Eddie Biggar with Fairfax County Board Supervisor Walter Alcorn (Hunter Mill) at the Reston YMCA. Biggar works on the machines once or twice a week.
Senior Living
Eddie Biggar is a resident of the senior living community Sunrise at Reston Town Center. Biggar, who is 106, recently shared his insights on healthy aging and wellness. He focuses on maintaining mobility and independence as he ages. By prioritizing exercise and self-care, Biggar maintains his physical abilities for emergencies and overall wellness.
“The more you move, the more your body stays with you,” Biggar said.
Biggar explained that he works out at the gym once or twice a week. He emphasized that staying active ensures his muscles are ready when needed in an emergency.
Biggar is well-qualified to offer this advice. At 106 years old, he possesses the lived experience of staying active and adapting to challenges. Biggar's advice is grounded in the importance of regular exercise to maintain muscle strength.
“They are there to help me keep myself out of trouble,” he said.
“If I sit, all I do is get broad. Yes, broad, that is as neat as I can put it,” Biggar said.
Despite the summer heat and bright sun bothering his eyes and limiting outdoor walks, Biggar continues to move nonetheless. Biggar recommends incorporating daily activities like climbing stairs and walking indoors to stay active when outdoor conditions are unfavorable.
“One of the things I do around here is climb stairs. I just walk out my room door, and there’s a stairway to the third floor.” While he isn’t yet ready to reach the top, he has progressed past the second-floor landing and completed the first of two sections leading upward, he said.
“You have to get up every day and put one foot in front of the other,” Biggar said.“But you have to do it right because if you do it wrong, you can wind up on the ground.”