A 98-Year-Old trains harder than you. Read this and weep.

Alright, listen up. I just read an article that I’m forcing all of you to read. It’s about a 98-year-old woman named Ilse who works out four times a week. Go on, read that again. Ninety. Eight. And I can already hear the whining from here. “But I’m tired after work.” “But my knee is acting up.” “But I’m almost 40, I’m getting old.” Cry me a river. 😒

This woman, Ilse, makes your entire book of excuses look like the pathetic joke it is. Let’s break it down, because apparently some of you need things spelled out.

Your excuses are officially invalid

I spend my days listening to people invent new and creative ways to avoid moving their bodies. So let’s put those excuses up against Ilse and see how they hold up.

The "I'm too old / it's too late" excuse

According to the article from Women's Health, Ilse “began to be physically active after her husband died – when she was in her 60s.” Let that sink in. She started at an age many of you are using as an excuse to stop. Her coach, Lauren Ohayon, says “it’s never too late,” and honestly, if you still think it is after reading this, you’re just looking for a pass. You’re not getting one from me.

The "I'm injured" excuse

This is my favorite one. You get a little twinge in your shoulder and you take six months off to “let it heal,” which really means “sit on the couch and watch Netflix.” Ilse? She had meniscus surgery on her knee and broke her hip just last year. At 97. And she’s back to training four times a week. PT Sarah Campus is quoted in the article saying these exercises are “crucial to support recovery.” Movement is medicine. Your excuse is just a lack of will. This isn’t about being reckless- it’s about being smart. Ilse does what she can. You do nothing. See the difference?

The "It's too hard / i don't know what to do" excuse

Oh, you think you need a complicated, influencer-approved workout to see results? Adorable. Let’s look at Ilse’s “insanely difficult” routine:

• •Sit to stand
• •Band-resisted sit to stand
• •Staggered-stance balance

She is literally just standing up out of a chair and balancing. And she’s getting it done. You can log exercises this simple in the Workout tab of this very app. You don’t need a degree in exercise science. You need to get over yourself and just. move.

It was never about the body

Here’s the real truth, the part that should hit you like a slap in the face. Ilse’s strength isn’t just physical. The article mentions she fled Austria at 11 on a Kindertransport, leaving her family behind. She survived the unimaginable and now lives with “serious passion.”

Her commitment to fitness isn’t just about staying mobile. It’s a testament to her “strength of spirit.” It’s proof that a resilient mind builds a resilient body, no matter the age. She’s not working out despite her 98 years; she’s working out because of the life she’s lived and the fire she has inside.

So when you’re scrolling through your phone, looking for another reason to skip your workout, think of Ilse. Think about her broken hip. Think about her starting in her 60s. Think about her reason for living with passion. Your body is capable of so much more than you think. It's your mindset that’s weak.

Now what are you going to do about it?