healthmedicinet

• John van Walwyk walks two miles to the gym three times a week
• Works through a hour-long routine of
  14 different exercises, lifting weights up to 30kg and climbing 226
  metres on the step machine
• Vegetarian says his strength comes from a diet of spinach and Guinness

By
Anna Hodgekiss

PUBLISHED:

11:11 EST, 10 December 2013

|
UPDATED:

13:26 EST, 10 December 2013

Strong: John van Walwyk, who is still pumping iron at the grand age of 90, says spinach is his secret to staying young

A great-grandfather who is still pumping iron at the grand age of 90 says spinach is his secret to staying young. 

John van Walwyk, dubbed the real-life Popeye, lives in sheltered accommodation but walks two miles to the gym three times a week.

He works through a hour-long routine of 14 different exercises, lifting weights up to 30kg and climbing 226 metres on the step machine.

Mr van Walwyk, a vegetarian, says his strength comes from a diet of spinach and Guinness to get enough protein for his biceps.

The
grandfather-of-two, who lives with wife Marjorie, 78, said: ‘We live in
a sheltered complex and most of the people here are either using frames
or walking sticks.

‘I think in some cases that’s
because they do not exercise and if this encourages people to take up
exercise I think it’s worth it.

‘I lift weights that are far heavier than the young people lift.

‘I’m a vegetarian and so my wife
feeds me spinach all the time. It’s a great source of iron that people
who lift weights usually get from meat. 

‘I also drink Guinness, which is another great way of getting iron.’

Mr van Walwyk will
celebrate his 90th birthday tomorrow and to celebrate, will give
himself a day off from the gym at Hills Road Sixth Form College in
Cambridge.

Scroll down for video

Eating his greens: Mr van Walwyk, dubbed the real-life Popeye (right), says his strength comes from a diet of spinach and Guinness to get enough protein for his biceps

 
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Comments (7)

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The comments below have been moderated in advance.

Harry,

Bedford,

2 hours ago

What a brilliant man!!!!

Tropical,

Koh Samui, Thailand,

2 hours ago

Nice Tesco advert

plengsri,

dudley,

2 hours ago

On that diet he would be a thin as a rake, I tried it, someone is telling porkies

mel,

Cadiz, Spain,

2 hours ago

Good for him, it just goes to show if you use it, you won’t lose it, but how about the Gym giving him free membership now not waiting till he’s 100!

nj,

London, United Kingdom,

2 hours ago

Wow!! Hats off Sir RESPECT!!

Lee,

London England,

3 hours ago

Not bad, for a man of his age fighting against the effects of Sarcopenia well done! I think he should be looking more to protein than just iron

Bampot19,

Ladeedaville, Canada,

3 hours ago

Wow – he does not look 90! Amazing. Going to get my weights out of the cupboard right now…..

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