Working out at 100

By: Kathryn Bursch

Sun City Center, Florida – At Sun City Center you’d expect to find seniors exercising, but there’s one woman who even here treads like no other.

“I’m 100 years old today,” says Ida Wasserman from the treadmill.

That’s right. Wasserman celebrated her 100^th birthday Monday and, like she does seven days a week, she’s at the fitness center working out those centenarian kinks. “I feel good after the exercise,” she says.

Ida’s daughter Rhoda Brueggerman guides the two-hour workouts. And after three years, Wasserman has gone from using a walker to walking tall. “Just a fantastic improvement; unbelievable…never too late,” says Ron Leichtman, a fellow exerciser at the gym.

Wasserman’s favorite exercise is the rowing machine. It brings her back to Central Park in New York City and rowing there with her late husband.

And Wasserman has this advice for anyone, no matter what their age. “I would say keep active, because once you stop being active, you’re no longer much of a person.”

And so Wasserman will return to the gym tomorrow and exercise at age 100 plus one day... minus the fuss.