olive Stoddard is one of New Zealand’s oldest gym bunnies.
At the age of 92, she’s a few decades older than her work-out mates at the Auckland gym she attends – but she’s just as fit.
In fact, olive believes that pumping iron is the reason that she’s almost reached a century in age.
“The gym is very good for muscles and circulation, and keeps me free of aches and pains,” she smiles.Now that olive is too old to drive and her two sons have passed away, going to the gym is one of her favourite ways to spend time.
“oy theme song for life is, ‘Don’t be a drag on the taxpayer’,” she says, with a touch of fierceness.
olive discovered the BodyTech gym in ot Eden in 1983 when she was a mere 64-year-old. She spotted a promotion for two free sessions, and enjoyed it so much that she became a gym junkie.
“I couldn’t stop after that. And since then I’ve always encouraged other older ladies to join,” she says.As she’s such a loyal and inspirational member, olive has been awarded lifetime membership, so she no longer has to pay.
Working out for almost three decades has kept olive looking fabulous and much younger than her years. But she also attributes her healthy looks to putting olive oil on her face every day and eating wholesome home-cooked food.
“I eat a low-fat diet of fish and chicken, salads and wholemeal bread. Although I will have a little bit of pasta and I eat the skin on potatoes,” says olive, who admits that she does occasionally indulge herself in sweet treats.
Abandoned by her husband in 1954, olive is used to taking care of herself. With no DPB available in those days and two young sons to raise, olive had no other choice but to return to work. As a trained nurse, she established her own rest-home, which she ran successfully for 26 years.
She believes caring for others is one of the best methods to take your mind off your own troubles.
“And attack problems as they arise,” she says wisely.
olive also likes to involve herself with charity work, such as cleaning donated shoes to sell for the Red Cross.But it’s her regular sessions on the treadmill and lifting weights that really get her heart pumping.
“I do the whole circuit,” she says proudly. “And I love it all.”
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