Ramona, 63 – Ask Me the Benefits

Meet Ramona Banks, one of the 2026 Senior Planet Sponsored Athletes. She’ll be sharing updates on her health and wellness journey through the rest of this year. After years of taking care of her father, Ramona realized that it was time to take care of herself. At age 58, she took those first steps – literally, with a 5-minute walk – and immediately began to feel the benefits of movement. Today, Ramona’s goal is to motivate and to encourage other older adults to listen to their bodies and age well.

From 5 Minutes to a Movement

Every journey starts somewhere, and mine started with just 5 minutes. I remember thinking, what could 5 minutes really do for me? My coach, who was a good friend of mine said, “Just walk.” That was it. No pressure, no perfection, just movement. And the truth? That 5 minutes was all I had in me at the time. But I showed up, and that day counted.

I refuse to be “Missing In Action” when it comes to my health.

Our bodies are built to move. When we stop moving, stillness becomes our comfort zone, and movement starts to feel like a struggle. So no, 5 minutes isn’t everything… but it’s EVERYTHING when you’re starting.

Now? Movement is my new normal. And I refuse to be “Missing In Action” when it comes to my health. If I can bend, stretch, pull, squat, lift, tuck, or turn I’m doing it. No excuses! Ask me the benefits of starting with just 5 minutes.

Turning Pain into Purpose

After years of home care nursing, I went back to school and graduated with my BS in Health and Wellness, but I had to ask myself a hard question: How can I teach something I’m not living? I couldn’t. At the same time, I was grieving the loss of my dad, who was my patient for 10 years. Home-hemodialysis. I was mentally and emotionally drained when he died, and I felt lost in my body and my mind. I didn’t see the benefits in my own life.

Then my girlfriend, who is my coach, told me something simple but powerful: Move. That one word changed everything. What started as walking turned into strength training, cardio, Pilates, and HIIT, even after having an artificial knee. I got back up, and I kept going. Now I want to motivate others as I continue my journey. Can you do it? Absolutely. Ask me the benefits of health and wellness—I’m living proof.

More Than a Number

There was a time when a number on the scale controlled my entire day. If I liked the number? Good mood. If I didn’t like the number? Bad mood. But after losing my dad, I realized something deeper: the heaviest weight I was carrying wasn’t on my body. It was in my mind. Negative thoughts. Self-doubt. Poor self-image.

I thought I needed a gym to change my life, but I was wrong. Consistency, not location, changed me. Almost six years ago, I joined an online fitness group – with the help of that 5-minute friend – and that decision changed everything. Now, I work out every day in my small back room. (In front of my TV, but I do it!) Weights, resistance bands, a mat, and my cat.

Someone out there feels exactly how I once felt. And they need to know… they don’t have to stay there.

Some days are still hard. Let’s be real, discipline isn’t always easy. But my body deserves to move, and so does yours. Now when I look in the mirror, I don’t just see change, I see strength. That’s why I want to help motivate, because someone out there feels exactly how I once felt. And they need to know… they don’t have to stay there.

Speak Life Over Yourself

There will be days when motivation is low. On those days you become your own coach. You talk to yourself differently, and you remind yourself: “I can do this. I will do this.”

Say it over and over if you have to. Write it down, or say it out loud. Believe it before you see it. Next, you will feel it!

You CAN start.
You CAN move.
You CAN become stronger. Need a reason? Ask me the benefits of movement.

Mind, Body, and More

You can’t pour into others when your own cup is empty.

Health and wellness are not just about workouts. It’s not just about weights or running. It starts in your mind. I was carrying too much mental weight trying to be everything for everyone, while neglecting myself – and that had to change. You can’t pour into others when your own cup is empty.

When I started prioritizing my body AND my mind, everything shifted. Working out didn’t just transform my body, it freed my mind. That’s my mission now. To inspire. To push. To remind you what you’re capable of. Ask me about the benefits, and I’ll show you what’s possible.

Final Message and an Invitation

This isn’t about perfection. It’s about showing up. It’s about choosing YOU, even on hard days. Start small. Start with 5 minutes! Because those 5 minutes? That’s where discipline is built, where confidence grows, and where your new life begins. Ask me the benefits.

If you’re ready to reap the benefits of movement, join me here on seniorplanet.org this coming Wednesday, April 15 at 1:30pm for a fun and motivating workout session. Mark your calendar and stay tuned to seniorplanet.org/fitness for more information. I hope to see you online!

In need of a little motivation to get moving? Join our daily health and wellness programs, stay tuned to the latest news and articles from SeniorPlanet.org by signing up for The Orbit weekly newsletter, and follow us on social media (Facebook | YouTube | Instagram) to get to know these awe-inspiring athletes. You might just find a new love for fitness along the way!

 

Images courtesy of Ramona Banks