Can anyone help me pick a new hobby?

[therubbiliser]

I used to run and do a team sport but I’ve gotten too old and fat and I need a new hobby. It’s been years since I picked up something new and I’m stuck for ideas. I’d love to know what other people love to do as hobbies and get some ideas.

I was going to suggest dog walking but I see you have one. Can that become more of a hobby, like classes or longer pub walks in a group or something?

Do you want intellectual challenge, adrenaline, exercise, friends?

Dog agility is great fun (if you don't take it too seriously - everyone's dogs running round the obstacles rather than over them, tripping you up, stopping for a poo, running out of the arena I have never laughed so much in my life!)

Get a hot tub. It's so relaxing and the best thing I've ever bought

Watersports of various types, depending where you live ... sailing, kayaking, windsurfing, SUP...

How about beginner dog agility classes . (Depending if your dog is keen)

There are classes that are held near me that are £55 for 5 sessions

Id love to learn to dance rock n roll. Waiting for retirement to learn.

Tennis. I took it up aged 49. I'm overweight with a bad back so can't run but I'm really enjoying tennis.

Kickboxing! Or some sort of contact fighting sport. Honestly might be the best sport I've ever done - even though I started in my 50s and I am rubbish at it! 😆

Last winter, I tried adult painting by numbers, Very therapeutic and quite rewarding at the end . Superior quality than the ones I did as a child. Lots of designs to choose from and not expensive. Passes the dark winter evenings ,when there's mostly rubbish on tv. It's very addictive. I sit down for an hour or so and before you know it ,its bed time .

Crafting. There’s knitting, sewing, crochet, painting, card making etc.

wine tasting club? book club? exercise class? hiking group?
do you like gardening?

I second golf - make lots of new friends and a lot of clubs run get in to golf groups to start you off.

Ok from the suggestions my shortlist

Language - French I did it in school and I’d love to brush up on it
SUP board we did on holidays and it was fun
Dancing (no Scottish around here but plenty of Ceili/set dancing)
Swimming I like
Choir did a few times before when I was younger and I loved it
Musical instrument I’ve always wanted to play the tin whistle
Dog is a greyhound so he is lazier than I am so agility is probably out although he’d love a good run out with other hounds
My old sport is still a possibility but it is a contact sport although the rules say it is fully no contact but that isn’t how it is played from my past experiences. I adore it but I’m really worried about serious injury given my age.

Lots to think about there thanks for the suggestions.

Genealogy / family history

Mid forties and at least 2 stone overweight but otherwise pretty healthy. I weight training a lot and walk a lot.

Another vote for tennis. I am mid forties, definitely more than two stone overweight (maybe three). I started tennis four years ago (over a stone heavier) and I love it. So many people at my club in their 70s; I was really surprised how it is a sport people can keep playing at advanced ages.

But it’s not always easy to find somewhere to play, I admit. I am in a small city and the club is really good value and reasonably easy to get a court at. It’s one of the few things that puts me off moving back to London.

Archery

Go back to running - you can run at most ages and size doesn't matter. There are some great running groups around, runs to do or you can do it on your own, when you want and it's free! Or/And take up golf - a lot of people take this up in later years and there's a big encouragement at the moment to get women into golf.

I do crochet (hence the name!). It’s pretty easy to pick up and something I can do as and when. I’m also joining a choir soon!

I volunteer at a kitten rescue. I mainly help with fundraising events. Bonus is I get to cuddle a lot of kittens

I second wild swimming. I don’t live near the coast but the people I’ve met doing swimming are the most lovely people ever ( and I’m terrible at making friends). It’s also a challenge and invigorating.
usually a fair amount of women over 40 doing it too.

I’ll add in a martial art??

I came on to say this. I've been doing it for 10 years now. Excellent way of getting exercise without really noticing!