Who has a finer figure, you or the 62-year-old?

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Amongst the growing number of fitness celebrities in China, Xu Zhilin, a 62-year-old man from Chengdu, southwest China’s Sichuan Province, has become the latest star.

During an online interview with The Paper, Xu said he hit the gym for the first time 19 years ago when he, as a businessman who was always socializing and living an irregular life, had gained a lot of weight and suffered from a poor health.

He then decided to get back in shape through working out. After spending hours and hours sweating at the gym, Xu lost weight just in two to three years, dropping from about 85 Kilograms to 70 Kilograms, a standard weight for his height.

"Many girls joked: ‘Wow, Brother Xu, your waist is even smaller than mine,’" said Xu.

Via Xu Zhilin’s Weibo account

But keeping fit is not easy, especially for a man of his age. "I didn’t start exercising until older than 40. Although it was a bit late, I was insistent," Xu said, "Muscle is luxury. If you don't stick to it, it’ll fade."

Xu now has his own routine. He exercises from Monday to Friday in normal conditions, does some outdoor aerobic exercises on Saturday and rests on Sunday. If he travels for a long time, he will also bring some simple fitness equipment.

Via Xu Zhilin’s Weibo account

Not only did it improve his health, fitness also brought Xu confidence and love.

"I went back to Chengdu seven years ago and got to know my wife at the gym. If I didn't exercise and went to this gym, I can't have today’s happiness," he added. "If I were haunted by illness, I wouldn't have the courage to profess to my wife."

Facing doubts that such exercise may not be suitable for people over 60, Xu said that the premise for anyone to do it is that the body can deliver.

Via Xu Zhilin’s Weibo account

"I do a regular physical examination every year, which shows that my body is good. I make adjustments according to my physical condition."

Xu hopes he can continue to be healthy. “When we have a good body, we can cause less trouble to society, to children and to ourselves."

“They're more like young people. I'm the old one here,” Weibo user @Pumixuan’s comment has got more than 3,000 likes.