At 70 Years Old, Woman Conquers Mount Fuji

When she first began her weight loss journey, 70-year-old Marilyn Kuchma had no idea it would lead her to great heights. Between 2018 and 2019, Kuchma not only lost 130 pounds — she also gained 12,388 feet in elevation as she summited Mount Fuji.

The secret to Kuchma’s success? Hard work, determination and a little help from the internet.

“My husband and I went on a two-month cruise last year, and by the time I got back, my daughter and her husband had lost 40 pounds each. I said, ‘What on earth are you doing?!’”

That’s when Marilyn’s daughter introduced her to the keto diet and an online forum on Reddit called r/keto.

Over a million people from around the world gather on Reddit’s r/keto message board to share their tips, struggles and successes with the keto diet. Keto is a low-carb, high-fat and high-protein diet that has gained popularity in the last decade.

When she first began her weight loss journey, 70-year-old Marilyn Kuchma had no idea it would lead her to great heights. Between 2018 and 2019, Kuchma not only lost 130 pounds — she also gained 12,388 feet in elevation as she summited Mount Fuji.

The secret to Kuchma’s success? Hard work, determination and a little help from the internet.

“My husband and I went on a two-month cruise last year, and by the time I got back, my daughter and her husband had lost 40 pounds each. I said, ‘What on earth are you doing?!’”

That’s when Marilyn’s daughter introduced her to the keto diet and an online forum on Reddit called r/keto.

Over a million people from around the world gather on Reddit’s r/keto message board to share their tips, struggles and successes with the keto diet. Keto is a low-carb, high-fat and high-protein diet that has gained popularity in the last decade.

At 265 pounds, Marilyn was ready for a change. Keto and the online community she discovered were the keys to a new future.

“The main tenet of keto is giving up sugar and starches. There’s no sugar, bread, pasta — a lot of stuff you just have to leave off the table. It sounds strange, but I found keto really liberating and so easy once I got past the first month.”

Encouragement and support from her two children, her husband and Reddit kept Marilyn going through the hardest parts of her weight loss journey.

“My two kids have been so helpful. They really encouraged me without ever talking down to me about my weight,” says Marilyn. “I’d also go on Reddit all the time for tips, or if I was feeling depressed about not losing enough.”

Marilyn is no stranger to technology. While it’s a common misconception that older adults aren’t inclined to learn new tech, Marilyn has been breaking down stereotypes since she was a young woman in the Air Force.

“I’ve always loved technology. I’ve been working with computers since the ‘70s, when they were very first starting to use them.”

“When I joined the Air Force, I wanted to be a nurse or something like that. Instead I got tested and they put me into computers. It was one of the first classes they had, and I was the only girl there. So I was one of the first females in computers in the Air Force.”

With an impressive background in technology, it’s no surprise that Marilyn turned to her phone and smartwatch to keep her on track throughout her journey.

“There’s an awful lot of tracking involved. I use MyFitnessPal, which is an app where I list everything I eat. I still do it now, even though I’m maintaining my current weight. You have to track all your meals and have lots of order. You also need to track how much exercise you do.”