A woman who is in the best shape of her life at the age of 70 has revealed her tips on exactly how to stay ‘toned from top to toe’.
Norma Williams, who is British but lives in Umbria, Italy, exercises seven days a week, skips lunch and keeps a close eye on her weight to ensure it stays around her ‘ideal’ 9st.
But Mrs Williams, who runs a holiday rental business, also enjoys a pastry for breakfast, daily ‘naughty snacks’ and has red wine every night.
Norma Williams, 70, pictured, who is British but lives in Umbria, Italy, exercises seven days a week, skips lunch and keeps a close eye on her weight to ensure it stays around her ‘ideal’ 9st
Mrs Williams, pictured at home in Italy, who runs a holiday rental business, also enjoys a pastry for breakfast, daily ‘naughty snacks’ and has red wine every night
The 70-year-old, pictured, who lives with husband Laurie, 80, said looking good does not mean having supermodel proportions but is about being ‘toned from top to toe’
The stunning 70-year-old, who lives with husband Laurie, 80, wrote an article on Quora about how to stay in shape in your later years.
While she admits she is blessed with a natural ‘straight up and down’ body type, she said looking good does not mean having supermodel proportions.
‘For me, an excellent shape is an upright body without excess fat, a good waistline, a flattish front (some of us will always have a small tummy) and toned from tip to toe,’ she explained.
‘An excellent shape is not to be defined by height nor figure type. You can be small or tall. You can be curvy or straight up and down (my husband’s nickname for me when I’m tanned is “liquorish stick”). Or you can be anything in between.
‘So, I am not talking fashion or glamour model stereo types here. I am talking about the body we all know to be great when we see it.’
Mrs William said her idea of an ‘excellent shape’ is an upright body without excess fat
The fitness fan exercises every day and has two 50-minute personal training sessions a week
Exercise
Mrs Williams has exercised daily since she was in her early 20s. She changes her exercise routine ‘every few months’, with her last regime including two ‘highly strenuous’ Zumba sessions a week plus a third ‘personal training’ Zumba session to ensure she got the most out of the class.
The fitness fan occasionally gives herself a day off if she is feeling tired or feels her weight is ‘good’. Her current regime is as follows…
Five days a week
7.30am: Change into gym gear and fast walk 0.75 mile uphill and climb 60 steps. At the top, fast walk six 1 mile circuits. Walk the 0.75 mile home at a brisk pace.
At home, shower and change for the day.
Mid-morning: Second walk with husband Laurie, following same 0.75mile uphill and 60 steps route from earlier in the day. At the top, complete the 1mile circuit twice, at a slower pace. Walk 0.75mile back through the town.
Mrs Williams added: ‘If I am overweight ie 0.5 kg (1.1lb) over my ideal weight of 60.5 kgs (9st 5lbs), I will repeat the [uphill walk and mile circuit].
Two days a week
7.30am: Change into gym gear and fast walk 0.75 mile uphill and climb 60 steps. At the top, complete two 1-mile circuits at a slower pace. Walk the 0.75 mile home through the town.
9am: Arrive at the gym for a 50-minute long session with a personal trainer. The trainer gives Mrs Williams varied exercises working her entire body.
Mrs Williams, pictured recently in Italy, has exercised daily since her early 20s but changes her routine every few months. She currently walks more than 2 miles every day
Norma enjoys croissant for breakfast, snacks after dinner and red wine every night
Diet
Late breakfast after exercise: Two cappuccinos and a large cornetto – a pastry similar to a croissant – with honey.
Mid afternoon snack: A banana, an orange and another piece of seasonal fruit.
Dinner: An example dinner would be chicken breast with carrots, broccoli, green beans, mushrooms in soya sauce, served in olive oil, sprinkled with seeds, cranberries and walnut pieces.
Other favourites include wholemeal pasta, salads and vegetables. She added: ‘I love olive oil and drench everything in it! I also love thin crust Napoli pizza with anchovies but I only eat that once in a while.’
Snacks: Mrs Williams does not eat between meals but enjoys ‘naughty snacks’ after dinner. A typical snack selection includes: 2-3 packets of savoury biscuits, a packet of mixed walnuts and dried cranberries, up to six dark chocolate-covered rice biscuits and a tub of low fat/no sugar Greek yoghurt with a ‘huge dollop of honey and more walnuts mixed into it’.
Drinks: Mrs Williams enjoys between half a bottle and a full bottle of red wine every night. She used to drink up to 1.5 bottles a night but has reduced her intake over the last three years and is continuing to do so. She never drinks wine before 7pm.
Mrs Williams skips lunch in favour of a dinner packed with protein and vegetables