Person on the Page

She inhabits my Facebook newsfeed. Claiming to be in her 70s, she posts daily Reels showing herself performing vigorous exercises — step aerobics, weight lifting, advanced yoga asanas, or some combination of the three.

Anyone who takes only a brief look at her videos might assume she is in her 20s. In fact, many 20-year-olds might envy her extremely slim physique and apparent high energy level. A more in-depth look, however, reveals some wrinkled skin over her bared abs, some signs of age at her neck.

But not an ounce of fat anywhere. Sure-footed, graceful, the very fit Facebook lady displays a level of coordination most septuagenarians can only reminisce about.

At first, I wondered if this seeming human being might actually be a product of CGI (computer-generated imagery) and not a person at all. But she has a name, she seems to be located in a real home somewhere, a number of merchandisers sponsor her, and she answers questions sent to her (by me) on Fb Messenger. So, I’m somewhat convinced she’s real.

As I wake up in the morning, nursing my body aches and cursing the weight I’ve gained during the last few years, the very fit Facebook lady is already there with her latest video, her well-toned calves flexing and extending, her platinum ponytail bobbing in time with her workout music. Later in the day, she’ll post a message to her followers about how to keep our triceps firm and strong into our 80s.

Her daily presence on Facebook bears an implied purpose. What is it?

On days when I’m feeling hopeful and ambitious, I think she is there to inspire me and others like me — those of us who are approaching or have reached 70 — and to show us what is possible if we dedicate ourselves to attaining optimal fitness during our seventh decade.

I’m 65. I’m pretty sure I never achieved more than marginal fitness at any point in my life so far. I could stand to lose some pounds, and I would benefit from being stronger than I am. But I’m lucky. For a person my age, I’m in fairly good condition. An exercise program, even a vigorous one, may be within the realm of possibility for me.

On those days when I’m feeling hopeful and ambitious, I’m on board. When she steps and jumps and lifts on my newsfeed, smiling brightly and seeming never to sweat, I’m convinced I could do that too. As I approach my 70s, I want to be that thin, that strong, that energetic, and as happy as she seems to be.

On days when I’m feeling discouraged and less energetic, I think she is there to make me feel lazy or inferior. Perhaps her aim is to cultivate my dissatisfaction with my body and my life and, thereby, to sell me one of the fitness products she touts.

Her video messages seem well-meaning enough. Learn from me, they seem to say. Let me model success for you. But sometimes, she posts descriptions of the challenges she faces to keep up with her rigorous exercise schedule or to maintain her ultra-thin figure. She recounted one such struggle.

Over the holidays, I gained three pounds! The weight gain has been discouraging. But I decreased my food intake and increased my workout time. And now I’ve lost six pounds! I’m so happy!

For those of her followers who, like me, are less than optimally fit and could stand to lose considerably more than six pounds, announcements like these may seem overly dramatic at best.

In their comments on her videos, her followers ask her questions to find out how they, too, can achieve her fitness level in their later years.

“What do you eat?” is a popular question.

To this, the very fit Facebook lady offers a vague answer.

I eat as little as possible.

Eating is one of my favorite hobbies. I imagine myself limiting my food intake to a level that meets the qualification for as little as possible, and I start feeling a bit desperate. Eat as little as possible, as little as I can bear? For how long? Forever?

Followers also ask her how she began her exercise regimen. Obviously, she didn’t start out with step-aerobics, lifting and folding herself into Crow Pose on Day One. How did she work up to the level of physical activity she now shows us in her videos?

Hopeful to build up to a level of fitness comparable to hers, I sent her a private message describing my current fitness level and asking for her advice about how to begin. She responded to my message promptly. I paraphrase her advice here.

1. Lose some weight so that you’ll feel more comfortable exercising.

2. Start out walking about three miles at a time and build from there.

3. Add intervals of jogging to your walking routine.

4. When you’re ready, try some running.

5. Eventually, begin weight training and aerobics using videos to guide you.

Unlike her dietary advice, these instructions seemed sensible to me. I started my version of eat as little as you can to begin losing weight. I started walking. I walked about three miles per day at first, and I have now worked up to five. Sometimes eight. No jogging or running yet, but I’m hopeful.

Though I have lost some weight and I feel significantly better, I have noted only minimal changes in my appearance. I’m not getting even close to the thin muscularity of the very fit Facebook lady. Nowhere near.

I’ve started to suspect there’s something she’s not telling us.

Some of her followers, the more philosophical ones, comment on the fact that she seems to be enjoying the rigorous workouts. She does smile and laugh as she hippety-hops over her stepper and curls her hand weights. They want to know if she really does enjoy all that hard work. Is there pleasure as well as pain to all that gain? Does all the discipline reap joy?

To these kinds of questions, her responses are consistent.

I’m not a good actress. What you see is how I feel. If I didn’t enjoy my workout routines, I wouldn’t be doing them.

I wonder. Come on. No bad days? No low-energy times? No overwhelming desire to collapse onto her couch and take a nap?

To say that I have a love-hate relationship with the very fit Facebook lady would be an overstatement. But some days, that’s how I feel. I love her; I almost hate her. I confess that I stalk her (in the most harmless way), watching for her next video, listening to the advice she gives to those of us who strain to climb to whatever peak of fitness our genetics and circumstances will allow.

I admire her petal pink and pale aquamarine workout wear (for which I can get 20% off if I use her special code when I place my order). I envy her dexterity as she works with all her name-brand equipment (which could be mine with a simple click). And I long to reach the state of being that thin, that strong, that youthful when I’m 70.

But just think. I’m 65 now. I have five whole years to get there.

Photo: Generated by Gemini