extensive teaching career (which runs in the family) and lifelong competitive edge play a big role in her mom’s healthy aging.

“There’s something about it that gives you vitality. It gives you a more youthful perspective,” she said.

Build strength

That’s not to say Coroneos has slowed down much. She routinely hits the gym, working with personal trainers on strength workouts with light dumbbells, resistance bands, and weight machines. She gets her cardio in on a recumbent bike and incorporates some HIIT-style movements, like pushing a weighted exercise sled. There’s good evidence that her routine is ideal for longevity with a mix of strength and cardio exercise, including some higher intensity.

“She wants to be pushed. She needs the challenge,” Athena said.

Not even an injury can keep her out for long. After breaking two of her arm bones in a fall over the summer, Coroneos was back to the gym in about three weeks, eager to get back to the exercises that keep her feeling energized and healthy.

“It works very well,” she said. “When I don’t fall, I’m OK.”

Enjoy treats in moderation

After a century, Coroneos has her nutrition dialed in to a consistent routine that’s simple and no-nonsense.

“I’m not overeating, and I’m not drinking alcohol,” she said.

Her typical day of eating includes:

• Breakfast: two eggs with butter and a cup of tea with honey
• Lunch: chicken vegetable soup
• Dinner: “whatever Athena makes,” according to Coroneos. Chopped meatloaf was a recent menu highlight. “She loves to improvise, so I’m her victim,” she said with a laugh.
• Dessert: Coroneos loves ice cream, root beer, and especially root beer floats.

Be curious to keep your brain sharp

In addition to being physically spry, Coroneos exercises her brain regularly by keeping up with the news and learning new things whenever possible.

Growing up, Athena said the family saved up their money to take trips to Europe so she and her brother could experience different cultures and perspectives.

“I think if you have a curiosity about life and learning, it makes you less rigid. There’s a flexibility that you need for a long life,” Athena said.

Engage in your community

Exercise isn’t the only thing that keeps Coroneos going to the gym. It’s also a major social outlet, including a chance to scope out any handsome 80-somethings who might be single and looking to mingle.

“She’s a notorious flirt. She may be 100, but she’s not blind,” Athena said.

Coroneos added that a strong sense of faith has guided her life, too. “I remember that the man upstairs is in charge, then I behave better,” she said.

Over her years of teaching, Coroneos built lasting friendships with her students, many of whom joined her recent birthday party from all over the world to celebrate her 100-year milestone.

Through it all, her daughter said she’s set a strong example of how a meaningful life can keep you young.

“Longevity runs in our family, but I don’t take it for granted,” Athena said. “If you can broaden your perspective through friendship, through learning new things, you can enjoy life and have a purpose to go on. And it’s never too late to pursue.”