Roneo Tsu, 76, shares his persistent journey of fitness and bodybuilding.
By Justin Tai
Gym goers might have met Roneo Tsu. Being in his late 70s, he has devoted his life to lifting weights and leading a healthy lifestyle for over 50 years.
Tsu is known for being one of the most senior members in a gym he goes to, having a body that is as fit as a young athlete and a physique that is comparable to the finest bodybuilders in the field.
“As long as I can still move and walk, I will still be working out in a gym,” Tsu says.
The 76-year-old trains at the gym four days a week, three to three-and-a-half hours per session, which far exceeds the World Health Organisation’s recommended minimum duration.
While it is recommended for adults aged 65 or above to do a minimum of 150 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity throughout the week, Tsu does it in a day.
During a weekly routine, Tsu has four sets of chest press, shoulder press, bicep curls and pull ups to train his upper body. He then performs leg extensions, leg curls, hyperextension for his lower-body training.
“Quitting the gym is like going bankrupt, you would lose your years of hard-earned gains once you stopped,” he says.
Apart from his regular training, he also adopts a clean diet. He only consumes a teaspoon of olive oil daily for frying and blanching vegetables, when it comes to cooking meats like chicken and beef, an oven and a microwave oven are all he needs.
“When I cook chicken breast, I just brush a tiny bit of oil on top of it and bake it in the oven. Cooking this way tastes as delicious as searing them, and it is healthier too,” he adds.
Family and friend gatherings are inevitable, and the food is often cooked with a great amount of fat and sodium. But that does not stop Tsu from practicing his diet rules.
“I remove skin from chicken before I eat it, and I spit out pork belly fat during gatherings. Sometimes I just simply don’t eat. I often get scolded by my friends for that,” Tsu says with a laugh.
Tsu started working out when he was 21 years old. Like many amateur lifters, he initially worked out just to kill time and have fun, without much thought about his health and diet.
Turning to his 30s, Tsu witnessed his parents, relatives and even friends suffering from various chronic diseases. They had diseases like high blood pressure, diabetes and heart problems.
“My family has a history of diabetes, and I told myself I would never walk on the same path as them,” he says.
“I have never suffered from any chronic diseases, body pain and even posture problems. Even my doctor expressed shock and said I’m healthier than him,” he says. .
“I am not aiming to be strong, I just want to be healthy,” he adds.
Tsu has started following a strict workout and diet routine since then, lifting weights consistently and being wary of what he consumes every single day.
Unlike most people in his age, Tsu does not suffer from any illnesses and body pains, proving that aging does not come with diseases.
“Many say that aging surely comes with diseases, I find that thinking ridiculous and I have proved them wrong,” he says.
“When you’re still young, you must pave your path for a better health when you have the chance, otherwise it’ll be too late,” he adds.
Many consider eating, drinking, vacationing or any hedonistic activity to be enjoying life, but for Tsu, having good health is the ultimate luxury for a pleasurable life.
“I wouldn’t say I love working out, it simply is just a part of my life,” he says.
Tsu determines to continue living this way which may be seen as unbearable in the eyes of others. “Health is a give and take,” he says.
“I’m planning to lift weights and maintain this diet for the rest of my life. As long as I can still move, I will just stick to this lifestyle,” he shares.
Edited by James Cheang
Subedited by Daniel Koong
