Nearly ten years ago, Joan MacDonald faced declining health and a future dependent on medication — until she made a life-changing decision. Now nearing 80, she is stronger than ever and inspires millions to take charge of their health with five important tips.
At 70 years old, Joan MacDonald found herself in a position that many older adults can relate to — struggling with health issues and relying on medication to manage them.
Living in Ontario, Canada, she had accepted that high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and acid reflux were just part of aging. However, her daughter, Michelle, saw things differently.
During a visit just before Christmas in 2016, Michelle noticed her mother was out of breath just from climbing the stairs. “I was really huffing and puffing climbing up and down the stairs,” Joan recalled.
Concerned for her mother’s future, Michelle, a fitness coach, confronted her about the reality of her situation. “Michelle just told me point-blank, ‘You don’t have to get old like everyone else does,’”
Joan said. That simple statement planted a seed of change.
Joan had been moderately active, occasionally going bowling, but frequent falls and a knee replacement in 2014 made movement more difficult.
Although she had watched Michelle compete in figure competitions and train others in fitness, she had never seriously considered exercising.
But that day, the fear of facing the same health struggles she had witnessed in her mother made her realize it was time for a change.