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.
“My daughter got really, really concerned. She thought that if she wanted me around, she’d better intervene,” she said. In January 2017, just a few weeks after her conversation with Michelle, Joan joined a transformation group led by her daughter.
While the other women in the group were significantly younger, she was determined to make progress. She started by following Michelle’s custom workout plans and printing out PDFs of exercises before eventually upgrading to an iPad to stream instructional videos online.
“My acid reflux was horrible. I was choking all the time. I felt just awful,” Joan admitted. “I could have stopped right then, but I didn’t. I wanted something better.”
Over time, her consistency paid off. By October 2018, she was off all medications, had joined a local gym, and was receiving compliments on her developing strength and toned physique.
At first, she had been apprehensive about working out in a gym, but she quickly realized that most people were too focused on their own routines to judge others.
“I think a lot of people don’t want to start because they’re afraid they’re going to be under the microscope,” Joan said. “But, truly, everyone is too worried about their own agenda.”
Through dedicated effort, she improved not only her strength but also her overall well-being. By 2022, at nearly 76 years old, she had lost 60 pounds and could bench press 80 pounds.
Now approaching 80, Joan is living proof that it’s never too late to reclaim one’s health. She receives countless messages from followers inspired by her journey who “follow me for their parents,” she noted.
With over two million Instagram followers at the time of writing, Joan, who turns 79 in March, has used her platform to break stereotypes about aging.
“We’ve been conditioned to accept the life we have without question — that we have to go through menopause, we’re going to get fat, everything’s going to fall apart after we’re 40. But that’s not true. That’s definitely not true,” she stated.
Unlike younger fitness influencers, Joan isn’t concerned with comparisons or trends. “You can’t compare yourself to somebody else. You’re unique. As long as you’re putting your all in, it doesn’t matter what anyone else is doing,” she shared.
Her journey has become about more than just personal transformation. It’s about inspiring others to take control of their health.
“We all seemed to think the same thing — fitness changed us,” she said. “We go at it in different ways, but the goal is still the same — put the power back into the people. Let them take control of their lives.”
Joan’s Five Keys to a Healthier Life
Joan credits her success to five fundamental principles that she believes can help anyone reclaim their health, irrespective of age. The first is eating more protein.
“Eat at least 1g of protein for every pound [500g] you weigh, based on your ideal healthy body weight. The older we get, eat more not less of it,” she said.
The second tip is creating a diet rich in quality produce. “Choose vegetables from all the colors of the rainbow, as well as healthy fats like cheese, nuts, and avocado, plus quality starches like sweet potato and rolled oats,” she revealed.
The third tip is all about strength training. “Even three times a week for 30 to 45 minutes can do wonders for bringing back your reflexes, general strength, and tone. Exercising with weights is one of the best antidotes to the muscle loss and poor posture that we generally see with aging,” Joan shared.
The fourth tip involves finding more joy in your life. “Surround yourself with people who help you flourish. Do things that bring abundance into your life. You are the only one who can make yourself happy,” the 78-year-old stated.
Lastly, tip number five — keep learning. “Develop a growth mindset. Chase after things that expand your mind and challenge your thinking,” she said.
“Great advice. You are an inspiration,” one social media user shared. Another wrote, “Such great tips! Thanks!” “I love your muscle tone!” a third typed.
Joan’s transformation proves that age is not a limitation but an opportunity for growth. She reclaimed her health and inspired millions through discipline, proper nutrition, and strength training.
For those inspired by incredible transformations, Joan’s story isn’t the only one that has captivated audiences. Reality star Casey King’s “amazing transformation” amazed social media users after he lost 600 pounds.
