At 93, Jenny has no plans to slow down. While many people might associate getting older with becoming weaker or less mobile, she’s proof that it doesn’t have to mean giving up. In fact, she still does the same four exercises every single day – a simple 20-minute full-body routine that she credits with helping her feel strong, mobile and capable.‘She does this every single day and rarely misses a day unless she’s travelling – and she travels quite a lot for 93,’ her niece, Theresa Moloney, a 58-year-old PT from Canada, tells us. Theresa MoloneyTheresa MoloneyHer approach is simple: four straightforward movements, done regularly, that keep her body moving and her muscles working. It makes up part of the morning routine she has stuck to for years: Her morning routine and exercises7am: ‘Her morning starts around 7am with 30 minutes of meditation, followed by a big glass of water and about 10 minutes of stretching,’ Moloney says.7.40am: ‘She then does approximately 20 minutes of strength training’: Stair step-ups: 2 sets of 15 reps Sit-ups: 2 sets of 15 reps Plank: 2 x 30 seconds Squats against the fridge: 2 sets of 25 reps 8am: ‘She then makes her own breakfast – often avocado on rye toast with an egg or oatmeal.’11am: ‘Around 11 a.m., she heads out for her daily walk, usually meeting a friend for cappuccino, followed by volunteer work and time at her club. She doesn’t drive and never has, so she walks or uses public transit to get where she needs to go. She’ll sometimes have a short nap in the afternoon, too.’Beyond that, she ‘walks 8000-12,000 steps a day, gardens, hikes, cooks – and nothing seems to slow her down,’ Moloney says.Jenny walks 8000-12,000 steps a dayHow to do the exercises Stair step-upsStep one foot onto a stair, drive through your heel to bring the other foot up, then step back down. Alternate legs and repeat.Sit-upsLie on your back with your legs straight out on the floor. Engage your core and lift your upper body towards your knees with your fingertips at temples and elbows wide, then slowly lower back down.PlankStart on your forearms and toes, keeping your body in a straight line from head to heels. Brace your core and hold, avoiding any sagging or arching through your back.Fridge squatsStand with your back against a fridge, feet slightly in front of you. Bend your knees to lower into a squat, keeping your back against the fridge, then push through your feet to stand.How she stays motivatedExercise has always been a part of Jenny’s life, and her top tip is reframing how she thinks about working out. ‘I don’t ever think about it. I just do it before breakfast as part of my day so that I can keep moving,’ she shares. ‘Exercise just rests inside my day and it’s not something I have to get around to. I don’t have to exercise; I get to exercise.’ Moloney adds: ‘As for how long she has trained this way, I honestly can’t remember a time when she didn’t exercise. Being active has simply always been part of her life. She has never thought of it as a workout or something she had to force herself to do – it’s just part of her daily routine. And I think that’s a big part of what makes her so inspiring.‘At 93, she is still incredibly independent, active, social and involved in her community. She’s truly living some of the best years of her life.’Her dietHer nutrition has stayed consistent, too. She shared an average day of food:Breakfast: 2 eggs, avocado, and an orangeLunch: A big vegetable-packed salad with sliced chicken breastSnack: Tea and a small piece of chocolateDinner: Baked salmon, rice, sautéed carrots, broccolini, onions, and mushroomsMoloney adds: ‘If she has wine, it’s less than 1/4 cup – no more than twice a week. And yes, she still enjoys a tiny bowl of ice cream (less than 1/2 cup). She doesn’t overeat, but she never restricts joy either. It’s all about consistency, nourishment, and daily movement.’As Women’s Health UK’s fitness director and a qualified Pilates and yoga instructor, Bridie Wilkins has been passionately reporting on exercise, health and nutrition since the start of her decade-long career in journalism.
After earning a first-class degree in journalism and NCTJ accreditation, she secured her first role at Look Magazine, where she launched the magazine’s health and fitness column, Look Fit, before going on to become Health and Fitness writer at HELLO!
Since, she has written for Stylist, Glamour, Cosmopolitan, Marie Claire, Elle, The Metro, Runner’s World and Red. Today, she oversees all fitness content across Women’s Health online and in print, spearheading leading cross-platform franchises, such as ‘Fit At Any Age’, which showcases the women proving that age is no barrier to exercise.
She has also represented the brand on BBC Radio London, plus various podcasts and Substacks – all with the aim to encourage more women to exercise and show them how. Outside of work, find her trying the latest Pilates studio, testing her VO2 max for fun (TY, Oura), or posting workouts on Instagram.
