At an age when many people slow down, Edna Giordano is still warming up on the treadmill, lifting weights and driving herself to the gym four days a week.
At 92, the Canadian grandmother of five generations has quietly become a symbol of what active ageing can look like — not through miracle pills or extreme routines, but through consistency and movement woven into everyday life.
According to a report, Giordano did not grow up dreaming of gym workouts. In fact, she only stepped into a fitness centre at 65, after being forced to retire from her job at a local hospital. With more time on her hands, she decided to keep moving — a choice that, nearly three decades later, has reshaped how she experiences ageing.
“I don’t feel old,” she said in an interview last year. “I feel much like I did in my fifties. My body tells me when I sit too long that it’s not happy.”
That philosophy has become her compass. On days she’s not lifting weights, Giordano paints, gardens, walks her dog or climbs stairs instead of using elevators. Even short stretches of inactivity don’t sit well with her. “If I sit and watch TV for ten minutes, I jump up and do something,” she says. “I feel better right away.”
According to the report, her routine has drawn attention online thanks to her daughter, Dalyce Radtke, who regularly shares clips of their training sessions on Instagram and TikTok. The videos show Giordano doing deep squats, lunges, shoulder presses, ab exercises and even dead hangs — movements that many people decades younger struggle with.
Strength training sits at the heart of Giordano’s fitness life. She completes four hour-long gym sessions a week, alternating between upper and lower body workouts. The weights are light by design, but the repetitions are steady and controlled. “Comfortable, but not easy,” is how Radtke describes her mother’s approach.
The focus on strength is deliberate. Medical research shows that muscle loss accelerates sharply after the age of 70, increasing the risk of falls and injuries. Experts say resistance training helps slow that decline and keeps the brain-to-muscle connection responsive even in later years.
Giordano’s sessions usually begin with gentle cardio — a walk on the treadmill or time on a cross-trainer — before moving to machines, dumbbells and bodyweight exercises. Stretching always follows. Frog stretches, child’s pose and mobility drills are non-negotiable parts of her cooldown.
Walking is the second pillar of her routine. Beyond the gym, Giordano walks as much as possible in daily life. In one video shared by her daughter, she completes a brisk power walk in a park before moving seamlessly into squats, leg swings and a short jog. Doctors say walking remains one of the most effective forms of exercise for ageing adults, linked to better heart health, cognitive function and sleep quality.
Equally important is flexibility and mobility. Giordano spends time stretching her hips, hamstrings, lower back and shoulders, maintaining a full range of motion that allows her to move confidently and independently. Her mobility routine, shared online, includes simple floor exercises that require no equipment — a reminder that fitness doesn’t always mean fancy gyms or expensive tools.
Perhaps the most underestimated part of her lifestyle is what experts call NEAT — non-exercise activity thermogenesis. Giordano takes the stairs, does her own chores and even maintains the garden at her apartment building, spending hours each week digging, bending and lifting. These small movements, repeated daily, play a major role in keeping her active and energetic.
“That’s the message,” Radtke says. “You don’t have to live in the gym. Just keep moving.”
Giordano’s diet is equally straightforward. She cooks most of her meals, favouring chicken, fish, vegetables and salads. Protein is a priority, and fish is her main source. She also takes basic supplements like iron and a multivitamin. “Food is medicine,” she says, though she admits to occasional indulgences like chocolate and ice cream — enjoyed without guilt.
She has avoided major health issues, recovered easily from Covid, and recently renewed her passport for another decade. “I plan on being here,” she says with a smile. “It makes me sad when people think they have an expiry date.”
At 92, Edna Giordano isn’t chasing youth. She’s simply living fully — one workout, one walk and one active day at a time.
Also Read: When A Look At Mirror Leads To Fitness Goals: From Kohli To Dr Pachouri https://www.vibesofindia.com/when-a-look-at-mirror-leads-to-fitness-goals-from-kohli-to-dr-pachouri/
