80% of women too unfit to be healthy?

[FlowerArranger]

I listened to Women's Hour while doing my workout today. In a segment on women in sport, one contributor stated that research shows that 80% of women are too unfit to be healthy.

I Googled and found a reference to a Canadian study from 2007 and CDC research from 2013:

A new (US) government study estimates that nearly 80 percent of adult Americans do not get the recommended amounts of exercise each week, potentially setting themselves up for years of health problems.

www.cbsnews.com/news/cdc-80-percent-of-american-adults-dont-get-recommended-exercise/

I don't suppose British women do much better? If this is indeed true, it is is shocking.

I remember when my children were little and I was working full-time, there was little or no time to exercise in a formal way - though I'm sure all the running after them and running up and down stairs and housework and gardening kept me fit enough!

If this is you, you are excused......... but what about all the years before and after looking after children? Why don't women exercise enough to keep themselves healthy? Which the CDC defined as:

at least 2.5 hours of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise each week or one hour and 15 minutes of vigorous-intensity activity, or a combination of both

Personally I (in my 60s) work out most days and I feel so much better for it.

YABU - I don't see the need to exercise regularly
YANBU - regular exercise is vital

IIRC it was top loading washing machines rather than front loaders that were the norm, and a mangle or a separate spin dryer. My DGM used to wring stuff out by hand and in her 60s could beat my teenage DBs at arm wrestling, her muscles were so strong 😁As for deliveries of shopping, I recall those tailing off in the late 60s as more supermarkets opened. DGM went shopping every day with her wheely basket.

Don't recall dishwashers at all in the 60s - I assume restaurants and hotels had then but no-one else.

My grandmothers cooked absolutely everything from scratch

I cook everything from scratch. It does absolute nothing for my fitness levels.

Or my waistline.

I think it's pretty obvious why many people don't get that amount of exercise - they're busy, and when they're not, they want to enjoy themselves. Exercise is not enjoyable to many people and they'd rather do something nice, like read a book or have a bath instead.
Personally I keep trying to get fitter and stop then try again, I do walk my dogs though. I keep coming back to online workouts but it's very frustrating often because I don't have space they do.

Don't recall dishwashers at all in the 60s - I assume restaurants and hotels had then but no-one else.

When we got one. Half the village came to gaze at it in wonderment and awe.

I ride horses, but that isn’t usually counted as exercise on here.

Really? I thought it was really good exercise.

We have a school streets scheme in our area. All that it has done is encourage the car driving parents to arrive an hour earlier than before. They don't seem to have anything else to do. They leave the car/doors windows open and use their vehicles as play gyms for their toddlers. Some people can't be persuaded to change their habits.

OK, you had one; I don't recall it as a universal experience though. On the flip side, when we moved house in 1968 DM gave our old fridge to a neighbour who was in her 60s and had never had a fridge before. I stayed with her for a few weeks and she kept her milk fresh by boiling it and then letting it cool.

Ever had cold pre-boiled milk on cereal? don't, is all I can say.

I'm in my 20s and when I was inactive (late teens) it was mainly because I didn't see exercise as rewarding/interesting enough for me to be motivated to get up and do it, especially when I'd rather the extra time in bed. I knew exercise is good for you, it was simply laziness on my part really. I've always been naturally slim so I figured I was healthy. I went for walks now and again but I have a 9-5.30 desk job and was mentally exhausted when I got home so I just wanted to chill out and do nothing. At the time I didn't realise that being slim does not immediately equate to being fit and healthy and as I got slightly older I realised that more work was required on my part to get my fitness up to its prime and subsequently my health too.

I did join a gym before Covid and went 4 times per week, but when the gym closed for lockdown and I could no longer go, I slipped into old habits. I found paying by direct debit for the gym made me much more motivated to go, as I wanted to get my money's worth and didn't want to be paying for something I wasn't using.

I was then persuaded join a kickboxing class by one of my friends who has gone for years and it was the best thing I ever did. It gives me 1.5 hours per week of intense physical exercise. Before long I noticed my fitness improving massively, muscle definition was beginning to show and this motivated me to work harder. I now do smaller workouts throughout the week, in order to improve my strength and skill for my weekly class. Attending the class, and improving and progressing within the class, is what now motivates me.

Two months after I joined kickboxing, we also got a dog who needs daily walks.
The combination of the intense workout at kickboxing and the daily brisk walks in the countryside have massively increased my levels of activity and as a result I am much healthier, fitter, have more stamina, have visible muscles and have more confidence. Before, I was slim and looked "healthy" but if you asked me to do much physical activity, I'd have been tired so quickly and that was because I simply didn't realise that being slim and being physically fit were different things.

@Elsatellsa I don’t think anyone’s saying it’s easy or magical?

the thread was designed to question why people don’t with a disingenuous sense of ‘I don’t understand why these lazy, unmotivated, undisciplined people don’t do as I do’.

people who don’t are answering the question asked and being dismissed in a high handed way. My point still stands, it won’t make anyone who doesn’t want to suddenly start exercising. Those of you who do will continue, well done. So what purpose does it serve?

I agree with this. I love my sport, it's what I choose to do in my spare time.
People tell me I'm so good, or well done and the like, but it doesn't feel like that to me. I feel fortunate that something I love is also very good for me physically (though actually, I've continued to do it even when it hasn't been good for me, so the balance can go wrong).

Online workouts - yeah...I just bash the bloody lampshades and get pissed off!

So, the answer is work less hours so people don't need to rush about in cars.

How do we get there?

Ever had cold pre-boiled milk on cereal? don't, is all I can say.

Yes. The milkmen used to deliver it. It was called “sterilised” and had a crown cap like a beer bottle. Disgusting!

How do we get there?

Given that the calls for an extra day bank holiday has industry and the government screaming about the hit to the economy, I doubt we will.

Have you been to a doctor about your hyperthyroidism?

I have HYPOthyroidism, not hyper. And yes, I am diagnosed with Hashimoto's and am on thyroid hormone replacement.

@FlowerArranger Thank you. I find anything involving coordination or fitness to be such a challenge, but you've actually posted some really helpful videos, and I do appreciate it. :)

This.

Op this video HURTS 😫

I know a lot of fathers who are quite fit. Some do triathlons and a couple who even do Ironmans. The mothers of their children are markedly less fit. Not hard to imagine why when one party is off cycling/swimming/running for hours a week rather than sharing the burden of the house and childcare

Reminds me of Motherland where Julia's husband Paul is busy training for a triathlon while Julia is stressed out of her mind trying to look after the kids and work.

@AuntieMarys i found this post so motivating. I’m early 30s and keep worrying I’ve left it too late to get fit. I’m going to start now.

How dare you blaming it on cats😂

How dare you blaming it on cats😂

You just need to read the threads on the Litter Tray about being incapussitated.

To explore why and what can be done on a societal level to encourage it? Who cares if people exercise or not, but instead of saying I hate it there's always a load of excuses which is sad

Oh good for you! I have a PT who totally motivates me, and listens to me. I'd still like to lose half a stone ( I'm 6 feet tall and 13 stone) but I am strong. Bones and injuries heal quickly and I am rarely ill.

It’s just really patronising and a bit stupid to ask ‘why don’t women exercise more’ then ignore all sensible responses of why they don’t with condescending comments of ‘do this quick little YouTube video twice a day’ and ‘use some cans of beans, come on!’ Why ask?

Love it😂This happens to me every Sunday! My butt is sore from sitting when I'm being held hostage by a cat. My husband needs to come to the rescue with treats.