Anybody significantly improved their health and fitness after age 50?

[rocklamp]

I had covid last March and, ever since have felt weak and hopeless. I did have an active job, but have had to retire due to mental health difficulties. Since then, I've been struggling to walk far and am full of aches and pains. I definitely don't want HRT.

I've been trying to walk each day. My arm and leg muscles are weak and I get tired quickly. Has anybody come across this and how can I improve my stamina? I'm really scared that I feel this bad at this age - 51. I'm even wondering if I have fibromyalgia because the pain is so bad at times. I'm like an auld crock 😄

I am 50 next year, have lost a stone in the pandemic, and reversed my pre-diabetes. I love to walk- slowly- and listen to a podcast while doing abt 8-10 k steps a day.

But if you have had covid, you have my sympathies. Maybe just target 5 k a day? It gets easier as you get used to it.

My mum did after a heart attack in her sixties. Lost lots of weight (4 stone) and is now slim, exercises regularly, stopped eating chocolate most days etc. She now eats healthily most of the time and is probably more active and has more energy than what I was a kid. It took nearly dying to give her the motivation to do it though.

I broke both ankles at the same time and needed a wheeled walking frame at 62. That was a real eye opener..
Focused on healthy foods, discovered Leslie Sansone online/YouTube and really improved my fitness cardio etc.
It takes perseverance, my job for the rest of my life is staying healthy.

How about swimming to increase your stamina and fitness but in a gentle way?

I lost a stone in weight by calorie counting when I turned 49. It was just before the first lockdown. During lockdown I started walking and cycling which I really enjoyed. Nothing too strenuous and not long distances but enough to get the heart beating a bit faster and also get some fresh air.

I'm glad I did improve my weight and fitness in 2020 because in January this year I also got Covid. It was horrible but thankfully I recovered.

It was hard to get back to some exercise again after Covid. It was like starting again from scratch to begin with. A little and often approach to restarting exercise helped.

Find something you can fit in to your normal life and that you enjoy. You don't need to be aiming to run marathons but every little bit helps improve your fitness and recover from the effects of Covid.

Swimming is a great and gentle exercise. I also have found yoga wonderful in the past, though I have lost touch with it now.

I list 2 stone calorie counting and upped my swimming to 4 hours a week.started e gym at local leisure gym. Swam a 5k swimathon at 54

I got fit and strong by swimming three times a week and doing Pilates once a week. Unfortunately I haven’t restarted after Covid stopped everything, for various reasons, but am very much missing it so will restart soon.

I've started taking a collagen supplement and the change in my aching joints is significant. I can walk down the stairs first thing in the morning without looking like I'm 90.

Oh yes! I'm in my 60s and fitter than I've ever been. Fitter than most women half my age. How did I do it?

Control weight through a healthy, non-processed, Mediterranean diet.

Walking lots. Never don't walk if I can walk. With wrist and ankle weights, which make a huge difference.

Work out most days. Started off with Lucy Wyndham Read and Rebecca Louise, graduated with Jake Dupree and Popsugar Fitness, currently doing my PhD with Caroline Girvan.

It's revitalising in so many ways. Yes, it can be very tiring, but somehow I have more energy. Highly recommend it

I have fibromyalgia and gained over a stone in lockdown! I did my first gentle Pilates class today and plan to try and keep going with it. Am 57

I've gone a bit weak and flabby too, i joined a gym before lockdown and was seeing definite improvement but got out of the habit again. I have friends my age (53) who are so fit its actually a bit intimidating, seriously, they are all on their way back from doing an Ironman triathlon! I think they would say the support of doing something in a group has helped them.

Seriously, try Lucy. She is so gentle and lovely, but her short workouts are very effective.

It's just 12 minutes or so and you'll feel so much better afterwards

Thank you for all these suggestions 😃

I have started taking a collagen supplement. I also take vitamins minerals, vitamin D and an omega 3 supplement.

I think starting off slow, then increasing seems sensible. I have got a treadmill in the conservatory and a watch that counts steps, but that's in the drawer.