Cheers to Ninety

Words of Wisdom from FitMe Wellness’ Oldest Member

At ninety years old, Carol Zaugg could be a poster child for living life on her terms—if poster children were allowed to have silver hair, a fierce tongue, and a penchant for wearing brightly colored sneakers to the gym. But that’s Carol for you: a walking, talking, weight-lifting contradiction. She’s the oldest member at FitMe Wellness, and you’d better believe she’s earned every bead of sweat on her brow.

“You’ve got to keep moving,” she says with the authority of someone who’s outlived two knee replacements, and at least a dozen fitness fads. “Otherwise, you might as well lie down and wait for the inevitable. And I’ve got better things to do.”

Her “better things” include a daily rendezvous with FitMe’s treadmill, better known as “Carol’s Treadmill”, followed with a 15-minute battle with the free weights, and ending with a leisurely stretch routine that inspires everyone who sees it.

The first thing you notice about Carol at 90 is her energy—boundless, almost annoyingly infectious. The second is her laugh, which can probably be heard all the way in the back of the club. And if you stick around long enough, you’ll see the way she’s transformed FitMe Wellness into her personal playground, community hub, and life raft.

“This place saved me,” Carol admits one morning, pausing to sip from the water fountain. “After I had a double knee replacement, I had to keep moving after graduating from physical therapy.”

Carol was 78 years old when she got her new knees. She had spent the previous dozen years retired from nursing traveling and feasting. Her weight had gotten high enough that she knew she needed to, as she says, “Lighten the load.”

Carol researched her options in Rockford, walking in and then quickly out of other gyms. She walked through FitMe’s doors in March 2013 and hasn’t left since. She utilized our award-winning personal trainers who guided her workouts and nutrition. To Carol’s surprise, she dropped nearly 50 pounds, and just as importantly, she fell in love with the place.

“I walked in, and it didn’t feel like one of those shiny gyms where everyone’s wearing spandex and looking miserable,” she says. “It was warm. Friendly. Like the Cheers of fitness. And you don’t have to be an athlete or a show-off. You just have to show up.”

Show up she does. Every day, rain or shine, before, during, and after Covid era lockdowns, Carol drives herself to FitMe Wellness. She parks her car, walks through the sun, rain, or snow to come into the club. She’s earned her space here—literally and figuratively.

Once inside, Carol dives headfirst into her routine. The staff knows her by name; the regulars vie for a spot in her orbit, hoping to get one of her famous thumbs up. Even the most stoic of gym-goers find themselves grinning when Carol is around. She’s not just a member; she’s a one-woman morale booster.

But Carol’s workouts aren’t just about staying fit. They’re about staying alive—really alive.

“Look, I’m not trying to win any bodybuilding competitions,” she says. “I’m just trying to keep this old body of mine going. And if I can have a bit of fun and make a few friends while I’m at it, why not?”

But don’t mistake Carol’s humor for frivolity. She takes her health seriously. At 90, she’s seen what happens when people let themselves stagnate.

“Movement is medicine,” she declares. “It keeps your joints from seizing up, your heart ticking along, and your spirits up. And believe me, it’s a lot cheaper than therapy.”

There’s also the social aspect. For Carol, FitMe Wellness is more than a gym; it’s a lifeline. “It’s not just about exercise,” she explains. “It’s about connecting with people. When you’re my age, loneliness can sneak up on you. But here, I’m never lonely.”

Indeed, Carol’s influence extends far beyond the gym floor. She’s become an unofficial ambassador for FitMe Wellness, encouraging everyone—young and old—to give it a try.

“No excuses,” she says, wagging a finger at anyone within earshot. “If I can do it, you can do it. Unless you’re dead. And even then, I’d suggest trying.”

Her philosophy is as simple as it is profound: keep moving, keep laughing, and keep showing up. It’s a mantra that resonates, especially in a world that often sidelines the elderly.

“I’m not going to sit at home and wait for someone to come visit me,” Carol says. “I’d rather be here, lifting weights and telling jokes and cracking a smile.”

As for the future, Carol has no plans to slow down. “I might not be the fastest,” she admits. “But I’ll be the one having the most fun. And isn’t that the point?”

In Carol’s world, it absolutely is. And if she has anything to say about it—and trust me, she always does—the rest of us could learn a thing or two from her.

So here’s to Carol Zaugg: the 90-year-old dynamo who proves that age is just a number, fitness is for everyone, and life—even with its aches and pains—is meant to be lived fully, loudly, and on your own terms. And if you’re lucky, you might just spot her at FitMe Wellness, cracking jokes and inspiring everyone to get off their butts and keep moving.