Meet Ans

I am very proud to post this article today! Today’s article is written by my childhood neighbor; Ans.

I was born and raised in the Netherlands and have always lived in a small town close to Amsterdam. For the largest part of my youth, I lived with my parents, 2 sisters, and brother next to Ans and Bert.

Ans and Bert always were very active at sport. When I was a teenager and went to our local gym, I was sure Bert would be there as well working on his fitness. They both always have been a huge inspiration to me and therefore I would like to share Ans’ story as I am sure she can inspire many other people. She is now 73 years old and still hits the gym 3 times a week:

“I started going to the gym when I was 23 years old. After our fitness sessions, we always played a bit of Basketball which had kicked off my love for Basketball. So when I was 24 I joined a Basketball club: Kinzo and have played there for 13 years.

I also started horse riding when I was 33 years old which I also loved doing and I participated in many competitions. When I was 40 I decided to buy my own horse and I bought a second horse when I was 50 years old.

When I decided to stop playing Basketball I became a member at our local gym called All Sports. I did all kinds of classes there and have trained there for 30 years. Now I train at a new gym and still love it as much as many years ago.

I am 73 years old now and I still try to train 3 times a week. Unfortunately with COVID, I am a bit restricted in my training sessions

I have had a full-time job (for 32 years) and 2 beautiful children, but I always made sure to make time for my fitness and general health. When I had my horses I went straight from work to the stables and I went to the gym at the weekend and on my afternoon off on Fridays. When I retired I started training in the mornings and trained 3 to 4 times a week from CrossFit to Strength training, spinning, hiit training, and running.

I always have had a love for sports but I didn’t have the opportunity to do sports when I was young, so maybe that is where my drive and motivation comes from to push myself now I am able to do so. I never had a real goal, never have been at the top of my class. I just wanted to be fit and strong and I loved the community spirit of it all.

Nutrition-wise I normally have yogurt with some muesli and a cup of tea for breakfast. I’d like to snack on a hot cross bun or a biscuit, especially after my training. I always have a proper Dutch lunch with sandwiches and a glass of milk. My afternoon snack consists of a smoothie made out of fresh fruit. My dinners are a mix of meat, vegetables, and some fats. I don’t eat lots but I do love food especially Thai food and Indian food. And don’t get me wrong I do sometimes eat sugary and fatty stuff as well :)

My lifestyle has made me act and feel younger, well that’s what most people say of me :). I feel my bodyweight is spot on, I have a high bone density and am healthy. I hardly am sick and most importantly I am happy and content. I love working in my garden and I have a small vegetable patch. I enjoy doing little jobs at the house and on sunny days I love to go for a long bike ride with my husband and enjoy all nature has to give.

I often try to explain to people how nice it is to train (especially that “after feeling”). And when you get older, it’s even more important to stay flexible and mobile. Strong joints are important to keep the strength in your arms and legs. You are never too old to start training and you will definitely feel better after each session”.

Ans