Page 4 | 50+ what exercise do you do?

Floofydawg · 2023-02-02T11:44:16+00:00

Inspired by a thread on AIBU, I'd like to understand from fellow over 50's what exercise they do. Interested to see if my activity is above average and whether I should be doing other stuff. I tend to gravitate towards what I enjoy more as that means I'll keep up with it. Conscious I should probably do some weight training but I find it boring. So here's what I do in a typical week. At least two swims of at least 1k 2-3 45 minute spin classes, one of which is followed by a slightly shorter swim A 30 minute dog walk most days I have a gym membership so could do anything - lots of classes available. What do you do?

Thenewsisnext · 04/02/2023 11:02

MidnightMeltdown · 04/02/2023 10:54

Do you not worry about running making your face saggy? This is my concern with high impact exercise.

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I'm not sure quite where to start with this tbh. The multiple benefits to my life that running has brought are just immeasurable, the idea that I wouldn't do it just in case it made my face saggy are quite honestly laughable..

custardbear · 04/02/2023 10:56

2x PT mini classes a week specifically for peri-menopausal and above aged women. I try to cycle with a little club on Sundays too we do around 15 miles.
I need to do a bit more but find it hard to find time. Have back problems with hyper mobility and menopause bad mix so walking is hard as my back gets so sore but hoping for more dog walks as it gets better .. and she's off lead as she pulls

MidnightMeltdown · 04/02/2023 10:54

Thenewsisnext · 03/02/2023 22:02

Body pump twice a week, running club twice a week, long lone runs twice a week. Love ultramarathons. I'm late 50's and very lucky that I really love exercise, makes me feel so strong. Great social too.

Do you not worry about running making your face saggy? This is my concern with high impact exercise.

MidnightMeltdown · 04/02/2023 10:53

Wow! I'm impressed! Im in my 30s and don't do any of this!

How in earth do you find the time to do all this, work, do life admin, keep a house and have a social life?! Do you have full time jobs?

I've always been naturally slim without needing to do conscious exercise, but have noticed over the last couple of years that my weight has slowly started creeping up, so clearly I need to do more. I'm just not sure how to fit it in.

MsMartini · 04/02/2023 10:42

Old favourite are good 😀. I try to give things a couple of goes as find the first time is often skewed by unfamiliarity, but some things just don't work for me, and that's fine too! Now I've found the thing I love, I have to resist adding too mnuch else in.

Original poster

Floofydawg · 04/02/2023 10:39

MsMartini · 04/02/2023 09:24

Popping back to say, @Floofydawg , if I were you and belonged to a gym with decent classes, and not sure what to do - I would try lots and see what I liked!

I've really enjoyed eg boxing that I never thought I would and also I think the main things with exercise are that a) you enjoy it, b) the logistics work, c) some form of commitment/accountability/social side that means you do it on meh days and d) a sensible and flexible mix of cardio, strength and rest/recovery. A mix of classes in a local gym would tick all those, and give you the chance to try new stuff and see if you want to take any of it further. I train strength quite seriously now, but started with perfectly ordinary circuit type classes at decent high street gym, and discovered a whole new world.

Thanks, food for thought. I've tried other classes in the past and never stuck at them which is why I go back to old favourites.

OP posts:

Gwenhwyfar · 04/02/2023 10:37

"I literally did that on Wednesday this week (45 min. drive each way) & still got 11600 steps in according to Fitbit. Ok, so the nearest cheap parking is a mile away, and that got me 2 x 20 minute walks."

So you didn't do 'just that' did you. It makes a big difference. People who park a bit away from work or who take public transport are much more active than people who drive door to door even without having to do any actual "exercise".

I used to do 16k steps some days just by going to work on the train and working in a big building where I had to go down to reception several times a day. Now in a smaller building it's much harder and during the pandemic my steps went down to under 2k.
I really think that for some people, like me, having activity as part of normal life is much easier than doing lots of 'exercise' like the people on this thread do. WFH is terrible for many people's health for that reason (although I see that for others it gives them more opportunity to exercise).

MsMartini · 04/02/2023 09:24

Popping back to say, @Floofydawg , if I were you and belonged to a gym with decent classes, and not sure what to do - I would try lots and see what I liked!

I've really enjoyed eg boxing that I never thought I would and also I think the main things with exercise are that a) you enjoy it, b) the logistics work, c) some form of commitment/accountability/social side that means you do it on meh days and d) a sensible and flexible mix of cardio, strength and rest/recovery. A mix of classes in a local gym would tick all those, and give you the chance to try new stuff and see if you want to take any of it further. I train strength quite seriously now, but started with perfectly ordinary circuit type classes at decent high street gym, and discovered a whole new world.

Olidora · 03/02/2023 22:08

I feel very happy if I have walked 10,000 a day …definitely think that it depends on how much time you have and how bothered you are !

Thenewsisnext · 03/02/2023 22:02

Sorry, am self employed, not many hours so can work around it

Thenewsisnext · 03/02/2023 22:02

Body pump twice a week, running club twice a week, long lone runs twice a week. Love ultramarathons. I'm late 50's and very lucky that I really love exercise, makes me feel so strong. Great social too.

Teawaster · 03/02/2023 18:12

I'm retired now but I still ran every day when I was working full time with twins. Not so many long miles but I still fitted in a run every day.
I do get how it must be difficult for some, particularly single mums with little support.

elastamum · 03/02/2023 18:02

I ride, muck out 3 horses and walk the dog. I do about 15000 steps a day and 300 intensity minutes a week.

ivykaty44 · 03/02/2023 18:00

My fitbit counts steps when I'm cycling,

my phone does but my fit bit doesn't and neither did during spin

Nimbostratus100 · 03/02/2023 17:50

trail running, marathons and ultraruns

lljkk · 03/02/2023 17:48

My fitbit counts steps when I'm cycling, I wonder why it wouldn't when someone is spinning. I wish it didn't count steps when cycling, ridiculous that it does.

Cranarc · 03/02/2023 17:29

Weight training for an hour 4 days per week.
Boxing for an hour 1 day per week.
Light cardio/stretching/mobility for an hour 1 or 2 days per week.

ivykaty44 · 03/02/2023 17:21

the fitting it in I find easy now tat Im older

30 minutes walk to the gym first thing, gym session 60 minutes, then 30 minutes walk home. shower change and 20 minutes cycle to work and then 20 minutes cycle home. Fit in the other stuff in the evenings and at weekends

Im not virtuose but want a comfortable body to live in during my dotage - I really don't want diabetes, or to have a body that refuse to work well

nearly55 · 03/02/2023 14:20

Am nearly 55. Each week I do:

running - between 30 and 50 miles, depending on if I'm training for something specific or not
Pilates class - 1 x 60 mins
Strength & conditioning classes - 2 x 60 mins, about to become 3 x 60 mins
Climbing - 1 x up to 2 hours
A walk of around 1-3 miles each day that I've not been running and sometimes as well as running
In summer, around 30 mins of open water swimming x 3

I also do a fair bit of hiking.

I'm self-employed so have found it pretty easy to fit it all in. DH does at least the same level and our lifestyle has always been based around exercise and being outdoors. It's a priority for us.

MsMartini · 03/02/2023 14:09

Strength train 5/6 times a week, once with PT at the weekend and the other sessions mostly weekday evenings (swap which muscles I train so they recover in between sessions).

Run (or sometimes other cardio) 3/4 times a week, mostly lunchtime run (I wfh), occasionally something at the gym after strength session.

Lots of walking at weekends and non-working days. I wfh PT (tho some weeks close to FT, others much less). So last week total steps were 168k, this week will be much less as I have lots of work. I prioritise strength training and running when work hits, and dc have left home.

I've also done park bootcamps, and boxing and circuits classes and enjoyed them too.

I totally agree with pp about doing what you enjoy.

doodleygirl · 03/02/2023 13:31

I run 3-4 times a week with a 10k at the weekend, box with a bag, which I think I’m going to have to give up due to dodgy elbows, strength training twice a week. Exercise is my happy place.

TheOrigRights · 03/02/2023 13:23

And I don't think it's an issue if you walk 2000 steps a day but then do say spin classes, weights, swimming etc
Just means you exercise in a different way

Don't I know it. I'm daft - I joined a 10,000 step/day challenge for Jan (and Feb because I didn't learn). I have a sedentary job and some days I might swim or go on a bike ride, which are obviously good exercise but don't make up my steps.
I also might do under 10K one day and then have done 12K by 9am the next morning cos I've been for a run. Or a 4 mile run doesn't make up 10,000 steps but is obviously better (cardio wise) than walking 10,000 steps.

I might win a tenner though!

BlueHeelers · 03/02/2023 13:08

I have a very full-on job, with responsibilities to others & work long hours (probably around 55-60 per week). But I couldn't work those hours if I didn't exercise. It just goes into my diary along with meetings etc.

I fit it all in by not eating in the evening (I always have a large lunch!) and going straight from work to the gm, or getting up early and doing exercise first (which is my preference). I also work & exercise on the weekend.

Rebel2023 · 03/02/2023 11:51

MrsAvocet · 03/02/2023 11:29

I think it's useful to remember that phrase about not letting the perfect be the enemy of the good or whatever it is.
We all have different physical capacities and lifestyles and whilst it is interesting and can be very inspiring to hear what others do, it doesn't negate the benefits of what you do do, even if it's less than others. And for someone with a currently very sedentary lifestyle, or underlying health problems, a target of 3-4k steps a day might be a very reasonable target. And people are far more likely to stick at it and progress if they set themselves achievable targets. 10 000+ steps every day might be the ideal (though I actually read something the other day saying that the scientific evidence actually supports 8 600 being enough but I can't remember where I saw it) but if it's not as if anything below that has no value.
I have had a torrid few years with recovery from some serious injuries followed by surgery that went badly wrong, and I have more operations to look forward to. If it's taught me one thing it is to pace myself and celebrate small wins. There was a time when walking 300 steps in a day would have seemed like scaling Everest single handed to me, never mind 3k. And I know I will sadly never walk up a mountain again in my life, or do a really long distance bike rid, but I can walk into our village and back now, and ride 30 miles on my bike fairly comfortably. Yes, I feel sad and sometimes a bit inadequate when I hear what others are up to, but I know that I am doing the best I can and that's all that matters. We are competing with ourselves not other people.

Definitely
And I don't think it's an issue if you walk 2000 steps a day but then do say spin classes, weights, swimming etc
Just means you exercise in a different way

WinterFoxes · 03/02/2023 11:31

I do bootcamp 2-3 times a week. I walk 14k steps about twice a week. Used to do 4 bootcamps and yoga but work patterns changed. I am now very overweight and really need to overhaul diet and exercise as 2-3 bootcamps and a couple of walks clearly isn't enough.