Dick Van Dyke is just weeks away from turning 100, and he’s marking the milestone the same way he has for decades — by sticking to a fitness routine that keeps him moving.
In his new book, 100 Rules for Living to 100: An Optimist’s Guide to a Happy Life, released Tuesday, November 18, Van Dyke revealed he still “tries to hit the gym three times a week,” even on the days when motivation isn’t exactly flowing.
“I’m not a ‘wake up and go back to bed’ type just yet, unless it’s cold and rainy,” he wrote. But when sluggishness strikes, he relies on incentives — or “carrots,” as he calls them — to get himself out the door. Those include “a huge smoothie and/or frothy caffeine treat after my workout,” the “full-body tingly exhilaration” of exercise, and the promise of “a well-earned” afternoon nap.
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Once he arrives at the gym, the Mary Poppins legend launches into full circuit training. “Going from one machine to the next without a break, in a circle,” he explained. He starts with sit-ups, followed by lower-body machines, and then upper body work. The secret ingredient? Music blasting through an otherwise quiet morning gym. “It’s the music that really gets me going,” he wrote. “By the end of my workout, I’m in a sweaty rush… and my spirits are soaring.”
But Van Dyke emphasized that fitness isn’t just about the gym. “I’m doing a lot of stretching and yoga-type things,” he said on Ted Danson’s Where Everybody Knows Your Name podcast earlier this year. And while he remains active, he’s candid about the challenges of aging. In an essay for The Times, he gave fans an update on his health. “My sight is so bad now that origami is out of the question. I have trouble following group conversations and complain frequently about my hearing aids, though I would never refer to them as ear trumpets. I’m not that old,” he said. He also noted that travel has become difficult. “Almost all of my visiting with folks has to happen at my house.”
Still, as he approaches his 100th birthday on December 13, Van Dyke maintains a sense of humor — and optimism — about staying strong, moving daily and savoring whatever comes next.
This story was originally reported by Parade on Nov 18, 2025, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Parade as a Preferred Source by clicking here.