To hope that the exercise I do now will help mobility when I'm older

[facelace]

My mum is 60, bad knee, bad back etc etc. I don't want to be like that.

I'm 38 and weight lift 2/3 times a week. Aibu in thinking this will help me when I'm her age?

My mum has never done any exercise past childhood.

Saw this and thought of this thread

I do a job that involves seeing lots of very fit women across all decades. The women I know in their 60s, 70s, 80s who are active and strong are incredible.... When I compare this to people I know in my family or friends of family it's just another world. Strength, cardio, balance training and flexibility - that's what I focus on for my future body.

Cardio that's kind to the joints, so brisk walking rather than running, stretches to stay supple like yoga, and some strength training should give you the best chance. However I think what you consume is equally important, so very little alcohol and whole foods plant based diet, but making sure you get plenty of calcium and good fats. Take care of your neck, avoid too much staring down at screens and use as flat a pillow as you can. Watch your shoulders, distribute the weight you carry evenly rather than on one arm. Bend and lift correctly, always. I'm 55 and do all these things now. I wish I'd have started at 30.

I think we are all in denial about the inevitability of ageing these days, tbh

I think this is SO true, stuff has started hurting with me and I was running ultra marathons until last year. I'm finding it extremely hard to accept ageing, pain and related restrictions (late 50's)

@CatsMother66 I love that!

I'm the same age as your mum OP.

I run two x 5k a week, an hour's karate and a 45 min speed walk. So basically 45-60 mins of vigorous exercise, every other day. I don't overdo it. Plenty of stretching. A couple of additional charity 10k in a year is my maximum, no marathons. I eat healthily, cook from scratch, lots of veg. I can maintain this level without difficulty. Decent shoes, running on grass rather than concrete, paying attention to warm up/cool down.

There is a man near me, at least 85, who runs every day. And quite a few 70+ park runners. They are remarkable

Of course many people who have problems with joints don't have the problems because they don't exercise, rather they don't exercise because every step is painful. I was unlucky enough to be one of the 50% of my family to develop early onset arthritis. I would love to be more active but my joints were buggered by the time I was 50. Sadly I have nieces much younger suffering just as much, my brother too. It doesn't show, unless you look closely at our hands. Always worth remembering too is that Osteoarthritis is a disease of wear and tear

My knee and hip joints are kinda knackered thanks to a lifetime of obesity and serious walking.
Now in my 50s I've lost all the weight eat healthy, don't drink, run, weight train, pilates and other cardio on exercise bike and trampoline. My joints do hurt doing it but they are worse if I sit around and do nothing.

Basically I can't undo any damage but I can make sure that whatever happens in the future wasn't because of something I didn't do.

@Magpie50 - the best thing you can probably do is resistance/weight bearing leg exercises to strengthen the muscles around your knee joints.

Plus planks and abs work for your hips.

But I'd consult with a physio to be sure I'm doing it correctly. Dr Jo on YouTube also has great advice on the most appropriate exercise for different ailments.

My parents were the fittest people out. They didn't have a car, so walked everywhere. They cycled hundreds of miles. Ate healthily , don't drink or smoke, not overweight.

Got to mid 50's and health started declining. Mum developed rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis , heart issues, had to have a knee replacement, which impacted mobility further.

So, yes, while it can help to do exercise etc as you get older, it is still a gamble as you have no way of knowing how your health will decline.