A Centenarian’s Journey in Fitness and Mindset
Andrew Bostinto, a 100-year-old man, continues to visit the gym six days a week, defying traditional expectations of aging. His dedication to fitness is not just about physical strength but also about maintaining a mindset that keeps him going. He believes that his mental attitude plays a crucial role in his ability to stay active and healthy.
Bostinto visits the gym five to six times a week, performing seven different exercises each session. These include chin-ups, dips, knee-ups, and ab work. His training has been consistent since he was just 12 years old. He started bodybuilding in the late 1930s and, after a 30-year career in the army, won his first Mr America title in 1977. Now, he competes in bodybuilding competitions under the Masters 100 category, organized by the National Gym Association, which he co-founded.
Despite his age, Bostinto has faced several health challenges. He has a pacemaker, a titanium knee, and has experienced a mini-stroke. He also struggles with balance and has injuries from World War II. However, he focuses on maintaining muscle mass rather than lifting heavier weights. Scientists suggest that any form of weightlifting helps reduce illness risk, improve physical fitness, and boost brain blood flow, which can aid life expectancy and prevent dementia.
Bostinto remains determined to keep exercising, stating he will continue until he stops breathing. To support his workouts, he follows a protein-heavy diet, including scrambled eggs, yogurt, and spaghetti and meatballs. He avoids alcohol, cigarettes, and performance-enhancing drugs, just as he did in his younger years.
Motivation is key for Bostinto, and he says he has plenty of it. He told Daily Mail, “I never thought about living longer when I was younger. You’re young, you work out, you’re doing good, all of a sudden the photographers are taking pictures of me, I didn’t know all this was happening.”
Born on January 11, 1925, in New York City, Bostinto always had an interest in fitness. At 12, he started training with weights and tried gymnastics. At 17, he was invited to be photographed for a bodybuilding magazine. Later, he joined the army as a machinist and spent three decades there, where he began to gain a reputation for bodybuilding. Eventually, he became a personal trainer.
In 1977, at 52, he won a Mr America title in the over-50s category at Madison Square Garden, New York. Two years later, he founded the National Gym Association, a non-profit that provides professional training certification and discourages the use of drugs to achieve fitness goals. In 1991, at 66, he married his wife Francine, who is also an avid weightlifter. The pair bonded over their love for the sport and continue to train together regularly. Bostinto said she helps challenge him and keep him strong.
Despite his achievements, Bostinto has not been officially recognized as the oldest bodybuilder in the world by the Guinness Book of World Records. According to a post from the National Gym Association, he was not given the title because he does not have a ‘Professional card’ with the International Federation of Bodybuilding and Fitness (IFBB). The current title belongs to Jim Arrington, now 93, who received the honor a decade ago.
For those wishing to live healthily into their 100s, Bostinto advises locking in the right mindset. He emphasizes the importance of living for oneself, learning about one’s body, and taking care of it by avoiding injuries and overeating.
