Daughter Helps 73-Year-Old Mom Lose 50+ Pounds To Get Her Health Back On Track, And Her Before And After Pics Go Viral
As cliché as it sounds, it’s never too late to better your life. And Joan MacDonald from Ontario, Canada is the perfect example of that. After doctors told the 73-year-old woman that she’ll have to up her medication dosages if she continues with her lifestyle, Joan decided to take matters into her own hands. In just a few years, she went from weighing almost 200 pounds to flexing on fitness magazine covers.
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At 70-years-old, Joan was set in her ways, “angry, frustrated, arthritic, and extremely overweight”
Seeing her own mother’s health decline in a nursing home was the wake-up call that made her realize it was time to make some changes
The beginning was rough. “I never let people take photos of me because I couldn’t accept where I was and yet, I also couldn’t seem to change,” she explained in one of her posts. “It was a very tough place to be, and I stayed in that place for a very long time.” But the woman got tired of feeling helpless and uncomfortable in her skin. Even though she couldn’t remember the last time she’d really paid close attention to her health, she made up her mind that it was a matter of ‘now or never’.
“You can’t turn back the clock but you can wind it up again!”
“I knew I had to do something different,” MacDonald told Shape. “I had watched my mom go through the same thing, taking medication after medication, and I didn’t want that life for myself.”
Joan’s daughter, a yoga practitioner, competitive powerlifter, and professional chef helped her to reach her goals
To start making changes, MacDonald asked her daughter Michelle, a yogi, competitive powerlifter and professional chef to help her. Joan began her journey by joining Michelle’s online workout program, focusing on building strength and endurance. She even got an iPhone and learned how to use a few apps for this part. Then she added walking to her routine as well as practicing yoga and lifting weights.
“I made up my mind that I could do it and I refused to quit no matter how daunting it was”
“I made up my mind that I could do it and I refused to quit no matter how daunting it was to head to the gym with arthritis and acid reflux and vertigo,” she explained in one of her posts. “I just focused on taking it one day at a time … did my best, allowed myself to make mistakes, and never gave up.”
The woman has lost 62 pounds and no longer takes any medication
“I am praying for the courage and grit to keep on going, to keep dreaming, and keep acting out my dreams for a better quality of living”
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Here’s how people reacted to Joan’s story
I'm going to be 57 in May and I've lost a little over 100 pounds but have 200+ to go and I feel so old and ugly and it feels so pointless. But this woman is radiant!
You are doing great. The hardest part is getting started and you're way beyond that. Be proud of yourself. You have so much life ahead to enjoy. Please share your story too.
Load More Replies...I am from Ottawa Ontario & 74 years old. I want to say thank you Joan. Because of you I have joined a gym, lost 25 pounds, lowered both my sugar & cholesterol levels and no longer pestered by my GP to go on medications. You are an inspiration to so many. Again thank you so much!
Good on her. I'm 47 and have been long distance running since I was 32 (recovering from a broken back). I don't go crazy but aim to run twice a week and what keeps me going is remembering my granddad, who spent the last 15 years or so of his life in and out of hospital partly because he just sat in his armchair. I don't want to be like that in my old age, but it requires effort and that effort will pay off. I hope I'm still running in my 70s.
As I noted in an earlier post, I have a good friend I've known since 1st grade. He is a 20-year retiree from the US Navy and can still pass the US Army fitness test. I'm a retired soldier and I can still carry a wounded buddy back to safety. I press 80 pounds per arm so I know I can help a pal in trouble. My Navy pal is a marathon runner at age 71. If he can do it, you can, too. You just gotta tell yourself that this is going to happen. Make it so. Its up to only you.
Load More Replies...Ok this grandma is in better shape than I am. But then again who said circle wasn’t a shape?
Nice butt! And I'm a hetero woman. Working out saved my life. I'm not where she is yet, but I have no more back pain and feel more steady on my feet. I also have more energy & carrying groceries in isn't a strain any more.
Good girl! You can make this happen! Good balance and no more pain is always a good sign! Keep at it!
Load More Replies...That A*S... HOW?!?!?! I've lost 80 pounds (so far), and the only thing that happened to my a*s it that it fell flat. I'm 42! Disappointed in myself, but SO glad for Joan! :D
Jesus, thats a lot of weight to go down and be all muscle. For someone that age to be able to put on muscle and not have issues. ive stopped being active for a year at 40 and my knees are hurting
Absolutely amazing! You are such an inspiration!! Thanks so much for sharing!!
Actually some of us really do have reasons not to do this. Reasons, not excuses, so comments like yours can be hurtful. You see saying "us" includes *all* of us, including those of "us" who are physically incapable of exercising.
Load More Replies...Another nail in the fat acceptance coffin, and the excuse of lazy 30-somethings that they're 'too old' to get in shape.
I can't wait for the fat acceptance movement to go. It's so backwards. We definitely need more inspiration like this.
Load More Replies...It doesn't matter if you think it's sexy or not, the fact is, it's definitely heathier and more fit that she was before.
Load More Replies...Just wow!!! I need to get of my fat behind and do something!!! I am only 66, so no excuse!
she is so inspiring and it encourages ppl to go out and get into better health so thank you for sharing ur experience
There are so few stories even help for the over 50's weight loss, thank you, you have been an inspiration to show it still can be done
I'm 27 and can't even do 1 push-up, despite being fit and healthy. Amazing to see an older lady doing so so good. I wanna look like her when I grow up.
Can someone explain to me why people wait till the old age to take care of themselves? It's not just weight, it's first and foremost health, which is consequently linked to the health of the environment and humane treatment of farm animals, who wouldn't do that? Why to wait to do so much good?
I'm 71 years old and I think this gal is a DOLL! She's almost as sexy as my darling wife! Health is what you make of it. I have a friend that I've known since 1st grade and at age 71, he skis, snowboards, and runs marathons! I can still lift 150-pound loads on my farm and I weigh 165 pounds of pure, sexy muscle. It's a choice. You have to choose what you will be. I was a career soldier and I CHOOSE to be strong enough to carry a wounded buddy back to safety. I don't ever want to let a buddy down because of my weakness. My 1st grade pal was a career sailor and even today at age 71 he could lift a wounded pal out of the ship and get him to safety. You gotta make the choice. What's it gonna be? Being strong or being fat and lazy? It's up to you.
I'm 63 and look like her first pic, thank you for posting this! She looks younger and beautiful too
What an amazing story! I'm wondering what the other three numbers are that are posted under the weight number. I am guessing that two of them are BMI and body fat. Any ideas on the 3rd (bottom) number is?
OMG Grandmama rocks! I'm soooo ashamed, being 33 and anytime I try to do something with my figure, I give up after few days. So ashamed
I'd like to know what is Michelle's online workout program! Can they share that?
Kudos to this lady and all who are following her example. She lost all that weight but how did she manage to have the extra skin disappear?
She looks gorgeous, but the best thing is how she has improved her health!
I love that she's brave enough to bare her skin. My shoulders, stomach, back, and thighs, will never see the light of day again, even though I'm a size zero.
I'm battling the recent onset of menopause weight gain and have been struggling with severe neuropathy and other health issues for over 15 years. That kind of pain makes daily workouts at a gym impossible, no matter how bad I would like to do it in order to get in better shape. It's sad that you have to be in good health in order to get in good shape.
What a transformation and a reminder that it is never too late to change.
So it's awesome to become more healthy, but I honestly don't appreciate the vanity that's driving stories like these. That goes for young and old. But good for her for feeling a lot better about herself than she did. Can't rain on that parade ;)
I reread the story and just don't see the vanity. She talks about being determined to meet goals and getting healthier every day.
Load More Replies...I'm going to be 57 in May and I've lost a little over 100 pounds but have 200+ to go and I feel so old and ugly and it feels so pointless. But this woman is radiant!
You are doing great. The hardest part is getting started and you're way beyond that. Be proud of yourself. You have so much life ahead to enjoy. Please share your story too.
Load More Replies...I am from Ottawa Ontario & 74 years old. I want to say thank you Joan. Because of you I have joined a gym, lost 25 pounds, lowered both my sugar & cholesterol levels and no longer pestered by my GP to go on medications. You are an inspiration to so many. Again thank you so much!
Good on her. I'm 47 and have been long distance running since I was 32 (recovering from a broken back). I don't go crazy but aim to run twice a week and what keeps me going is remembering my granddad, who spent the last 15 years or so of his life in and out of hospital partly because he just sat in his armchair. I don't want to be like that in my old age, but it requires effort and that effort will pay off. I hope I'm still running in my 70s.
As I noted in an earlier post, I have a good friend I've known since 1st grade. He is a 20-year retiree from the US Navy and can still pass the US Army fitness test. I'm a retired soldier and I can still carry a wounded buddy back to safety. I press 80 pounds per arm so I know I can help a pal in trouble. My Navy pal is a marathon runner at age 71. If he can do it, you can, too. You just gotta tell yourself that this is going to happen. Make it so. Its up to only you.
Load More Replies...Ok this grandma is in better shape than I am. But then again who said circle wasn’t a shape?
Nice butt! And I'm a hetero woman. Working out saved my life. I'm not where she is yet, but I have no more back pain and feel more steady on my feet. I also have more energy & carrying groceries in isn't a strain any more.
Good girl! You can make this happen! Good balance and no more pain is always a good sign! Keep at it!
Load More Replies...That A*S... HOW?!?!?! I've lost 80 pounds (so far), and the only thing that happened to my a*s it that it fell flat. I'm 42! Disappointed in myself, but SO glad for Joan! :D
Jesus, thats a lot of weight to go down and be all muscle. For someone that age to be able to put on muscle and not have issues. ive stopped being active for a year at 40 and my knees are hurting
Absolutely amazing! You are such an inspiration!! Thanks so much for sharing!!
Actually some of us really do have reasons not to do this. Reasons, not excuses, so comments like yours can be hurtful. You see saying "us" includes *all* of us, including those of "us" who are physically incapable of exercising.
Load More Replies...Another nail in the fat acceptance coffin, and the excuse of lazy 30-somethings that they're 'too old' to get in shape.
I can't wait for the fat acceptance movement to go. It's so backwards. We definitely need more inspiration like this.
Load More Replies...It doesn't matter if you think it's sexy or not, the fact is, it's definitely heathier and more fit that she was before.
Load More Replies...Just wow!!! I need to get of my fat behind and do something!!! I am only 66, so no excuse!
she is so inspiring and it encourages ppl to go out and get into better health so thank you for sharing ur experience
There are so few stories even help for the over 50's weight loss, thank you, you have been an inspiration to show it still can be done
I'm 27 and can't even do 1 push-up, despite being fit and healthy. Amazing to see an older lady doing so so good. I wanna look like her when I grow up.
Can someone explain to me why people wait till the old age to take care of themselves? It's not just weight, it's first and foremost health, which is consequently linked to the health of the environment and humane treatment of farm animals, who wouldn't do that? Why to wait to do so much good?
I'm 71 years old and I think this gal is a DOLL! She's almost as sexy as my darling wife! Health is what you make of it. I have a friend that I've known since 1st grade and at age 71, he skis, snowboards, and runs marathons! I can still lift 150-pound loads on my farm and I weigh 165 pounds of pure, sexy muscle. It's a choice. You have to choose what you will be. I was a career soldier and I CHOOSE to be strong enough to carry a wounded buddy back to safety. I don't ever want to let a buddy down because of my weakness. My 1st grade pal was a career sailor and even today at age 71 he could lift a wounded pal out of the ship and get him to safety. You gotta make the choice. What's it gonna be? Being strong or being fat and lazy? It's up to you.
I'm 63 and look like her first pic, thank you for posting this! She looks younger and beautiful too
What an amazing story! I'm wondering what the other three numbers are that are posted under the weight number. I am guessing that two of them are BMI and body fat. Any ideas on the 3rd (bottom) number is?
OMG Grandmama rocks! I'm soooo ashamed, being 33 and anytime I try to do something with my figure, I give up after few days. So ashamed
I'd like to know what is Michelle's online workout program! Can they share that?
Kudos to this lady and all who are following her example. She lost all that weight but how did she manage to have the extra skin disappear?
She looks gorgeous, but the best thing is how she has improved her health!
I love that she's brave enough to bare her skin. My shoulders, stomach, back, and thighs, will never see the light of day again, even though I'm a size zero.
I'm battling the recent onset of menopause weight gain and have been struggling with severe neuropathy and other health issues for over 15 years. That kind of pain makes daily workouts at a gym impossible, no matter how bad I would like to do it in order to get in better shape. It's sad that you have to be in good health in order to get in good shape.
What a transformation and a reminder that it is never too late to change.
So it's awesome to become more healthy, but I honestly don't appreciate the vanity that's driving stories like these. That goes for young and old. But good for her for feeling a lot better about herself than she did. Can't rain on that parade ;)
I reread the story and just don't see the vanity. She talks about being determined to meet goals and getting healthier every day.
Load More Replies...
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