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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask.if your parents/grandparents do sport/exercise

63 replies

girlfriend44 · 21/02/2023 21:40

There was a lovely man on TV tonight on the news and he was going swimming at 97.
He was enjoying it so much and basically saying keep trying things and having fun.
It was a pleasure to watch him.
Do your parents or grandparents do Sport etc?Think it really does help to keep you fit if you can manage it.
97 what a nice age to still be swimming.

OP posts:
reddwarfgeek · 22/02/2023 00:08

My dad was a consistent and pretty fast runner until he had a heart attack at 65. He could run fast than me when he was 60 and I was 25!
He's stopped that now but him and mum still go hiking most weekends, he's almost 74.
MIL is 70 next week and one of the fittest women I know. She's so strong, from always moving furniture in her house with no help! 😅 She's helped organised a community walking group that starts next week.
I'm like my dad, I run 5-6 times a week hopefully setting a good example for DD. Exercise is so good for body and mind.

justasoul · 22/02/2023 00:11

Both my parents and my nan do Pilates.

Dinosauratemydaffodils · 22/02/2023 00:12

My dad is dead but he ran up until he became too ill. He was regularly doing 10k in his late 60s and he used to go to the gym a couple of times a week. My mum walks a lot and does pilates (she's 79).

Fil is almost 81 and never sits down. Was up three storeys worth of scaffolding last weekend with dh. Mil gardens on a massive scale.

DelurkingAJ · 22/02/2023 00:23

My DGP gave up mountain biking in his early 80s. He still went jogging until he was about 90 (round the retirement community in a thoroughly pleased with himself fashion). He took me ice skating in his 80s and his wife nearly fainted as he decided to show me ‘loops and jumps’ (he’d skated all his life).

DM does lots of walking (several miles a day) and is muttering about Pilates.

32WindsorGardensBinLorry · 22/02/2023 00:24

My parents are active as in plenty of walking and dad still cycles in his 60s but as a child I was certainly made to feel they were proud that I was academic and it was expected and reasonable for PE to be the one subject I wasn’t good at. They did seem to look down on sporty people a bit.

FlowerArranger · 22/02/2023 00:26

Well, I'm in my late 60s and a grandmother, and I work out 60-90 minutes a day 6 days a week, plus an active rest day (walking and cycling). I weight train with Caroline Girvan, plus regular HIIT with Growingannanas. I'm fitter than I was in my 40s.

Watching my parents' final years was not pretty. My mother hardly moved at all and never walked again after she fell and broke her hip; dad smoked himself to death (COPD and emphysema).

I fear some of my friends' fates will be similar, minus the smoking. I'll do everything I can to stay active and healthy 🙏

smileladiesplease · 22/02/2023 00:29

My df is 89 had 2 hips replaced snd walks lots

Dh and I mid 50s swim/gym daily and walk 3 miles every evening

All 4 kids 20s/30s are very sporty

Had grandson today (6) swam for an hour and walked the dog with me :)

You got to move or you get fat

2chocolateoranges · 22/02/2023 00:32

My mum is 74, she plays indoor bowls twice a week and walks approximately 3 miles a day with 2 days a week she walks with friends and they walk around 7-8 miles both days.

Purplehyena · 22/02/2023 00:33

My in laws are in their 70s and still do triathlons, can’t see them ever stopping, certainly no willingly.
My mum not so much due to mobility issues but keeps as active as she can, waking etc.
One set of my grandparents still enjoyed a good hike up mountains well into their 80s until my grandmother passed away a couple of years ago. My grandad has since had health issues preventing him from continuing to be so active.

CrotchetyQuaver · 22/02/2023 01:36

My dad continued with his gardening pretty much right up to the end. He was always active from a young age, gave ip golf some time in his 80's. I think more because his golf friends got ill and couldn't play anymore than because he felt it was time he stopped. He was out there in his garden 3-4 hours a day bending and stretching, pushing and pulling. He died aged 96.5. Didn't use a walking stick. It wasn't until after he'd died we realised how much gardening he got done! My mother in the other hand sat down in her chair aged about 80 and didn't really get out of it, other than mealtimes, bedtimes and when she needed the loo. She ended up with terrible mobility and lots of falls and broken bones from osteoporosis.

I'm trying to follow in my dads footsteps, I don't want to end up like my mum. It seems it's true when they say use it or lose it.

londonloves · 22/02/2023 07:23

My mum and dad both do fuck all. In their 70s and starting to deteriorate health wise. Neither have ever exercised regularly and it has really had an effect on me and how I see sport and exercise.

NerrSnerr · 22/02/2023 08:23

My dad is 70 and has been a runner all his life. He has his eyes on some medals in the British Masters champs now he has moved up an age group. He's also been coaching for 40 years and has coached some top athletes.

My mum did do a lot of sport but stopped in her 50s when she got divorced. It was coincided with her drinking levels increasing. She is 69 and needs carers and can't even walk to the shop.

My Linda's

NerrSnerr · 22/02/2023 08:23

*my in-laws are in their 80 and have never exercised.

WalkAwaySugarbear · 22/02/2023 08:29

My Mum used to play squash when we were young, now she goes for long hikes. Her Dad, my Gdad was coach at a boxing club after he rretired.
That's it, no one else did much exercise. my Gma has breathing difficulties since she was little so not much exertion other than a gentle walk. My other GPs were local champion darts players but I don't suppose that's much exercise.

WalkAwaySugarbear · 22/02/2023 08:31

My FIL is super healthy in his late 70s, runs or cycles every morning at 5.30am without fail, them goes to the gym later in the day. He's done this since retirement. My mil has health issues now but she used to swim every day.

LizziesTwin · 22/02/2023 08:59

My dad has been told to cycle more and walk less as his knee is sore, he was walking for an hour a day. He’s bought himself an exercise bike as he lives rurally and there are no streetlights. He works full time and is 80. My mum is dead but was very fit until her unexpected demise.

DesteB · 22/02/2023 09:38

We are both 73 this year. We both ski, we have no fear, I do yoga twice a week, my DH golf's. We have a huge garden and he does that and my sisters, they are both immaculate. He also still works full time.

Bathmatiswhite · 22/02/2023 09:49

Love love some of these posts! My DF is nearly 90 and literally doesn't move all day, his blood must be like sump oil. It's a miracle he's still alive tbh. My MIL is the same, sits all day, overweight. My Aunt is 77 and fab! Spins, in the gym, hikes, the lot. I'm a runner and in the gym 2/3 times a week, love long distance walking and running. Want to be active for as long as possible

xogossipgirlxo · 22/02/2023 09:52

DesteB · 22/02/2023 09:38

We are both 73 this year. We both ski, we have no fear, I do yoga twice a week, my DH golf's. We have a huge garden and he does that and my sisters, they are both immaculate. He also still works full time.

Amazing. What kind of job it is, if you don't mind telling? Office job or physical demanding job? Wondering if I will be this active at the age of 73.

Heckythump1 · 22/02/2023 09:56

My Dad is 65 and the most fit and energetic person in our family!
He does walking football, goes to the gym 4/5 times a week, cycles and goes for very long walks most days too.
You wouldn't know he had a heart condition and a defibrillator fitted!
I love that he's living an amazing little retired life and will hopefully be with us for a long time to come :)

CantMakeHeadNorTail · 22/02/2023 09:58

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ at the poster's request.

Picklypickles · 22/02/2023 10:00

My maternal grandparents are in their 80's, nan has dementia and is in a nursing home and grandpa is getting increasingly frail and has glaucoma so not much activity for them these days sadly.

My paternal granddad was always very active well into his late 70's and then started having issues with his knees and mobility, he tripped over a step and died when he was 81.

My mum and dad are in their mid/late 60's. Sadly mum has Parkinsons Disease and back problems so she is no longer active, she barely leaves the house but her husband is still very active. My dad is very robust and healthy, like his dad he's barely known a days illness in his life. He plays a lot of golf, he walks and cycles pretty regularly and has lots of days out with me and his grandchildren, running around the beach and swimming in the sea etc.

iloveeverykindofcat · 22/02/2023 10:01

Nope. My family tends to a thin body type, especially thin limbs, and most of them think it exempts them from any form of exercise.

This has not worked out well for them.

Oopswediditagain2023 · 22/02/2023 10:01

My great aunt used to swim every week but then when covid happened she gave it up like most of her friends unfortunately.
My parents walk quite a bit, and again my mum used to be a member of a gym but then post-covid gave it up.

Mushroo · 22/02/2023 10:04

Generally no. My dad is 68 and does a bit of walking but since retirement he doesn’t socialise outside of my mum and tbh I don’t think it’s good or healthy.

My mum does no obvious exercise but works In retail so on her feet all day.

My PIL on the other hand do loads. FIL cycles an hour each day and has joined a hiking club with friends. MIL has become obsessed with her Fitbit and does alll the cleaning of a large 5 bed house and plus also goes hiking.

I wish my parents (especially my dad) did more. Interestingly though, my parents are a healthier weight.