AIBU to wonder how non-exercisers cope with aches as they age?

[secretgoose]

This is a curiosity post not a judgemental post.

But those who don’t go to the gym and don’t do any exercises, what kind of ailments are you living with and how old are you?

I’m 32 and I’ve been going to the gym for 4 years. I have some problems with my health occasionally such as hip tightness. I went out with my friends who don’t gym and after so long walking they both complained their legs were aching and I wondered how they will cope when they’re 40,50,60…

this isn’t judgemental because I think we have a real huge problem with exercising for aesthetics rather than how it makes us feel (as proven by the uptake of weight loss jabs). My bmi is currently in the overweight category. To look at me, I don’t look like a “gym person”. But I know I feel 10x fitter than I did in my 20s and for me, that’s what counts. Just wanted to add a little explainer so people don’t roll their eyes at me.

Maybe having a gym free/weight lifting free life isn’t as bad as I think it would be in terms of health but yeah, judging by how some of my friends are in their 30s, I really worry about it.

You have a problem with people exercising because they want to look good?

I’m quite fit and still have aching legs after a long walk. It’s pretty normal I thought?

Honestly I ache far more if I go to the gym than if I don't.

I'm 60. I have pretty much never exercised, because it's so tedious. I don't really have any aches and pains. I haven't needed to see a doctor for 15 years. So far, I've been lucky, I guess.
No doubt it will all catch up with me eventually, but in the meantime I've enjoyed my life and read many, many books..... which I'm very happy about 🤣

Does exercise prevent all aches? I have loads of friends who exercise who always have some form of complaint or injury since our 30s. I just think I’ve been lucky!

I don’t really have aches and am well into my 40s. I’m at the upper end of a normal BMI. I do mean to get more exercise but it’s the thing that is currently slipping in my life. I’m perfectly capable of a 20 mile hike or a long cycle ride. What I’m no good at is running for any length of time.

I’ve thought this before too, OP. Doing a pretty standard walk with a group of healthy women the same age as me (as in no mobility issues or anything) and some of them really struggling. We had to rush to get a train once, just some brisk walking, and some of them just couldn’t keep up.

I think functional fitness, particularly strength, is such a big thing too. It’s the best to avoid frailty, which seems like a problem for way in the future, but being fit and active now and continuing with it reaps such benefits for the future. I worry for DH a bit as he is far less fit and I wonder what that’ll be like when relative youth is no longer on his side.

Also what are you classing as exercise? My parents and grandparents didn’t really do anything other than walking.

I think we have a real huge problem with exercising for aesthetics rather than how it makes us feel (as proven by the uptake of weight loss jabs).

What do you mean by this?

I’m 39 and overweight. I don’t do any exercise. I walked around Lincoln on Friday and shopping on Saturday, my shins have hurt ever since. My back hurts every day. I have irritable legs because I don’t move enough I expect (magnesium helps but not much) I get tired of walking quite quickly. None of it is so bad that I can’t cope though. I need to do something about it really.

I think the issue is actually about stretching and strength work rather than anything else
Research tells us that the risk of falls and fragility are reduced if the muscles are stronger, and it's more difficult to strengthen the muscles as you become older
Most of my patients who come in for foot and ankle pain even if they regularly go to the gym/exercise don't regularly do stretching exercises. Yoga and Pilates have been shown again and again to reduce pressure on joints, help with loosening up muscles and help us reduce risk of muscoskeletal pain....

I did 17,000 steps the other day & my legs/feet were a bit sore.

My main exercise is yoga

Omg thank you. Someone who understands what I’m getting at!

I don’t know what the point of my post was but yh I find it concerning.

Agree it will be a huge problem for lots of people as they age, you can get away with it for a certain amount of time but then eventually..

I'm 56 and run nearly every day, cycle several times a week, weights 2-3 times pw, walk everywhere. Plus three yoga and pilates passes pw, in the hope of keeping some mobility.

I'm going to say I'm very stiff. All the time.

There's nothing wrong with exercising to look good. That's why I do it. The health benefits are just a bonus.

There's also a difference between just looking slim, and looking slim and fit, so I don't get your point about weight loss jabs. Exercise isn't just about losing weight.

I’m going to take your post in good faith even though I. Am see why it might have pissed people off.

I’ve always had an active, physical job and im now in my fifties. I can walk without any problems. I’m not flexible, so I’m aware I need to focus on that going forward. I get aches and pains because of having a physical job my whole life. That’s all I can tell you.

Obviously not but I understand why you came to that conclusion.

There are a few reasons to exercise, one of them could be aesthetics and another could be to function better in the world. More often than not, people forget the latter exists. So when they go in the gym or exercise generally, they’re not exercising to avoid back pain when standing at work or to be able to keep up with their friends on a walk, they’re doing it to try and get a 6 pack, which for the majority of people is unobtainable and so they give up. I think this is a problem.

Maybe non exercisers don't have as many aches! I have all kinds of injuries from doing sports over the years.

I’m actually fine. I used to run and do classes but I’ve had mental health issues which put me off exercising. Going to the gym soon.

I am in my late 60s, and an exerciser. I have some friends who do (or who are very purposefully active) and others who don't. But none are very overweight, or big drinkers or smokers.

The difference is beginning to show in stamina, agility/stability and to a small degree how easy/hard it is to keep the weight off. However, the non-exercisers are still happy and healthy in the sense of heart health, resistance to infections etc etc.

I suspect how long we live will be pretty randomly distributed across us, but how active and independent we are will differ.

From my general observation, whether or not you will get aches and pains has little to do with exercise, and everything to do with the genetic hand you have been dealt. Exercise has big impact on muscle tone, bone health, heart health, general well-being, but I don't think it does much to prevent arthritis.

Just curious how your BMI is in the overweight category? Or do you eat loads of junk?

I run 3 miles once a week and walk daily as well as doing two weights classes and yoga weekly. I suffer from aches, pains and stiffness all the time. Neither do I feel the energy I hear about from fresh air and exercise. Aged 54. BMI 22.

In my experience it depends. My grandfather walked up at least 4 flights of stairs every day, to the shops, pub and so on. He was fit and died at 94. My nana on the other hand was small and petite but rarely exercised, before the days when weights were recommended for fitness and bone strength, she had osteoporosis.