Welcome to the 11th and final (at least for a while) episode on super-centenarians. And this time it’s all about the queen of longevity herself, Jeanne Louise Calment. She lived 122 years, 164 days, from February 1, 1875 to August 4, 1997. She is the oldest person ever with documented proof.

Her age has been challenged. It was alleged that the daughter of Jeanne Calment assumed her identity at some point. But she has appeared in 14 census records and there are witnesses sufficient to say her claimed age is justified.

Married to a successful drapery manufacturer, Jeanne led a life of leisure in Arle, France and had many hobbies. Many of them were sports, such as fencing, skating, and tennis, cycling, and gymnastics. This, no doubt, contributed to her long and healthy life.

Jeanne was very clever. At the age of 90 she sold her apartment in exchange for a sum of money, with the agreement that she could live there until she died and even receive a regular stipend. She outlived her landlord, living another 32 years.

In 1986, the centennial of Vincent Van Gogh’s move to her town, she received media attention after claiming to have met him as a child. She would have been 11 years old at the time.

She went to mass on Sundays and vespers each Friday. She liked solving crossword puzzles until she lost her vision.

Quality of Life:

Mrs. Calment lived on her own until the age of 110, when she moved into a nursing home after getting frostbite, as she never used artificial heat in her home. She was wheelchair-bound after breaking her leg at the age of 114. She was continent and able to bathe herself up until her death.

Diet:

Jeanne made her own fruit salad every day. She started her day with coffee and rusks (hard, dry bread). Braised beef was a favorite meal. She had dessert with every single meal. She also ate a lot of chocolate! As much as two pounds per week! And she had wine after dinner.

Her Secret for Longevity:

Remain calm. Her name literally means “calm”.

The oldest person to ever live, Jeanne Calment had a good life to the very end, which is what I want to do. If I can do what she did, staying physically and mentally active, practicing my faith, and maybe even eating some chocolate here and there, I think I can do it. I think you can too!

Weight 7-day Avg. (change since Jan 2018): 218 (-56)
Workout time: 153 Minutes
Total Distance (total since Nov 2017): 7.59 Miles (521.22)
Steps: 16,763
Muscle Mass 7-day Avg. (change since Aug 2018): 154.68 (+12)
Body Fat 7-day Avg.: 29%
Daily Sleep Duration 7-day Avg: 5 hours
2019 Goal: 15% Body Fat