Connecticut woman, 100, who still weightlifts reveals her secret to a long life

Daily Mail​

6 days ago

At 100 years old, Mary Coroneos is sharing her secrets to a long and happy life - proving that age isn't just a number, it's something she can lift.
The Connecticut centenarian is a regular at The Edge Fitness Club in Norwalk, where she works out three times a week with a full-body resistance program focused on strengthening her arms, legs, core, and balance.
Why does she do it? 'Because it's a challenge,' Coroneos tells TODAY.com about her exercises. 'They make you feel tired, but then you feel good afterwards.'
Coroneos lives with her daughter, Athena, who describes her mom's health as 'phenomenal' and says the workouts energize her.
'I told the trainers to push her because I want her core to be strong and her legs to be strong because that's how she gets up and out,' Athena Coroneos, 65, tells TODAY.com.
'If your core is strong and your legs are strong, the probability of falling - which is high in her age group - reduces dramatically.'
Mary Coroneos turned 100 in June. She spent decades working as a teacher, with some of her former students attending her birthday celebration.
Divorced as a young woman, she was a single mom who worked four jobs to support her children, including waitressing on the weekends, her daughter says.
She credits her longevity to regular exercise, healthy eating, mental stimulation, strong social connections, and a lifelong sense of curiosity and purpose.
Coroneos has been physically active for as long as the family can remember, up and moving all the time.
She grew up on a farm in Pennsylvania inm 'very, very humble, almost impoverished beginnings,' her daughter says.
An athlete in college, she played volleyball and basketball while studying at Indiana University of Pennsylvania and went on to earn a master's degree in education from Temple University.
'My mom is very competitive. She likes to win, even to this day,' Athena Coroneos said, noting exercise has been a huge factor in her longevity. 'The body is meant to be in motion and once you stop that motion, you rust.'
Her current workout involves light resistance bands, two-pound weights and machines. She does seated rows, reverse flies, front pulldowns and leg extensions.
Depending on how she feels that day, the routine also includes sit-to-stands, low-weight leg presses, hip adduction and abduction, and seated leg curls. Coroneos also rides a recumbent bike.
'She loves a challenge,' Stephanie DiNoi, one of her trainers, told the Norwalk Hour. 'She can sustain a nice workout, and her memory is as sharp as a tack.'
Home-cooked meals were a staple in the Coroneos household. The family ate a lot of vegetables and a little meat.
Athena Coroneos remembers her mom baking bread for the family. Junk food was non-existent.
'She was really interested in health care because two of her brothers were chiropractors who believed fiercely that the body needs to be fueled with good food,' she says. 'That was what she ate when she was growing up. She never liked junk food.'
The centenarian has also never been a big eater - she stops when she's full, her daughter notes. Fish is off the menu because she doesn't care for it.
These days, Coroneos likes soup because it's nutritious, easier to eat for the centenarian, and it keeps her hydrated.
She still finds room for dessert. 'She does like chocolate. Anything that's creamy - ice cream, root beer floats with whipped cream. Loves them,' Athena Coroneos says.
Her creamy favorites list includes cream of potatoes, cream of mushrooms and New England clam chowder.
When it comes to alcohol, Coroneos likes a little sip of prosecco once in a while, but has always been a very light drinker. Alcohol was only served for special occasions in the family, her daughter notes.
'Keep active mentally and physically,' Mary Coroneos says.
The centenarian is a 'voracious reader' and uses her smartphone to look up news and information, her daughter notes.
Athena also calls her mom fiercely independent. She didn't retire until she was in her 70s and continued to be a substitute teacher into her 90s. She drove a car until she was 95.
'She has an insatiable curiosity about life,' her daughter says. 'Her mind is constantly at work.'
When asked what has helped her live a long healthy life, Mary Coroneos cites her faith and social connections.
'I would say being around people would be the answer,' she says.
'That's crucial because a big deterrent to longevity is the isolation, the depression and lack of purpose,' her daughter adds. 'She enjoys being around young people because it's vitality.'