How much fitness can be regained after a long lapse?

[biggirlknickers]

I am watching my (not particularly fit but normal) 10yo DD playing at an outdoor event. She has so much flexibility and balance. I tried playing on the bouncy castle with her earlier but found it very difficult to balance and didn’t have the flexibility to cope with most of the things she can do.

So. I’m in my late 40’s. Peri-menopausal. 5 stone overweight but currently 2 weeks into a low carb diet and a few pounds down. Obviously I intend to keep going with that.

I’ve never been super fit but I would just love to be able to move like that again. Have the flexibility, strength and balance to play like a 10 year old. I’m so heavy and stiff, and frightened of falling / getting hurt.

Two questions:

1. Is that even possible? How much fitness can I realistically aim to achieve?


2. What should I do ideally to improve my fitness?

1. You’re highly unlikely to get to the point where you have the flexibility of a 10 year old, no - but you could definitely get to a good level of fitness!
2. Start with walking a lot, then move on to Couch to 5K (free NHS app) when you feel ready. It builds you into a runner over the course of 9 weeks. Add some weight training if you can (even just body weight stuff, like planks and press-ups).

Good luck!

If you start unfit & inflexible you can usually improve a lot. You won't know how much until you try.

I had a horrible realisation the other day that I could no longer hop. It was awful. I'm so unfit. I have bad feet too and can't find shoes that provide good support, don't rub and still look nice. Good luck OP

@Tallisker
I also have bad feet. Short toes, high instep and bunions. So I really sympathise! It definitely has not helped with my general fitness.

Best shoes I’ve tried are Allbirds.

You will improve, but strength and flexibility is a struggle as you get older. I've been lifting weights most days for 6 months now but tried to do a crab handstand the other day to show my seven year old how it was done and had no strength in my arms to do it.

I restarted martial arts recently after a 10 year break. My balance, stamina and physical strength have come back with a whoosh!

You will find it easier if you can lose some weight though, being very overweight takes a big toll on your body and messes with your balance.

Sooner you start, the better!

Every individual will experience varying degrees of improvement, so give it a go. Things can only get better....

I think it can be slow progress but you certainly can improve.

Flexibility takes a long time.... But stick with it.

Yoga & pilates great alongside weight training.

I love fitnessblender.com. You can create a schedule for yourself by using the calendar function and you can also use the filter to search for free videos only. There are tons. I'd suggest you start with category 2 videos. They almost always show ways of making the exercises easier or harder depending on your level. And I find the people who run them (Kelli and Daniel) very encouraging and nice but I guess you have to find something that works for you. Something you genuinely enjoy rather than seeing as a chore.

Thanks everyone. I made a start by doing yoga with Adriene (a gentle one) this morning and went on a bike ride with the 10yo this afternoon.

Exhausted now, but I feel like I’ve achieved something!

When I start back at work in 3 weeks (teacher) it’s going to be hard to fit things like this in. But I am going to have to prioritise this. I really want to feel better.