Inderjit (“Indu”) Chandra, now a 72-year-old retiree living in Texas who once worked in special education, completed her bucket list at age 70. That last task? Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro.
She’d hiked before, listing the foothills of the Himalayas, the Valley of Flowers and the Hemkund Sahib as previous achievements. “I was born in Tanzania, so climbing Kilimanjaro had always been a dream of mine,” she tells Parade.
On her 70th birthday, she decided to take on the challenge. “Years earlier, I had wanted to do it, but caring for my husband when he became ill delayed those plans,” she says. “After he passed away, the opportunity came again, and I knew it was time.”
While she was healthy, after two months of training, she realized she didn’t have the strength or stamina to climb a mountain—who does?—so she needed to pivot. She realized that going to the gym alone wouldn’t be enough, so she fully committed to training, nutrition and hydration. Chandra rewired her approach through the BetterMe app and guidance from her coach, Daniella.
Four months later, in August of the year she turned 70, Chandra made the climb. Even with all of that preparation, she remembers that the climb was challenging, and understandably so. The altitude, long hours, scrambling over rocks, final push and her short stature of 5’1” tested her physically and mentally.
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“On the final day, after nearly 12 hours of walking, I almost gave up,” she recalls. “I prayed, took a few steps at a time and reminded myself of the hard work I had put in and the people who were supporting me.”
Finally, Chandra reached the peak. It was an unforgettable moment, she says, in which she felt incredibly proud. Jealous? Curious? Want to know what exactly helped her get into the best shape of her life? Read on to find out how she made it happen.
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Indu Chandra (Indu Chandra)
Chandra’s Weekly Workout Routine
Chandra works out five days a week, following a consistent, structured routine that focuses on both strength and stamina. “This routine has helped me stay strong, build endurance and prepare my body for long hikes and physically demanding challenges,” she says.
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Monday, Wednesday and Friday
On these days, Chandra hits the gym. She starts with 30 minutes on the treadmill to get her steps in, then moves to the strength machines. Strength work includes the following:
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25 repetitions of the leg press
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25 repetitions of the leg curl
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25 repetitions of the shoulder press
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25 repetitions of the bicep curl
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25 repetitions of the lat pulldown
Tuesday and Thursday
These two in-between days are for group and functional workouts. Chandra participates in a one-hour group power-walking class, which she says improves her stamina and keeps her motivated. Additionally, she does Pilates-based wall exercises from the BetterMe app. This includes wall shoulder presses, leg swings and knee-to-chest movements; she performs each exercise for two sets of 10 repetitions.
“This weekly routine keeps me active, improves my endurance and allows me to continue doing the things I love, including hiking and trying new activities,” she says.
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CIndu Chandra (CIndu Chandra)
Other Ways Chandra Stays Healthy and in Shape
Along with regular exercise, Chandra stays healthy by eating more. Yep, you read that right! She used to skip meals—especially dinner—but doesn’t anymore.
“My coach helped me understand how important it is to fuel my body correctly and encouraged me to follow balanced meal plans,” Chandra says. “Adding dinner back into my routine was challenging at first, as I had not eaten three meals a day in years, but within days, I noticed improvements in my strength and stamina.”
Additionally, Chandra knows the benefits of a positive mindset when it comes to staying in shape. She enjoys being challenged and having meaningful goals to work toward.
Needless to say, her fitness journey is far from over. Still feeling strong, healthy, grateful and proud, she looks forward to future hikes, potentially even the Camino de Santiago. She also tries different sports out and has participated in skydiving, gliding, river rafting and more.
“My message to others is simple: Never assume you cannot do something because of your age,” Chandra says. “Take care of your health, stay active and give your best—you may surprise yourself.”
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Inderjit (“Indu”) Chandra is a 72-year-old retiree living in Texas who once worked in special education. Originally from Tanzania, she climbed Mount Kilimanjaro at age 70.
This story was originally published by Parade on Jan 31, 2026, where it first appeared in the Health & Wellness section. Add Parade as a Preferred Source by clicking here.