If you are in your 60s and 70s and used to exercise, are you better off that people your age that don’t do as much?

I remember I heard somebody something on R4 about exercising. They said that roughly the amount of time you spent exercising, is the same as the amount of time exercise adds to your life.

My next door neighbour is 83, mows her own lawn, walks to the paper shop and back each morning (40 minute walk altogether) and swims 3 times a week! She often plays football with my son in the garden and has more energy that 40 year old me!

I see a lot of old People through work.

You can really tell the ones who keep fit and active compared to the ones who don’t. The ones that don’t go on to have the stoop, and then the shuffle and then use a stick, then have falls etc.

I have osteoarthritis and loss of mobility terrifies me, it’s why I’ve started adding mobility exercises to my exercise days. I’m determined not to end up like my inactive DGM (immobile & wheelchair bound) or DM early 70’s (stiff, in pain, unable to walk far, puffing and out of breath, overweight). I saw a lot of people drastically lose mobility over lockdown due to even less activity than usual.

I’ve known a 96 year old who was digging her own garden & my other DGM was up a step ladder washing her own windows at 92, she was cycling 5 miles a day until shortly before she was 90. Other people seems to give up and sit in a chair as soon as they retire and go downhill fast.

So it’s not a given that the sedentary will be disabled in old age, or the sporty be more active. Much is due to your genes, or how much damage your sport has inflicted in the past.

Phew, all is not lost for me. I agree about the importance of keeping physically and mentally active when retired but am exhausted just reading about all this activity.

You can find me in front of my laptop after 10 mins of exercise.

I'm 70 next birthday and have been fit and active throughout life.

In earlier years, I did a lot of watersports (windsurfing, surfing, canoeing, etc.) and skied at least a couple of times a year until I had a serious accident six years ago. I also went swimming, played badminton, and various aerobics/gym activities on a regular basis.

Currently, I do a session at the gym each morning (Body Pump, Zumba/Shbam, gym circuits, yoga - 7 in total) with one rest day, plus general activities - walking, gardening, etc. I eat well and grow as much fruit and veg as I can, make my own bread and yogurt and cook from scratch. I don't buy cake, biscuits, crisps, sweets or alcohol but would have them if I'm out.

I've been fortunate with my health (so far). I'm slim-ish (BMI about 20.5) and not on any medication or needed to see a doctor for at least a couple of years. I do take a range of supplements and try to keep up to date on research into nutrition and longevity (Tim Spector, David Sinclair, etc.)

I feel great and have a busy life, which I see as all part of staying fit and healthy.

Most of the ladies at my gym are retired. You have to be up early to get a chance to book into the classes ( yoga, Pilates, body balance etc). We didn't have time to go regularly when working .

It's tricky. My fit marathon running dad dropped dead at 46. His smoking, non-exercising brothers are still alive 35 years later.

My dad has COPD. He was diagnosed over 12 years ago and he has never declined. He'd given up smoking a good few years before being diagnosed. He reckons its all down to exercise as he and my mum get a brisk 2 miles in every morning (walking). They are both closer to 80 than 75 so it's definitely helped.

I'm 58 soon and run ultra marathons. Also go to the gym twice a week plus walk the dog every day and had horses for years. I'm so much fitter than my counterparts but who knows how long that will last.

Forget to say in early 60s

Yes, I’ve had 2 strokes and I’ve got so much strength in my arms and legs due to previous exercise. I also left hospital before others because it aided my recovery

That must be really tough.

Bit of a puzzle but I know lots of older, middle class (always) exercisers.
And lots of older working class non exercisers who have done very physical jobs their whole lives so getting lots of exercise that way.
The middle class exercisers are fit and healthy from their activity and the working class non exercisers are broken and exhausted from their lifetime of activity.
Obviously this isn't an absolute rule but is definitely a pattern I've seen.

The people I know in their 60s and 70s who exercised, still exercise. My DF does 8 miles a day and is late 70s. My friend in her 60s does hours of yoga a week and can do head stands, splits etc. In martial arts there are people in their 60s who are super fit and put many people to shame.

Unless fate is cruel, you do not have to discount exercise at this age.

I'm 48 and a masters swimmer. I am fairly frequently beaten by women in their 60s, and there are a couple in their 70s who can match me in some events. There are lots and lots of 60+ competitive swimmers and a few in their 80s in the uk. And they all dive off the blocks just like the rest of us. Awesome bunch of people but a definite demo of the benefits of exercising.

I think physical activity and general activity too.
My dad and FIL are the same age (78) but very different in health circs - and my dad is of an ethnicity that has a lot of health related issues.
My dad has kept very active, gardening, running around after grandkids, helping care for my nan and is really fit and managing his health. FIL is very inactive and isolated and very "elderly" in his ways. It's like he's 20 years older than my dad.

For many years I swam, ran, hurdled, and trampolined for Lancashire. I was pretty fit until my late 40s, now at 62 I can barely walk and am awaiting two total knee replacements. I have arthritis, osteoarthritis. Psoriatic arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and ankylosis spondylitis. Which are almost certainly all genetic although lifestyle probably plays a part too, but I couldn't have foreseen it when I was once so fit and active.

My father is late 70s. Smoked since he was a teenager, lived on red meat, retired early and basically sat in a chair.
Had a stroke and refused point blank to work at any physio to improve his situation.

Caught up with my Uncle today, his older brother. In his early 80s. Ex military. Just returned from a walking holiday. Like my father, he had prostate cancer but has faired better and is as fit as a fiddle. He has kept himself busy since retirement with various voluntary/board roles and lots of travel.

So yes, I think it is a combination of physical fitness and mental attitude.

My mum and dad are in their 60s. My dad lived a very active lifestyle. He played squash, went to the gym, ran, walked his dogs, climbed mountains and my mum practically just laid horizontal on the sofa and was desk bound in her job. Anyway, my dad has had several heart operations for atrial fibrillation, is on blood pressure meds and has the first stages of dementia. My mum is in a LOT better health physically and mentally.

MIL is mid-80s and until she was 80 she went hillwalking several miles every weekend with her local group. She can no longer do that but is still pretty active and is a reasonable weight.

DM is slightly older and for most of her life didn't do much exercise. Especially in retirement she has struggled with weight and falls, and is now fairly immobile.

However, that's just 2 examples, and exercise (and weight) is only one aspect of their lives; it is hard to know how much effect this has had on their current fitness and mobility, and how much is due to other separate health factors.

All I will say is that, for myself, I can't do anything about genetics, and many health conditions are a lottery. Exercise and weight are about the only things I can control, and exercising and keeping a healthy weight can only be a good thing.

I'm 67, do a formal exercise routine of 10 minutes twice daily but always seem to be on the go at home or out and about.

I still feel like I did in my forties but I do take hrt and was diagnosed with an underactive thyroid many years ago for which I take Levothyroxine.

I am size 10, very fit and loving life. 🥰

Ooh, following with interest.
Great thread OP!

I’m in my late 60s. I play a couple of hours of table tennis once a week at a club with two 89 year old ladies who can thrash me and any partner off the table! Neither of them “worked out” in their youth, but they manage large gardens themselves, doing the pruning, weeding and digging.
I was never sporty or athletic, but still enjoy a six mile hike in the Perthshire hills or average six miles a day sightseeing on holiday. By contrast my sporty friend, also late sixties, who was a county level basketball player in her youth, has wrecked knees and needs a joint replacement, walks with the help of poles, and suffers spasms in her legs. She also has atrial fibrillation, which is common among runners and athletes.
So it’s not a given that the sedentary will be disabled in old age, or the sporty be more active. Much is due to your genes, or how much damage your sport has inflicted in the past.

There are several ladies in their 80s who play at my tennis club several times a week, one of whom still plays in the ladies teams.

Hoping I can still play when I'm in my 80s.

Slightly different take.
I am 68 and, I feel, reasonably healthy. I know people of around my age who are both more and less healthy. I can be active but am often sedentary (naturally lazy but make some effort)

I do part time relief work as a passenger assistant on the school bus runs that transport children with special educational needs and/or behavioural issues.

Most of the children we transport live in disadvantaged areas. The youngsters (13/14) have asked me a number of times how old I am. I have no issue with telling them. Today one said, 'How can you be 68 and look so young and fit?'. Kind of a compliment from a very challenging girl but as far as I can see it is down to a combination of lifestyle, opportunities and genetics (good skin is definitely genetic in my case).

The parents of these children do their best to give their kids a good life but most of them smoke, they haven't been given the right opportunity to learn to cook and live largely (if we are to believe the kids) snack/instant/fast foods.) (One girl goes to the shop before being collected and brings a 6 pack of crisps and snack biscuits to last her through the day)

In short, I believe genetics and luck make the biggest difference with lifestyle following on (but being at least partially determined by the first 2)

(Mum had 3 sisters, all different lifestyles and levels of activity with my mum being the most overweight and most sedentary. All 4 lived to their 90s (genetics) mum being the least fit)