My Workout: 104-year-old doesn't sweat small stuff

Who: Lois Campbell, 104, Forest Grove; 5 feet 5 inches (though she remembers when she was nearly 5 feet 9,) 128 pounds

At 104, Campbell is entitled to impart some wisdom. She suggests we keep music in our lives and stay in close touch with our collective sense of humor. That, of course, is in addition to good nutrition and regular exercise.

Born in Berkeley in 1907, she grew up moving a lot as the family followed her father to jobs as teacher, principal and professor. She remembers growing up singing, too. In 1931, she married Don Campbell, who later was superintendent of Parkrose public schools. He died in 1980. She taught music, English and drama before her children were born and continued to give piano lessons. Their daughter and two sons, 71, 73 and 76, produced five grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.

Campbell has lived in Forest Grove for 30 years and, with the help of caregivers, resides in her own home. She goes to church every Sunday and was driving until last fall. Her main caregiver, Diane Lillywhite, says she's "a pleasant person who doesn't sweat the small stuff." Campbell doesn't read much anymore, and she misses gardening. But she's a longtime amateur birdwatcher and member of the Audubon Society. A sunroom stretching across the back of her house looks out on a small but nicely landscaped backyard crowded with birdhouses, bird feeders and birds.

One of her sons spends the day with her once a week. Campbell says they always read a chapter or two of something by Patrick McManus, such as "A Fine and Pleasant Misery," and "we just howl." She plays piano when she has the energy: "It's not quite what it used to be, but I like to play for singalongs." The family comes to her house for holidays. Campbell no longer does the cooking, but they still gather around the piano to harmonize on Christmas carols.

She takes an exercise class for seniors three days a week at Forest Grove Health & Fitness. They work on strength, including core strength, balance and grip using hand weights, bars, chairs and stretch bands. Walking and stretching are part of the class too. Campbell has exercised regularly for 35 to 40 years and knows that stronger muscles support aging joints.

She takes many more vitamins than she does prescription medications. The list includes the usual: B12, C, D, calcium and the supplement MSM. She isn't much of a coffee or tea drinker, preferring fruit juice and a lot of water. She says she's had alcohol "maybe twice" in her life. Her caregiver says she's easy to cook for because there's little she doesn't like. She eats meat, fish, fowl, whole grains, lots of fruit and "huge quantities" of vegetables. She consumes very little sugar because it makes her arthritis worse, and she says no to dill pickles.

Campbell says her doctors "seem satisfied." She works with both a naturopath and an osteopath for the best of both worlds. "If I'm going to live this long, I better have as few pains as possible," she says. Her mother lived to be 95, and she has a brother who is 101.

If you'd like to share your workout with readers -- or know someone whose workout you'd like to read about -- send name, age, daytime phone number and workout details to Nancy Dow, My Workout, The Oregonian, 1320 S.W. Broadway, Portland, OR 97201 or by email to ndow@oregonian.com. We encourage one or two recent, high-quality digital photos sent as JPEG attachments.

Read more:
My Workout: 104-year-old doesn't sweat small stuff