AIBU to think the pressure for ‘older’ women to exercise is wrong?

[StitchInLime]

So as a woman in my late 40s, I keep getting told (via ads, from some people in my life, via tv and so on) that I need to do strength exercises and cardio if I don’t want to suffer later in life. And yet, it’s the woman I know who did f-all exercise at my age and before who seem to be thriving in their 60s/70s (eg my aunts) and the ones who did more exercise at my age now have issues with knees, hips etc. I find it difficult to find the motivation in light of this. If you have opposite examples, please share as I really need to motivate myself!

I'm doing weight training with a smidge of cardio each week because I want to minimise my risks of developing osteoporosis . I want to have good strength and maintain muscle mass in later life to help prevent falls and I keep up the cardio as I have a family history of heart disease.
Dont exercise if you don't want to OP but be aware of the negatives of your choice and I'm not doing it to look good whatever that means

Oh and HIIT sessions are not great for women as they age.

Health care professional here. The older people I see who tend to fare the worst are the ones who are overweight, inactive, drink to excess or smoke. There are obviously anomalies but that's what I see

There are 50 somethings whose abilities are worst than 80 and 90 year olds due to lifestyle choices.

The other issue is tiny, thin malnourished old ladies who break a bone from the slightest trip.

More and more people are developing conditions which are avoidable with health measures. (I realise not all and that its a complex issue)

Disclaimer: I am not perfect in how I manage my health but I'm more aware and trying

If you make it to old age, having done little exercise, and are healthy then I would say a lot of that is down to luck. Strength training is so important for women as they get older. As a PP mentioned, osteoporosis and risk of fractures as you get older. Working in hospitals, I’ve seen so many elderly people in from falls - lack of strength, lack of balance. A simple fall when you are old can be catastrophic. You don’t need to go to the gym. Body weight exercises at home are far better than nothing at all. Do 10 squats each time you go to the loo. Stand on one leg whilst you brush your teeth. If you start small and make it easy, it will become habit and you will reap those rewards when you are older.

I think it’s incredibly important to keep active as we age, that doesn’t need to be at the gym. Also, to keep supple and flexible. I have a sister who is late 50s. She has allowed herself to become really inflexible and has lost strength - she can’t even stand up from sitting without using her arms and is doddery in her gait.

Whereas the women in my exercise group - I'm by far the youngest at 60 - are all belatedly doing cardio/strength exercises because we're not remotely fit!

My PT is a woman about my age, who I get on well with, & signing up with her was a brilliant decision. I’m not doing strength training & cardio for looks, I’m doing them for health & fitness. And working with her means I can learn the right techniques so I can minimise the chances of injury.

I exercise because I don’t like feeling stiff when I get out of bed and because being early 40s I’m in the move it or lose or category. I’m hyper mobile so yoga is out, I prefer strength training.

Exercising when you’re older is about fall prevention. Anything that helps you maintain strength and balance will help with QOL. A fall with a broken bone is the beginning of a much smaller life for a lot of elderly people.

Agree. They are brutal...but all the cardio based exercise classes at gyms seem to be about maximum physical intensity and punishing routines. Even as a younger woman, I preferred stuff like Rosemary Conlry

Yes it applies to unhealthy and disabled people. Get a physio to help you work out what you need. Number one aim should be maintaining independence and quality of life.

@RudsyFarmer we obviously have a different understanding as I have not witnessed a PT making their client thrown him or herself around! It simply doesn't happen. Flipping large tyres - is that the sort of thing you mean? Even with the more 'energetic' type movements, it's always about proper form!

Six of us in my gang, ages 68-73; all in reasonable nick! Three of us still work, one full-time as a teacher.

We all do some form of regular exercise - swimming, tennis, gym, dance and walking. None is a gym bunny or marathon runner.

It's the luck of the draw what you inherit health wise but you can help your genes along by keeping mobile and energised in your later years, so it makes sense to start this when you're younger then it's just part of your general lifestyle.

Orthopaedic and trauma nurse
I can have 2 women in beds beside each other same age, same injury. The one doing weight bearing exercises will recover faster. The other will take longer to recover and have more complications

It can be yoga, pilates, walking whatever but intentional activity makes for strength, the woman who sits on her backside all day expecting her family to lift and lay her after the injury will never recover to that level prior to the injury.

There's some really bad advice on here. Obviously underlying health conditions need to be considered, but to state that things like HIIT aren't good for older women is a load of codswallop.

If you want to have the best chance of living well for as long as possible then you need to do exercise.

There are always exceptional people who "get away with it" and don't exercise etc. Just like we know smoking is bad for you but there's the odd 90 year old who smokes and is fine.

It's about creating the best chance for you personally. Not about looking good, but being strong and able to lift yourself off the floor when you fall over at age 70. Or being able to balance as you reach for something. Or reducing your risk of osteoporosis etc.

When I was young the older people in my life had very active lives. Lots of waking and gardening. Their lifestyle helped them to stay fit and healthy.

Now I look at women of my generation and older. Most of them are still working long hours and having much more sedentary lives as a result. We all need to love more, but life now revolves so much around work.

It's not just about weight though. Muscle mass decreases rapidly after menopause, so it is very important to keep moving and exercising through middle age and onwards if you want enjoy a better quality of life.
Women years ago would have been doing far more heavy lifting through household chores and lived a much less sedentary life style.
YABVU

I didn't make the point you're responding to, that was another poster

It’s being responsible for yourself which we all need to do

of course it’s beneficial to keep fit and eat sensibly but it does take some effort

it’s gentle exercising to keep a healthy balance not extreme exercise

I didn't say HIIT isn't good for older women but there is evidence that it isn't the best way to exercise as we age
Do what you want but maybe read some of the science around this

Strength training isn’t just about lifting weights though. Weight bearing exercise is strength training and your mother is walking and doing yoga so she is doing it!

This. Living independently. Or as my aunt put it, being able to get on and off the loo on your own for as many years as possible!

You literally typed it though!

Self management and taking responsibility for your own health and well-being is vital. This doesn't mean I agree with Tory rhetoric that the disabled are undeserving, of course I don't. But we are much more aware now if the importance of practicing good self care to try and give you some protection from ill health in later life.

OP there is overwhelming evidence that exercise, strength training etc is beneficial for women as they get older. No one is going to force you to do it, but your anecdotes are pretty meaningless in the wider scheme of things.

Oh jeeze
Do as you wish
There is evidence that HIIT can be negative when not done properly and done to much in peri meonopausal and menopausal women
But it's a Sunday and I'm not here for an argument
Crack on