59-year-old grandmother and Roadies 20 contestant Ashu Jain shares 5 hacks that helped her 'build gym habits that stick’

At 59, Ashu Jain is redefining what it means to be a grandmother. She is deadlifting, doing Zumba and completing Hyrox races – know her secret to consistency.

At 59, Ashu Jain is not the grandmother many imagine. The Dehradun mother-of-three does not spend her days knitting or babysitting grandkids. She deadlifts in the gym, does Zumba and competes in endurance races. A contestant on MTV Roadies Season 20, she describes herself as a 'hybrid athlete grandmother' — and is making a case for what fitness can look like later in life.

Not your typical grandmother

Ashu's path to redefining what late 50s life looks like began at age 44 when her children encouraged her to resume her education. She earned her MTech from Jamia Millia Islamia, followed by a PhD from IIT Delhi at 53. That same discipline carried over into her fitness transformation.

In a May 2025 interview with The Better India, Ashu explained the philosophy driving her routine: “Fitness is not just about looking good. It is about being able to trek, to dance, to lift your granddaughter without pain. It is about freedom.”

That freedom, however, requires consistency. In a May 22, 2026, Instagram post, Ashu reflected on how she maintained her gym habits over four years: "Here are the five hacks that helped me build gym habits that I was able to stick to (since more than four years now)."

Here are her five hacks for long-term consistency:

Start realistically small

Ashu highlighted that starting small prevents early burnout. "Starting small with achievable goals. If it feels too hard, it won’t last. Only starting with something realistic can be repeated," she said.

Anchor exercise to existing habits

To avoid skipping workouts attach movement to a fixed daily anchor, she shared. "Linking to an existing routine (same day, same time, same trigger). For me, my early morning bath is my trigger. I always change into active wear after a bath," Ashu said.

Eliminate daily hesitation

Bypass morning hesitation through advanced preparation, she added. "Removing decision fatigue. Preplanning the workout schedule and gym wear the previous day saves one from ‘aaj kya karna hai (what to do today)’ dilemma. Bus sirf plan follow karna hota hai (All you have to do is follow the plan)," Ashu said.

Adopt a fitness identity

According to her, focusing on identity creates a stronger commitment than relying on fleeting motivation. "Focussing on identity, not motivation. If one is someone who bathes daily, then you will simply because that’s you. It's about becoming someone who trains consistently, not someone who waits to feel ready," Ashu shared.

Build flexibility into the system

Rigid systems often fail when life intervenes, she admitted, saying, “Make it work for your life, not against it. If it doesn’t fit your lifestyle, it won’t last. I failed miserably at 75 Hard (a 75-day mental toughness and discipline program), but introducing flexibility made it work for me.”

Ashu concluded: “Consistency doesn’t come from doing everything perfectly. It comes from repeatability, which depends on doability. So making it ‘doable’ is the mantra that worked for me.”

Ashu's everyday routine

Documenting her journey across multiple Instagram posts in 2026, Ashu highlighted her preparation for Hyrox — a global fitness race combining endurance running with functional exercise stations. She completed her second Hyrox in Bengaluru earlier this year.

The Better India reported that her day begins at 4 am with water, prayer, and soaked nuts. Her training includes dedicated strength and deadlift sessions, complemented by running, Zumba, and balcony walks.

How Ashu measures up to WHO guidelines

The World Health Organisation (WHO) physical activity guidelines for adults aged 18–64 recommend at least 150–300 minutes of moderate-intensity or 75–150 minutes of vigorous-intensity aerobic activity per week, as well as major muscle-strengthening activities at least two days a week.

Ashu’s weekly routine of strength training, deadlifts, running, Zumba, and Hyrox endurance workouts far exceeds these minimum baselines. By pairing structured resistance training with daily functional movement, she provides a clear roadmap for healthy ageing.

Note to readers: This report is based on user-generated content from social media. HT.com has not independently verified the claims and does not endorse them.

This article is for informational purposes only and not a substitute for professional medical advice.