Ninety-one year old visits YMCA 244 times in one year

For the second year in a row, Arthur Huguley, 91, showed up at Dartmouth's YMCA more than anyone else for a workout — 244 times to be exact.

Huguley and others who managed to visit more than 150 times in the last year were awarded with t-shirts, certificates and pancakes at the YMCA Friday, Feb. 28.

Huguley said, “I just get here when I can.”

Now that he can no longer drive, he said he needs to have a driver in order to make it to the facility’s gym.

“The facility is wonderful, but the people are fantastic,” he said. “Very, very, very nice stuff and the other people that come here for workouts are great, too.”

Huguley’s workout routine takes him about 40 minutes, which begins with two miles on a stationary bike at a low-level resistance. 

Afterward, he utilizes a ladder on the wall in the exercise room to stretch since he can no longer get down and back up from the floor. 

Huguley said he has neuropathy, which affects his balance, so he does a number of exercises to work on countering the effects.

“I’m sure I’d be dead by now if I hadn’t been doing this,” he said. “I’ve been doing it for about 30 years.”

Huguley’s focus on health and fitness really got its start when he learned that he would need surgery on his knees and hips. “I knew it would be good for the recovery to be strong.”

He said he also plays virtual golf on a daily basis and stopped smoking and drinking alcohol 40 years ago.

“It’s just all part of my way of life,” Huguley added. “I just try to stay healthy and as active as I can.”

He said, “I’m a very, very positive guy and this supports my positive lifestyle.”