How Cleusa Uenaka Changed Her Habits to Stay Young
Following a health scare, the runner revamped her diet, traded her car for a bike, and embraced a new outlook on life.
Cleusa Uenaka shares how a sudden health scare prompted a total lifestyle transformation, from moving to the coast and cutting processed foods to deciding that age would never hold her back.
Cleusa Uenaka's transformation began with an urgent need to take control of her health. After a severe allergic reaction to chlorine landed her in the hospital, she started investigating what she put into her body and received medical guidance that sparked a complete overhaul of her daily routine.
A radical change of scenery and new habits
Determined to improve her quality of life, Cleusa and her husband moved to the northern coast of São Paulo state, initially settling in Ubatuba. The transition meant leaving their car behind in São Paulo and adopting a bicycle as her primary mode of transportation, alongside frequent walks on the beach.
The overhaul also extended to the kitchen. Without specialized professional guidance at first, the couple followed the advice they received, eliminating fried foods, swapping traditional cooking oil for coconut oil, and completely cutting out soda—a habit she strictly maintains to this day.
Consistent movement and the leap to running
Even during periods of lockdown and restrictions in Caraguatatuba, her discipline held firm. Cleusa made a habit of walking early in the morning, around 5:00 or 6:00 a.m. through local public squares, staying active every day while avoiding crowds.
Later, after relocating to São José dos Campos, watching a live stream in 2021 served as the spark to transition from regular walking to running. The switch opened up an entirely new chapter in her physical and personal journey.
Age as a mindset and a personal choice
Turning 60 prompted a reflection on how we perceive the passage of time. For Cleusa, while external signs of aging might be inevitable, vitality and mental age come down entirely to personal choice. As she jokingly puts it, she made a conscious decision to keep her mind locked at age 16.