This fitness warrior achieves his fitness goals no matter what

It is no wonder Xannie Scholtz, 66, from Randpark Ridge in north-western Johannesburg says he is the fittest he has ever been in his life. "I exercise seven times a week. Even if it is Sunday morning, I am on my bike. I don't force myself to do it. Fitness is part of my life," he says.

"My philosophy is the harder I work, the harder I train. I am not an athlete, but I did do the Comrades' Marathon four times. Then I was in a terrible car accident about 20 years ago. I broke both my legs and an arm. I stopped running actively and started cycling," he says.

Xannie has completed the 947 Ride Joburg event 17 times, and the Cape Town Cycle Tour (previously known as the Argus) 10 times. "Cycling is much easier on the body in terms of injury," he says.

The rewards programme that pushes him further

Xannie says the Vitality programme is tailored to his fitness routine and incentivises him to move more.

"At 66, I don't think I have ever been as fit as I am at the moment. My health is great. I am fortunate that I have the time to exercise. Even though I still work, I am an active person. And the bonus is that you get all these rewards for keeping yourself healthy," he says.

He adds incredulously that he achieved his Vitality Health Diamond status before the national lockdown. "In the last four years, I've been on Vitality Health Diamond status and I work hard to maintain it. In 2020, a leap year, I needed 100 000 points and I achieved my status on 29 February. People may think I'm not normal, but I've registered as advanced athlete on the programme and I make more than 2 700 points a week. My wife and I do our Vitality Health Checks (which can earn up to 22 500 points) on January 3 and this is followed with the biokineticist fitness test at Virgin Active on my birthday, January 12, each year, so it wasn't difficult to get to Diamond status," Xannie says with a chuckle.

He encourages people in his age group to stick to their goals, no matter what. "When I travel abroad, once a year, and mostly paid for by my Vitality discounts, I start exercising from the moment I land." Last year, he hiked to the Hollywood sign in Los Angeles, three hours of steep uphills - something that tourists usually choose to drive. "What can I say? If you have a bucket list, you have to make up your mind and decide to do it, no matter what."

And the rewards come rolling in

With the peak status comes great reward, Xannie says. "I am going to get my fifth Apple watch through Vitality and I haven't paid one cent for any of them other than the activation fee. I've upgraded every time the new watch arrives. I also have three pairs of running shoes and the latest Apple iPhone which Discovery is essentially paying for," he says.

He says he isn't big on smoothies, instead he likes saving his Discovery Miles for cycling equipment from Sportsman's Warehouse. Xannie says he is getting even more rewards after joining Discovery Bank and is delighted that he's getting paid to exercise "Isn't that wonderful?" he quips.

Xannie says the programme adds a financial reason to stay fit as well. Aside from using the Vitality rewards, he also gets a boost of extra cash on his retirement policy payments because of his Vitality Health Diamond status. For him it is important to keep his Vitality status and stay healthy as he gets older. "I think for someone my age, it is such an amazing programme," he concludes.

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