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

You mean you don't have to work, or have children or do any housework, or bother with a partner?

And there was me thinking that most people have to earn a living, want to procreate, and need to eat and keep clean.

I was referring to the part where you say "doing it all weekend too as their partners bugger off to do their hobby", which I imagine you know, but I suppose I should have quoted that part specifically.

I do have to work, I have one child at home, and do all the housework etc as I am a lone parent. My child is old enough to leave home alone now so I do have more time to exercise, but even when he was younger I found time to do it in my lunch hour, while he was at clubs with friends, or work in the evening so I could go out in the day. Or he'd cycle while I ran. I love my exercise though so the motivation to do it has always been there.

I get it. TheOrigRights is basically saying that you don't HAVE to put yourself last.
If it's housework or a run, the run wins. I may have a husband and children, but their needs do not supersede mine. An hour out of a weekend, or throughout the week isn't much.
But if tied to small children, you start training them to walk distances/ up hills etc. My kids are lazy twats, but take them on a family walk and they will walk for miles without complaining, because that's all they've known.

I suspect you know well what she meant and that it was not aimed at the working part...

This is why we have so many unhappy women. Blindingly obvious that being a martyr and doing it all while other half gets to have hobbies and leave for them for whole weekend, will end up with unhappiness of the martyr eventually.

"Doing it all" and giving up free tome/hobbies because someone else buggers off all the time is just a sad existing while someone else has fun.

Bubblebubblebah you are so right. So many women being martyrs, no doubt because it was ingrained in childhood.

I have always made being fit and healthy a priority. If I don't look after myself, who will? There are no excuses, it doesn't have to cost anything. Walking from the front door is free, jogging on the spot in the living room is free. Doing an exercise routine is free.

Just fitting a few minutes at a time into the day will reap huge benefits. I used to jog on the spot on the bathroom while the DC were playing in the bath.

One of the worst things you can do to yourself is to not move.

@NeverTrustAPoliceman yup. I found 10 min morning routine to just get blood flowing makes absolute wonders for brain and mood. It starts a day right and then in the evening there is the sweaty work out before shower. That one is 15-20 min. Both free in a living room. Well I did spend £5.50 on cheap yoga matt from amazon after I realised the workout will stick, but no need for initial outlay.
My back is not hurting, I have abs (albeit hidden under some fat), my posture is great again, i can again lift things without arms going wobbly and my digestive system is really enjoying and lets me know that it's not ok to be lazy for a week😂
All of the above achieved for grand total of £5.50 for the matt which is not necessary if you have carpets for example.

I posted on here the other day about walking around 6-10 miles every day but still not being fit or losing weight and that I'd rejoined the gym.
I weighed myself this morning and I've lost 2 pound without really trying!
I really struggle to lose weight due to hashimotos thyroid so I can only really put it down to the exercise and lifting weights.
Only 25 more pounds to go to get me out of the 'overweight' BMI category 🤣

The point I was making is that too many women already have more than enough to do, and are now being given yet another stick to beat themselves with.

I'm a gym convert in my thirties. Learning to exercise properly and hard got me off codeine for my back (I'm hypermobile), improved my mental health tenfold and seems to have massively benefited my immune system. Gym time is now sacred. I know I will perform better in all other areas of my life if I safeguard that time. I was terrible at PE because I have object blindness so have never caught a ball in my life, except by fluke. Enforced ball sports has a lot to answer for.

Making time to look after your body and mental health is not a stick- it’s essential and should be a priority.

It's not a stick to beat you with. The study saying that "80 percent of adult Americans do not get the recommended amounts of exercise each week, potentially setting themselves up for years of health problems." is the result of their findings. It's a statement. If you choose to enable your husband to go off and do exercise all w/e leaving you no time for yourself then that's your choice and you may then face the consequence of poorer health.

I would say so, yes. If you're raising your heart rate then that's a good thing.

^^ That. This is your health, your body. It should come first, not as an afterthought, and encouragement to look after it shouldn’t be derided as a “stick” you’re being beaten with because it’s guilting or shaming people who think they’re too busy to exercise. The link between a sedentary lifestyle and being physically unfit, and later age health problems is undeniable. That’s the brutal reality.

And this being MN, I’ll bet most of the non-exercisers on this thread place a lot of importance on eating well and spend time cooking (“from scratch”, as everyone on MN likes to call it) each day. I doubt many on this thread would say “healthy eating advice is just a stick to beat women with, I don’t have time to make good food, me and my children all eat frozen ready meals every day.” Yet not prioritising exercise and making time for it is no different to not prioritising a healthy diet and making time to cook and eat. You wouldn’t neglect the latter so why the former?

The point I was making is that too many women already have more than enough to do, and are now being given yet another stick to beat themselves with
It's not a stick to best anyone with.
There are long term health consequences to leading a sedentary lifestyle.

There's ways to exercise within the home, there's ways to be active and have the children involved. It doesn't have to be going to the gym, spending a lot, or doing big, strenuous workouts.

TheOrigRights walking is one of the best things you can do for your physical and mental health. It doesn't have to be fast, just enough to raise your heartbeat a bit and make you very slightly out of breath.

If you do some deep breathing at the same time, eg, breathe in for 6 steps, hold for 6 steps, breathe put for 6 steps it will be even better for you.

BigButtons you are right, wanting to maximise health and fitness is not a stick to beat ourselves with. It's up to us to respect and care for our bodies, we're never going to get another one.

I remember when I was a kid there was this big 5x60 drive. Meaning children should be getting 5 hours of exercise a week. With that in mind 2.5 hours for adults seems quite a low recommendation. I use my flexitime to do a 30 min swim 30 min gym (same building) atleast twice a week. And I cycle there and back. So I hit the 2.5 hours but I can't say I feel like I'm at peak fitness.

@NeverTrustAPoliceman I didn't ask about walking, I responded to another poster (the quoting since MN upgraded is a bit squiify at times).

I agree. I found a love of walking for the sake of walking during lockdowns (when I had to accompany young DS for our hour out rather than piss off for a run on my own).
When I run, my mind is empty, but when I walk I do a lot of thinking. If I don't want to think about stuff I'll listen to an audio book or go with someone). It's the thinking, or even the marching around being cross, which really helps me reset the day if I'm wound up. It also allows me to appreciate the fresh air and the surroundings in a different way to running or cycling (though I actually walk a lot at night, just to be entirely alone with a guarantee that no one will ask anything of me!)

@larchforest not to mention being the default carer for elderly relatives ironically by the very same organisations moaning that we arent fit enough.

I also can't wait until DC is old enough for junior parkrun and I can tag along. Adults dont get timed but ill still be atleast jogging along to supervise. That's from 4 til 14, then they can do the grown ups park run.

@TheOrigRights When I run, my mind is empty, but when I walk I do a lot of thinking. If I don't want to think about stuff I'll listen to an audio book or go with someone). It's the thinking, or even the marching around being cross, which really helps me reset the day if I'm wound up

I feel the same about running that it empties my mind. I literally can't multitask and think and run at the same time! In a race once I started thinking about all the stuff I needed to do when I got home. I noticeably slowed down and was really cross with myself especially as it was a downhill mile that should have been faster 🤣

If I am grumpy with DH he often encourages me to go for a run. I know I've said in the past "I'll still be in a mood with you when I get back, you know" and almost every time I've forgotten/cleared my mind of whatever it was! Although sometimes I think he gets away with things I'm justifiably annoyed about, by packing me off for a run but ultimately, it's a win for both of us!

Hubblebubble
My local parkrun has under 4s there. They either do one lap with the parent or they do the whole thing running and walking. Nobody seems to mind as long as they're in arms reach of the parent.
If you're not bothered about a time then it might be an option for you.

@LolaSmiles that sounds fantastic! My DC is 3, so not too far off 4. I just assumed they'd be really strict about it. He loves running so I'm sure he'd enjoy it. No, not bothered about times. Just like to be active.

My husband doesn't do that, and it isn't my choice, but from reading all too many threads on here, there are many women who are trapped in that situation (particularly those with bastards for partners) and never get a minute's peace to themselves.

Hubblebubble
In which case you could probably show up, start at the back with the dogs and pushchair runners and people are unlikely to say anything.
Who has time to give a parent the Spanish inquisition before 9am on a Saturday?

What type of cardio exercises have been good for your hypermobility? I have that too. I am thinking about starting swimming or aqua aerobics. Have you found gym trainers who understand the condition and are helpful?