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

Sounds interesting...
I walked over 2000km last year, but unfortunately DHs feet are playing up so I only managed 120km in January. I like walking outside but not so much alone in poor weather, and I CBA to drive anywhere by myself to walk.

Can't quite imagine walking inside a room though!

Meanwhile, DH has started swimming... I've gone a couple of times but one of my eyes seems to have become very sensitive to pool water.

I've got time to exercise now I'm 62 and work part time but these glitches are getting in the way!

@xogossipgirlxo the walk run lift, and wake up and walk videos use a resistance band for a few minutes, no weights per say.

run at lunch time at work I didn't wash my hair

I have sometimes consciously tried to run at "won't need to wash my hair" pace. I rarely achieve this. Even if my body isn't sweating, the nape of neck does and as I have a lot of very thick hair, any head sweating makes it horrid.

Very fortunately for me it's not such an issue since I started working from home in 2016. I will still wash my hair, but I can do it once I've finished work or have a quick shower in a break after I've been back at my desk for a bit.

I run (on a treadmill) three times a week and I loathe it. The best bit is stopping. But I like the feeling it gives me after so I do it.

I also walk to work. Only 15 minutes each way but it adds up over the week and really helps my MH. I'm quite impressed with myself that I haven't wimped out of walking all over the winter, even though I could easily drive.

But in general I am not a fan of the exercise thing. Never have been and no amount of people telling me how great it is will change that. I endure it.

What I think is key is that I have to plan in exercise first and then fit everything around it. Not the other way round. Prioritise it first. And I think women are often bad at prioritising themselves

@ErrolTheDragon
m.youtube.com/watch?v=DYuw4f1c4xs
this is a good example of an earlier video

goggles help the eyes when swimming.

I'm happy that some found my suggestions useful. There are so many online trainers out there - it can be confusing, but there is likely to be one for almost everyone. The ones I mentioned are the ones I know and found both useful and, yes, enjoyable.

To recap, I'd suggest Lucy Wyndham Reed or Rebecca Louise for beginners,
Growingannanas for both low impact and sweaty HIIT, and Caroline Girvan for weight bearing exercise. I've also found Heather Robertson, Cindy Cummings and Kaykay very good. Popsugar Fitness and Fitness Blender have some good stuff. And can I add a shout for Joe Wicks, whose free workouts during lockdown were great. I expect these are still on YouTube.

Then there's more gentle forms of exercise such as Yoga with Adrienne. A friend with ME swears by Tai chi. Another loves her rowing machine. Lots of people love running. Walking at a fair pace is always good - especially if you wear wrist and ankle weights. There's something that suits most people.

I'm sorry if I came across as patronizing or condescending - this wasn't my intention.
My post was prompted by a segment on Women's Hour yesterday. I was simply shocked by the 80% mentioned!

I stated in my OP that I totally understand that women with young children do not have the time or energy to exercise. This used to be me! I find it interesting, though, that many men do not seem to be similarly restricted...

I know I can be a bit evangelical about exercise, but this is because of the huge difference it has made to my life. I think that, as one grows older, one becomes aware how finite one's inborn fitness is. Realizing the decline can be frightening. My mum and my grandmother both lived to a ripe old age, but they eventually became almost completely immobile. My mum broke her hip and never walked again. The last 18 months of her life were filled with pain and totally miserable.

I don't want this for myself and I'll do everything I can to try and prevent it. Someone said exercise is 10% pain, 20% enjoyment and 70% 'just do it', or something along those lines. So it's better than housework, right?

(sorry for the sermon...💐)

I didn’t really exercise before DD. I’ve only started recently as she’s sleeping through better now. I wouldn’t say I look forward to it but my back pain feels better and I like the feeling after it’s done of being slightly fitter. For me that means as soon as DH leaves to take DD to nursery (she does half days) but my days are pretty packed even though I’m a SAHM. As I go along I recover faster, the first week I had really bad DOMS and can see how someone with the best will in the world will give up pretty quickly or not want to start.

I think it must be a massive priority for someone to be able to fit it in as a working parent.

goggles help the eyes when swimming.

I can never find any which 100% fit nowadays, unfortunately.

I work full time and have 3 kids that do ridiculous amount of activities was to run while i'm waiting for them at those various activities. Previously I would hang around chatting with the other mums before realising that running was a much better use of my time.
I go about 4 times a week now ranging from 20 minutes to a hour and feel so much better for it .

The day I was told I didn't need to be on site for my son's football training was A Good Day! Off I went for a run. I am a lone parent so childfree non work time was rare.
He's older now so he goes training and gets a lift home which enables me to go to running club.

I have rtft to see if anyone likes the same things I do. Wen to San Francisco a few years ago and EVERYONE used the parks, not just children.
I would happily play on the swings and slide for an hour every day but most parks are only toddler sized outside pubs etc if they exist at all. There is one park that has stuff that fits adults too but my bike gave up the ghost last year, it's too far to walk unless I had the whole day to do it and driving there kind of defeats the object. Wish there were more parks with swings, slides and climbing frames for adults.
I like climbing best but the likes of Go Ape are expensive and so are climbing walls plus most adults don't climb in those indoor places, they watch their kids. We couldn't afford for 3 of us to have done it for a long time anyway so obviously the kids got to climb.
I detest running as big busted and don't like swimming or cycling either tho I have done both.
In my twenties I did a lot of Irish set dancing which is quite intense but then split up with a boyfriend and didn't want to be anywhere he was.
From the office I did pilates or a 20 minute walk every lunch time but never started up the pilates again wfh.
At the moment I just do a 20 minute walk every day with my son but I really should be looking to do something else as well I suppose

Forgot to say the reason I started (apart from backpain) is that I’m over 40 and I’m feeling my age. I had DD late and I’ll be getting on a bit when she leaves home. I want to be fit enough to enjoy my late 50’s and 60’s with DH. I want to live in my own home and be self sufficient for as along as possible. Yes I would like to drop some weight and look better but the big reason for me at this age is my health. It is definitely my priority.

That's the point- you have found a way to make it work and haven't said you can be arsed to exercise because it means washing your hair. Good for you!

@Crazycrazylady I often think there is a missed opportunity with kids activities to have some sort of adult fitness class running alongside.

My 6 year old does football and swimming where a parent is required to be on site but doesn't need to do anything really - I sometimes do some bodyweight exercises while I wait but I feel a bit self conscious and would love it if there was a circuit set up or something and other parents did it too

I often think there is a missed opportunity with kids activities to have some sort of adult fitness class running alongside.

My dd got into watersports when she was secondary school age. We joined a club which did kids sailing in the morning, windsurfing in the afternoon. Parents (mostly mums) were encouraged to join in rather than stay shivering on the shore. That was great - encouraged me to get generally a bit fitter and stronger so I could right a capsized dinghy or use something other than the smallest windsurf rig. it was also great for DD - like me small and not 'sporty' in the athletics or team sports sense but her sheer bloody determination built her some very strong muscles.

After a lapse of a few years while she was at uni, we're going to have a go at yacht sailing this year which has given me an incentive to do something other than walking... I've done Jillian Michaels 'no more trouble zones' a few times with small weights so far but I might give some of the suggestions on this thread a go.

I get up at 5.30 every single midweek morning and run 7.5k, also do weights and Pilates and own core strength exercises each day.
at 45 it’s important for my own mental well being as well as physical.

I can absolutely believe that statistic. The walk to school from my house is less than ten minutes. All my neighbours drive their kids to school.

5.30 am is the middle of the night. That extra hour and a half is so to my mental wellbeing. I run at night but only once or twice a week. Walk the dog every day. Don’t t have a desk job

I think what’s coming through in some posts is that many feel exercise is competitive. Does this come from school sports and team games I wonder.

We should be exercising for ourselves and no-one else. It’s an investment in our future. It doesn’t matter if you’re slower or weaker than others. If you give up for that reason then you’re biting your nose off to spite your face.

Agreed, and if you think others are judging you then it says a lot about you.

Nice!

I’n not saying they’re judging me, just that I feel ashamed. Not the same.

@herbaceous - Lucy Wyndham Reed has a 'running for beginners' programme - maybe this might help you build up the confidence to join Parkrun?

Here is the first of 4 sessions

Ok. I stand by what I said though.
I can assure you that no-one else is bothered!

Thanks, but I did c25k and was not filled with the urge to do a park run. Can’t bear the idea. I cannot equate running in public with fun.

I used to only run in the dark so I wouldn’t be seen.

@BigButtons - there's so much more to it than 'washing your hair'.