'Gym is my priority': Sue Prince is a national Silver Sneaker Member of the Year finalist
Sue Prince does not let her age keep her from being active. Prince, 82, makes daily visits to Anytime Fitness in Auburndale.
“The gym is my priority because I have to work out at least a half hour every day,” Prince said.
Prince made the Top 10 for the SilverSneakers Member of the Year Award and is ranked first in Florida. SilverSneakers is a nationwide benefit for men and women 65+ through their insurance.
“Here we do gym membership through the insurance and provide the classes. The silver sneaker class itself is low impact,” said Chelsea Mercer, manager at Anytime Fitness.
Mercer, 25, submitted Prince in the race after a body scan machine highly ranked Prince with her good health. The Evolt 360 considers different body measurements and a person’s age before giving them results to see how their body compares to their actual age.
“I came out 15 years younger than what I actually am. I am 82 and my body scan was 67 years old,” Prince said.
Prince has been a member of Anytime Fitness for 11 years. In 2017 she cracked her right hip ball and was told by a physical therapist she must remain active daily.
“He said if you stop that hip will lock up and you won’t be able to walk at all,” Prince said.
Prince is grateful for the classes and staff at the gym. Some SilverSneaker classes include dumbbells, resistance bands, low impact yoga and dance classes.
“The staff here is wonderful. Chelsea really encourages me,” Prince said.
Mercer says Prince brings good energy to the gym and is friendly to other members.
“She’s like our mascot. Everyone knows Sue,” Mercer said.
Growing up in Wisconsin, Prince did not see many people active in their old age.
“I was trying to think what image did I have of people in their 80s. I didn’t know very many people back in the '50s who were in their 80s. And if they were, they weren’t very healthy,” Prince said.
Not having representation fueled Prince into being active as she got older.
“I decided I was going to do everything I could to stay healthy. So, I never smoked, I never drank, I always try to do something physical,” Prince said.
Along with attending SilverSneaker classes, Prince also volunteers at her church, teaches fitness classes to seniors at another church and cleans houses.
“I just can’t sit and do nothing,” Prince said. “I grew up on a farm. You don’t have time to just sit around working on a farm.”
Breanna Rittman writes news features for The Ledger. Send your feature ideas to BRittman@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on The Ledger: Silver senior attends the gym every day
