There’s a lot we can learn about life from our elders—including how to become an elder ourselves. Whether it’s finding out what they eat or how they stay fit, centenarians can provide a lot of insight into what works and what doesn’t. In the case of 100-year-old Joseph Caminiti, this is especially true: 80 years after fighting at the Battle of Iwo Jima, the WWII veteran is still happily living independently with his wife in Connecticut. But what are his longevity secrets, and could they possibly help you add years to your lifespan?
RELATED: A Daily Walk Could Add 11 Years to Your Life—If You Do It for This Long.
He swears by staying active.
It’s not exactly a secret that physical activity is one of the keys to adding extra birthdays. Unfortunately, this can become much more difficult as we get older and our bodies change. But even a century into his life, Caminiti keeps a strict fitness regimen that has him in the gym no less than five days a week.
"You’ve got to exercise. You’ve got to keep going. You’ve got to keep moving," he told Today.com. "Some people get a trainer to show them what they want to do, but at my age, I don’t need a trainer. I’ve been going to the gym since I was a kid."
Caminiti adds that he doesn’t even need special motivation to get out the door and work up a sweat, saying he genuinely loves the activity.
And it appears he’s not exaggerating about the regularity of his workouts, either. Caminiti’s gym in Connecticut even posted a special message to him on Instagram for his 100th birthday. Of course, he didn’t use his big day as an excuse to skip a workout!
He keeps healthy habits.
It may not come as much of a surprise, but Caminiti has also held to other important life choices. Namely, his son says he never smoked tobacco and very rarely drank alcohol.
"Don’t smoke, No. 1. [And] try to stay away from pills, if you can," Caminiti told Today.com.
There is technically one "pill" caveat, however: He does take vitamin and B12 supplements every day.
Keep yourself happy—especially at mealtime.
Having a bright spot to look forward to can be crucial in keeping your spirits up. Caminiti says he does this by taking at least one monthly trip to a nearby casino with his wife, adding that the mini getaway is "like therapy" for her.
"She enjoys herself there," he adds.
But it’s not just activities: This also applies on a daily level, too. While some centenarians stick to relatively simple diets, Caminiti says he’s embraced his appetite his entire life and doesn’t hold himself back from enjoying his favorite foods. His top picks include lobster, baked stuffed shrimp, spaghetti and meatballs, salad, and even the occasional steak.
"I never avoided any food. Whenever they put (it) in front of me, I ate it," he told Today.com.
RELATED: Doctor Says 102-Year-Old Woman Is "Off the Charts"—Here Are Her Longevity Secrets.
Maintain some independence.
Caminiti is also a proponent of taking care of yourself for as long as you’re physically able to. The 100-year-old only moved out of his large house five years before hitting his big birthday after the upkeep became too much to manage. But instead of heading into a nursing home, he downsized to an apartment he now shares with his wife.
"It’s a regular apartment house," Caminiti told Today.com. "Assisted living—I don’t need that yet."
Even at 100, Caminiti maintains a positive outlook.
"If you see me, you wouldn’t think I was 100. Everywhere I go, they [say], 'You’re not 100 years old.' And I say, 'That’s what I am,'" he told Today.com.
