Over 50s - what exercise do you do and recommend?

[ifonly4]

I've found out I'm pre-diabetic so want to try new things to find out what I enjoy and could stick at. Tried Clubbercise this morning and will go will back (very fast so I couldn't quite keep up with routine, but physically wasn't as bad as I thought). I'm now spurred on to try new things though so looking for inspiration/ideas.

I guess my fitness wise if anything is withing a couple of miles of home I walk instead of car, go on a bike ride or hill walk (very steep😣) each every couple of months, and do a weekly conditioning class and have two part-time active jobs.

Walk 4 miles a day and aqua fit x 3 times a week - mid 60s

I don’t! Work f/t, out of the house at 7.15 and back around 5.30 to cook dinner and ferry DS to his various things. Have to fit in walking the dog, limited exercise and house stuff around that. Weekends I do longer dog walks. When I retire or go p/t I’ll be able to exercise more.

I'm older than you and retired. I've always walked but I definitely felt I was losing strength so I joined a gym after Christmas last year and now weight train 3 days a week. I walk there and back so my gym time is purely weight training.

It's made a massive difference to how I feel - I can run upstairs without using the banister and my balance is better I don't need to lose weight but my flat bum now has some shape. I used a PT for 10 sessions and now I'm happy to go it alone

Parkrun. You can run, walk or jog or do a combination. It's not a race and is friendly and supportive. If all else fails there's normally cake and a cafe at the end for when you're feeling virtuous. Plus you've got all ages doing it - up to people in their 80s.

I run, walk, swim, line dancing and yoga. But I also have a very physically demanding job. Always active.

Prediabetic probably means you need to sort your diet not your exercise

Over 50 especially weight exercise is very important ( that can include skipping as well as machines in the gym )

I don’t agree.

Which bit don’t you agree with?

I do kettlebells, body combat, netball, and a bit of running.

I’m 69 and have BMI of 31 - just obese by 1lb. I do two aerobics classes, one dance class of about the same intensity and 3 yoga or Pilates classes each week. I also walk our 2 dogs and do the odd 6 mile walk about once a week. I find it easy to attain and keep a level of fitness but very hard to loose weight.

A lot of walking, with the dog and without.

I try to do an exercise video every day, from the many available on YouTube. MonikaFit is one I like. Sometimes I only have time for 20 minutes, but I figure that 20 minutes is better than nothing.I used to do yoga every day, but somehow that fell by the wayside. I'm going to try to build it back into my daily schedule.

I would like to do more exercise, as I work full time in a sedentary job and I feel better generally when I'm active: I sleep better, feel less stress, etc. Hope this thread will give me some more ideas.

Im 54 and running is my main exercise. I run 4 times a week. I also do 1 strength and conditioning workout, specifically tailored for runners, and 1 body pump class because I enjoy it!

In answer to the how do I fit it all in question, my kids are adults and I don't have any pets. I work full time so I'm out of the house for a couple of hours 4 out of 5 nights after work then my long run is Saturday morning and I generally also run Sunday mornings. I fit it in because I want to!

I try to do 3 Pump/Bodytone classes a week and whilst I'm at the gym I generally add on 10-20 mins of cardio so either elliptical or treadmill. On the days I don't go DH and I generally go for a 40-60 walk or I'll use the exercise bike at home.

Do you need to lose weight? Diet plays a much bigger role than exercise so it's definitely worth looking at that first.

Body Pump x 2 for muscle/bone strength
Body Balance x 2 for flexibility/enforced relaxation
Plus 1hr dog walking everyday, with variably energetic dogs.

I really enjoy Body Pump far more than I ever thought I would. There's something really confidence inspiring about heaving a weights bar over your head.

Speed walking daily. Lifting weights. Bit of HIIT. TRX.

Weight training 5 times a week I cycle there and back I’ll do reformer pilates twice a week and swimming once a week. I walk the dog over fields for roughly an hour a day. I work part time.

S

Shit. Reading this makes me panic. I’m 53 and do fuck all. Sit at a laptop all day then care for elderly relatives. Wish I could walk 4 hours a day!

I do weights, running, yoga and a bootcamp class. All once a week, possibly run twice.

No need. Weight bearing exercise is about the best thing you can do as a woman in your 50s. Helps with bone density, flexibility and raises your BMR. No need to spend hours on it either. Add some walking for cardio and fresh air if you're able to get out.

You basically need one cardio, one strength and one flexibility a week.
And walk as much as you can.
I do parkrun, another 5k with a group, one or two strength/cardio classes and a dance class.

Zumba Gold may be easier. It is marketed for over 60s/sedentary which is quite annoying cause actually a lot of the classes are medium paced just no jumping!

more importantly though you need to get some weight training in, muscle burns more calories at rest than fat does so really beneficial to keep strong as we age!

I take part in parkrun most Saturdays - our local course is undulating so I walk it (I'm not a runner). By volunteering as parkwalker or tailwalker it means that I make the effort to attend, even in the rain.

Weight training definitely, essential for bones as you age.
And walking, great for mental health as well as the physical.

68, retired. Daily 30 mins of stretching and small weights exercises. Zumba twice a week, which I love. Walk everywhere but don't really go out walking as an activity that often. I should probably do more.