Denise Austin fitness icon shares then-and-now photos after nearly 40 years

Denise Austin is celebrating nearly four decades in fitness and proving that consistency pays off.

The legendary exercise icon, now 68 and a mother of two, recently shared stunning then-and-now photos that highlight her longevity in the industry.

He paired a photo from one of his first VHS cover shoots in the late 1980s with a magazine cover from a recent “Fit Over 50: Vitality for Life” shoot.

DENISE AUSTIN, 68, STILL WEARS HER ICONIC ’80s Swimsuit and Reveals Her Daily Fitness Habit

“THEN and NOW!!!! Here I am in 1988. The ‘then’ photo is from one of my first VHS cover photo shoots!! And the ‘now’ photo is from my last ‘Fit Over 50: Vitality for Life’ magazine cover shoot!! So much fun!! Austin wrote on Instagram.

Austin wore a classic white one-piece swimsuit with a front zipper, and she stunned in the same look more than 30 years later.

“I have so many wonderful memories from these years in the fitness industry!!!! And I feel such a deep sense of satisfaction because I truly LOVE what I do!!” he continued.

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“And I want to thank you all for your support throughout these years! Thanks to YOU ​​I keep going!! Let’s celebrate LONG LIFE together!!! I love you all!!! Xoxoxo.”

The fitness guru previously told Fox News Digital that her viral throwback posts weren’t for show, but to show what consistency really looks like.

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Denise Austin likes to model leotards and swimsuits from the ’80s and ’90s on social media to show the power of fitness. (DeniseAustin.com)

He said the images are a reminder that long-term results come from day to day, year to year, not quick fixes or trends.

Nostalgia also hits close to home. Austin said he kept most of the clothes from his first training days and now they have a second life.

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“I kept all my swimsuits from the 80s and 90s that I wore in my videos and on my TV show,” she laughed. “I’m so glad I kept it all because [my daughter] Katie loves wearing these. My other daughter, Kelly, loves wearing these too.”

Denise Austin and daughter Katie walk the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Runway at Swimweek in Miami. (John Para/Getty Images)

Staying active in your 60s is more about independence and energy than appearance, Austin said.

“This is proof that I’m 68 now and I can keep it up,” he said. “That’s all it takes; to keep exercising. To me, that’s a really great thing. It’s nostalgic for me, and it shows me that if you start exercising, it’s important and you’ll feel good. And for me, it’s all about feeling good.”

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For Austin, health is more important than anything else, regardless of your bank account or background.

“I want to feel healthy,” she continued. “If you have money, it doesn’t matter if you’re not in good health. No matter who you are, you have to do something for yourself.”

Seen then and now, Denise Austin told Fox News Digital that she vowed to walk at least 30 minutes a day to lose weight. (DeniseAustin.com)

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He emphasized that his advice focuses on action, even in small doses.

“Did you know that standing burns more calories than sitting?” Austin said. “That’s why I tell people to get up throughout the day. If you’re on the phone, walk, and when you’re on the phone, talk. The more you move, the better it is for your circulation, and it also helps your entire body.”

Fitness guru Denise Austin does push-ups on the step aerobics machine during her at-home routine. (Diana Walker/Getty Images)

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Austin’s advice is backed by a career helping shape the at-home fitness industry.

He hosted the #1 workout show on television for 24 years and sold more than 25 million fitness tapes and DVDs, cementing his status as one of the most successful home workout creators of all time.

Fox News Digital’s Stephanie Nolasco contributed to this report.