A 100-Year-Old Bodybuilder Credits a Purpose-Driven Life for Exceptional Longevity

Highlights

• Bostinto has devoted himself to physical fitness throughout his life, committing himself to developing his physique before age 13.
• Bostinto won the Senior Mister America competition at age 52 in 1977; however, of all of his achievements, he is most proud of his 29 years of service in the US Army.
• Besides engaging in regular exercise, Bostinto eats a diet high in protein and low in carbohydrates and consumes plenty of water, all the while continuously focusing on goals related to fitness to maintain a sense of purpose.

Andrew Bostinto is now 100 years old, and over the last eight decades or so, he has trained for bodybuilding. Even at age 100, Bostinto still competes in bodybuilding competitions.

In May 2025, just four months after his 100th birthday, he won a championship belt at National Gym Association, Inc.’s physique contest. Moreover, Bostinto is the founder and CEO of the National Gym Association, Inc., a not-for-profit bodybuilding enterprise.

“I never thought about getting old. This is what I do today, I’ll do this tomorrow,” Bostinto told CNBC.

A Lifelong Commitment to Physical Fitness

Through engaging in a rigorous workout regimen spanning more than eight decades, Bostinto has demonstrated a lifelong commitment to fitness. Along these lines, he began engaging in workout routines before age 13.

“I started much younger than 13. I was working out in the park already,” he says. “I became good at it. I became a gymnast and hand balancer. Then at 17, I was already modeling.”

Andrew Bostinto Won Senior Mr. America at Age 52 in 1977

Bostinto won the honor of Senior Mr. America at age 52 in 1977, an astounding feat. Even so, as a World War II veteran, Bostinto says that among all of his achievements, he is most proud of his 29 years serving in the US Army. In relation to accomplishments, he says his best advice for people who want to attain optimal physical fitness and longevity is to practice commitment and dedication.

“Number one thing is to know what you want to accomplish,” he says. “Commit yourself to it. Be disciplined. Don’t listen to people telling you you’re wasting your time. Don’t listen to negatives.”

Andrew Bostinto’s Diet

During his younger years, while preparing for bodybuilding competitions, Bostinto ate a diet high in protein and low in carbohydrates. He also made sure to consume two fruits, two salads, and 15 glasses of water daily.

Nowadays, Bostinto does not eat as much, but he does make sure to get plenty of protein in his diet. As such, he typically eats scrambled eggs, yogurts, spaghetti, and meatballs. Furthermore, Bostinto has veered away from vices like smoking and drinking.

“I don’t overeat anything. Everything I eat, I control. I don’t want something greasy,” Bostinto says. “I never smoked, never drank.”

Andrew Bostinto’s Take on Exercise

Andrew Bostinto trains a remarkable five to six days a week, even at age 100. He tries to follow some of the same training routines he used for bodybuilding in his younger years, but has had to make workout modifications at times. For example, he made some alterations to his exercise routines when he was recovering from a stroke, as well as when managing a persistent leg issue he developed from his time serving in the military.

“Physically, I’m in good shape,” Bostinto says. “I’m here doing push-ups against the counter. But when I go to the gym, I do six [to] seven basic exercises. I do dips and [chin-ups]. I could do knee-ups. I can do ab work. I can do anything, any place, anywhere.”

Andrew Bostinto’s Mindset

Andrew Bostinto knows that what he is doing by focusing his energy on physical fitness is not ordinary for his age. However, as long as he enjoys what he is doing, he thinks he should keep doing it. As far as what Bostinto does for enjoyment, exercise has always been a sort of guiding light in his life when he needed one.

“My mother never had a penny in her pocket,” he says. “I never had a Christmas present, birthday presents. Never had anything. I dealt with it.”

Where he started in his life reminds Bostinto of just how far he has come. His remarkable progress is what motivates him to continue to work and succeed, both in bodybuilding and life in general. Furthermore, Bostinto says that he is driven by the goals he wants to achieve for himself, not the judgments or opinions of others.

“I didn’t train for other people. I remember when I was 17, some girls used to see my picture, [and say] ‘Oh, I don’t like that,’” he recalls. “I didn’t train for women. I trained for me. It’s something I was able to do, and [say], ‘Look what I did for myself.’”