How many of you exercise regularly because it will be good for your body in old age?

[ThisIsClare]

Not counting walking (especially during lockdown) how many of you exercise at least three times a week, not counting walking? How many of you run or lift weights or do a class at least three times a day for at least half an hour? And if you do, what are your reasons for exercising regularly? Just curious to see how many people exercise regularly (besides walking) because it will make a difference to their bodies in old age. DIsclaimer - I used to work out a lot (around 12 - 15 hours a week, but hated it and now don't do any exercise as can't be bothered.

When its not lockdown i do try and go to the gym. Definitely staying active into old age is a factor. My aunt told me that its important to do squats as its only once you cant get on and off the toilet that they put you in a home

It's only part of the reason i exercise but definitely a factor. I run three times a week. I hate it. I hate all exercise. Maybe when gyms open again I'll join one and do weights for bone health but I'll probably hate that too.

Well not just old age but now (late forties). I started exercising because I was shocked how much strength, stamina and flexibility I was already losing and disliked the thought of it just getting worse and worse.

I do Pilates solely because it will help me later in life, other than that I rely in walking to keep fit

I'm doing rowing, 90% for vanity (losing weight and toning up) and 10% for bone health/old age.

I do 3x30 mins a week, but my health was really suffering and I’m amazed by the difference it’s made to my cardio health and also my flexibility. It was mostly driven by wanting to be healthy for my children, but the thought of being older and fat and inflexible doesn’t appeal.

Yep, I do. It's an insurance policy for old age.

Weight lifting, doctor advised this was a good way to protect bones from osteoporosis which runs in the family.

It's definitely one of the reasons I exercise - particularly now I have a small child and I want to be fit and active for as long as possible. I also have arthritis and it's so much better when I exercise regularly. My parents are in their early 70s and do a lot of exercise - they both have PTs a couple of times a week, so pilates etc and they are in very good physical shape so I'm inspired by them.

What have you got against Walking? It will definitely help with age related issues

Yes, my joints have always been rubbish and there's a lot of osteo-athritis in my family, so I want to keep my bones as dense and my muscles as strong as possible so that I can be as healthy and active as long as possible. I also don't want to be dead of a heart attack in my early 50s like my dad.

I've kept running through the past years but the loss of focus and company in the past year, the loss of fitness classes and the loss of all the incidental bouts of functional walking over the past year have made it really difficult to maintain consistent fitness and prevent excess weight gain.

I am 30 and do 3 x 30 mins of weight training per week. I walk a lot and I’m active with my 3 year old. Reason being to live a longer healthier life, and I want to tone up and feel stronger .

Weight training, boot camp classes etc five times a week. Partly for later life and partly because I'm fat.

I exercise for enjoyment and vanity.

But on a hard day I have in my mind that my Grandma in her 80s who struggles to get out and about and walk independently. She never consistently exercised. Has lots of joint pain, multiple surgeries and never seems to improve.

Versus my Nanny at the same age who has been dancing, swimming, walking, cycling her whole life and still does a lot of these activities, maintains a large garden and house independently. Ironically, she does this because she was diagnosed with osteoporosis at a young age.

I adore them both, but I know who’s body I would want to be living in at 80.

Of course that's why I exercise I want to live as long as possible and as healthy as possible ....who doesn't 🤷🏼‍♀️

I try to jog three times a week. I've exercised on and off for years, but always end up giving up at some point and having to get into it again, building fitness up from scratch. Last time I gave up was when the gyms closed, that messed up my routine for a while.
I do it to feel better now. I couldn't motivate myself to do something for the long-term future.

Do 2hrs + most days - health and performance are my main motivators

In normal times I swim (cardio) before work every day and do yoga (weight bearing) at the weekend. I exercise for the following reasons:
To maintain function into old age
To be able to eat more food now
To be strong and flexible now
To maintain good mental health now

Not being able to swim during lockdown has really affected me. I've been doing daily yoga but I've put on weight and can feel myself losing strength and getting out of breath more easily. With work and homeschooling it's been hard to even get out for walks (kids are not enthusiastic!) so very glad that they will all be back next week (primary child went back yesterday and it already feels like we have more hours in the day and I get to stay in bed longer each morning!).

Yes not for how it looks but for how it makes me feel. I have ramped it up over lockdown and my core feels much better my core is much improved and I feel strong and healthy.

I saw my Gran stop leaving the house in her 80s and her fitness went downhill. I want to stay being able to move easily as long as I can.

What did you do? I hate cardio with a passionate so I find workouts that suit me and exercises I like.

Well I run because I enjoy it and it helps my mental health. Then to be able to run four times a week and long distances I have to do lots of Pilates and strength training. So I guess it’s all linked. But I enjoy it though.

I’m also hugely inspired by 70+ year olds running marathons. There’s no reason you can’t be fit and healthy in to old age.

Yep me. Started at age 40 with couch to 5k as I was suddenly very aware of aging. I now run about 3x a week and do a strength class or two. I joined a run club and have made friends doing it, and when possible get out and run in beautiful places, and I love it now. It took me a LONG time to realise that slowing right down (sometimes walking) is actually both more enjoyable and more beneficial in terms of aerobic fitness.

I'm 62 and do 3 x 30 mins on the cross trainer at full pelt. I force myself specifically as I'm off and want to remain fit and slim.
Plus lots of walking.

FFS I'm old not off

Running marathons at 70 is very impressive on the other hand excessive amount of cardio can damage the heart muscle
Personally I think running is great but you need to be careful not to do too much of it!