Woman, 100, Loves To Cycle and Is the Oldest Person at Her Gym. Her 4 Tips for a Long Life

“Shall I just start with my life?” Ellen Jones asks during her phone interview. At 100 years old, she doesn’t attribute her longevity to a single recipe, a trendy supplement or a strict routine. For her, the secret to a century of life lies in how you live it: staying curious, being active and building a loving community around you. Born on February 22, 1926, in Waterford, Michigan, Jones worked as the superintendent of schools’ secretary in Pontiac, Michigan, before having her first child. The decades that followed were spent playing various sports, traveling with her husband (they highly recommend Australia and Alaska!) and working on several of her church’s volunteer committees. Four children, nine grandchildren, nine great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandson later, Jones remains the matriarch for the family and its five generations. “They’ve kept me busy! I love to go to all of their games and so forth,” she tells TODAY.com. These days, Jones makes time for her family, reading, monthly bridge games and volunteering at the community center in Waterford. In light of her athletic days, Jones had also signed up for a gym membership at Crunch Fitness, consistently working out three to five times a week with exercises she says, “make all the difference.” Here are some of her mindful tips in leading a long life. Find Your Team Jones has been a lover of exercise for most of her life, from coaching elementary school softball teams to eventually trying her own hand in sports. She spent 40 years playing golf before pivoting to volleyball and playing for the Michigan Senior Olympic Volleyball Team, “Michigan Movers.” She was 69 years old when she started. “I loved volleyball,” Jones recalls, regarding it as her favorite sport she’s played. “I was a setter for a while...and then we had a new girl come in that was much better than I was,” she says, laughing. Jones was eventually made her team’s captain. In staying involved with her center’s team for nearly 30 years, Jones traveled with her team every few years for competitions across the U.S. and made friends she still keeps in contact with now, despite no longer playing. Now, she meets with her niece’s bridge group to play once a month, and stresses the importance of staying on your feet. “I try to keep as active as I can,” she added. Keep Moving When she developed neuropathy in her feet and underwent surgery on her knees that made it too difficult to continue volleyball, Jones took up a membership at Crunch Fitness. She attributes much of her good health to her “consistent” workouts, and hits the gym as often as “three to four times a week.” “I would recommend a stationary bicycle for 30 minutes. That made all the difference,” Jones says. “It’s the best thing for my knees.” Jones has incorporated that exercise into her routine for about ten years alongside her gym friends, a few workout partners in their “mid-80s” that “keep her young.” Outside of the gym, she also looks for opportunities to move throughout the day, whether that’s walking around her neighborhood or browsing at the mall with her daughters. “Mom will remind me, ‘We haven’t been out for a walk, we’ve got to go for a walk,’” Jones’ daughter Jill Underwood tells TODAY.com. “She motivates herself.” “Just don’t sit on your fanny day-in and day-out,” Jones instructs. Establish Healthy Eating Habits Jones’ healthy habits extend well past going to the gym. The centenarian also highlighted the importance of keeping a balanced diet. She often starts her mornings with yogurt and granola, and makes sure to include protein in her diet with a chicken salad sandwich or muffin with peanut butter for lunch. Jones also took pride in never smoking or being an avid coffee drinker throughout her life. “She’s a healthy eater,” her daughter says, adding that Jones is also consistent in taking her vitamins and drinking enough water. Stay Connected Above all, Jones attributes much of her good life to the family and friends she’s surrounded herself with day after day. “Everybody congregates around her,” says Underwood. “She gets the party going.” Jones hosted the family’s Thanksgiving and Christmas holiday dinners for most of her life. Even now, as she passes the torch to her daughters and granddaughters, she remains the “heart of the party” at family events, and feels blessed that she has a “wonderful family” to rely on. “Let them do all the work,” Jones says, laughing. In addition to family, Jones has maintained friendships across her community thanks to her church, her volleyball team and her friends at Crunch Fitness. “I’ve been at (my) church since 1957,” Jones says. The centenarian has remained a loyal member of its community throughout her life, “helping” in the church offices and working on various volunteer committees. At the gym, she’ll often strike up conversations with those around her, developing friendships with other regulars. “You have to find a place as friendly as (my) gym. I’ve been very, very fortunate,” says Jones. Jones was even able to celebrate her 90th and 100th birthdays at her local Crunch Fitness, in honor of being their only 100-year-old member. “It was really fun. I made a lot of good friends, and I’ve been blessed with having good friends and a wonderful family,” Jones says. “I don’t think you could ever ask for more than that.”