Am I too old at 50 to start exercising now?

[PurpleDisco]

Nearly everyone I know has some sort of regular exercise routine going with either running or the gym etc. I’d like to be that person but I’m wondering if I’m too old now at 50 to start and have I seriously left it too late? I worry about my health though I’m not overweight, my BMI is 23.5. I walk to and from work everyday (2 miles) but apart from that I don’t do any exercise to exert myself. I keep reading that you should exercise to the point of being out of breath! Would it be dangerous for me to suddenly start now?

Even people over 65 who started exercising significantly improved:

• Body fat mass (decrease)
• Handgrip strength
• Knee extension strength
• Gait speed and “timed-up-and-go” performance (i.e., functional mobility)

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34763651/

Not at all. Never too late! I would also recommend a PT if you can afford one and specifically someone who has expertise that will help you (for me this was finding an excellent post-partum PT, and now she is helping me with the early symptoms of perimenopause too) - worth every single penny. I have breaks from it and just crack on myself using the tools she’s provided me and then go back when I need a new plan etc.

The gym isn’t for everyone but it’s absolutely worth a shot OP! I have other friends who run, do Pilates, hike, etc. There’s something for everyone :)

Absolutely not. I coach at my local rowing club and we get plenty of 50 somethings signing up to our beginner courses. Often they have literally done no regular exercise since they left school, are overweight and incredibly unfit. Its amazing to watch these individuals transform themselves in the space of six months from barely being able to sustain a few minutes of exercise to being able to do full sessions (weights, ergs, on the water) as well as dropping a load of weight. Its quite inspiring to be honest.

I joined a gym about 18 months ago - I was then 63. I've used it mainly for cardio as I realised that just walking around my town wasn't doing enough to keep me fit and that was affecting my enjoyment of one of my main interests which is hiking/walking. It has really improved my fitness and means I have the confidence to join walking groups and go on walking holidays. I also regularly do pilates and have an e-bike which I use instead of short car journeys. All of these things are helping to keep me fit and active which is increasingly important as you get older. I only wish I'd started the gym earlier!

One of my role models took up running in her 60s and is still running in her late 70s.

Walking a couple of miles a day is a great foundation, but it's easy to not walk briskly enough and just maintain a functional level of movement. No single exercise type will cover all aspects of fitness. Getting your heartrate up, using your range of mobility and resistance/ weight to build muscular strength are all important to cover.

Being strong and mobile through middle age into old age is the best way to improve your odds of a healthy old age with good quality of life.

My elderly relatives were of the generation that valued thinness and being "ladylike". Life became more sedentary in their middle age, and good muscle tone wasn't encouraged by lifestyle or exercise avaliability. They've struggled with osteoarthritis; in DM's case it has impacted her life for over 20 years. I hope that maximising my bone and muscle mass through middle age, I can delay such health issues.

You're never too old. I'm 53 and have started walking as often as I possibly can, mainly up huge hills, that gets your intensity minutes in. I can feel myself getting fitter and stronger.
You're doing great by walking two miles regularly, could you maybe add in some hills?
Easy ones to begin with then when you feel your strength building add in much harder ones.
The benefits of exercise are fantastic at our age.
Good luck!