A septuagenarian influencer has gained a legion of Instragram followers for her self-care tips and inspirational posts encouraging fans to lead a healthy lifestyle.
Joan MacDonald, 73, from Ontario, Canada, began her fitness journey three years ago and has since shed more than 65lbs (4st 9lbs) after learning how to live a healthy lifestyle from her personal trainer daughter.
Since starting her page three years ago, Joan has racked up 748,000 followers and regularly posts her workouts, as well as advice for healthy living and self care.
Joan MacDonald, 73, from Ontario, began her fitness journey three years ago and has since shed more than 65lbs after learning how to live a healthy lifestyle from her personal trainer daughter
Joan is pictured left in 2017, at 198lbs and right in January 2020 at 138lbs
On her Instagram page, Joan told her followers she trains with weights five times a week and does cardio between three and seven times a week.
Her gym sessions usually last 90 minutes, including warm ups and cool downs, and her cardio sessions can be as short as 15 minutes or as long as 45 minutes.
Speaking to Insider, Joan revealed she begins her day with a mediation to bring greater self awareness.
‘I make sure to get to bed on time every night so I can get enough rest. I also have hobbies like gardening that I do that make me feel refreshed and happy,’ she said.
She added that she also stretches to stay flexible and ease muscle tightness.
The mother also shares her favorite healthy eating tips, revealing she sticks to vegetables, wholegrains and proteins.
‘In terms of nutrition I make sure that I get all my meals in. I also make sure to not over or undereat, it’s crucial for my self-care,’ she said.
Speaking to Insider, Joan revealed she begins her day with a mediation to bring greater self awareness. She is pictured in Canada
The mother also shares her favorite healthy eating tips, revealing she sticks to vegetables, wholegrains and proteins
After using food as a way to escape a difficult time in her marriage, her weight ballooned until it peaked at 198lbs. She is now a healthy 138lbs
Joan struggled with her weight through much of her life, and after using food as a way to escape a difficult time in her marriage, her weight ballooned until it peaked at 198lbs (14st 2lbs).
She was also on various medications to help with her health, including high blood pressure, high cholesterol and acid reflux, and she found herself barely walk up the stairs after having knee replacement surgery.
At age 70, she decided to turn her life around and learned about healthy habits.
She spent two weeks in Mexico at her daughter’s annual training program and then returned to Canada where she continued healthy habits.
‘I knew Michelle cared about me and loved me prior to all of this, but through this experience I have seen new sides of Michelle’s love,’ she told Insider.
Now that’s she’s off her medication Joan says she didn’t realize she could feel this good at 70.
She added that since lockdown, she’s been missing the gym and her daughter, but self-care is more important than ever.
In 2017, Jane spent two weeks in Mexico at her daughter’s annual training program and then returned to Canada where she continued healthy habits. She is pictured working out at home
Now that’s she’s off her medication Joan says she didn’t realize she could feel this good at 70.
‘I believe self-care is important because when self-care isn’t present it means you are functioning with no boundaries.
‘Having no boundaries usually leaves you overworked and tired and that’s when you are susceptible to do things that you don’t want to do [like] overeating.’
In a 2019 interview, Joan warned others that transforming your lifestyle, and your body, is not always an easy task, admitting that there were times when she felt like throwing in the towel.
She admitted she was pretty ‘overwhelmed’ at first as it was all online, and she had to get an iPhone and learn all about apps.
‘I was in tears at times, ready to throw in the towel, but luckily, I was too darn stubborn,’ Joan recalled in October 2019.
‘My daughter and son-in-law would coach me through again and again, how to use my phone. You could say it took a village.
‘To be honest, I think what really helped me was that this time I was okay to go slowly, and just take my time.’