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.

" 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. "

What kind of shoes did they have though? Some women can't walk much because of their choice of footwear.

I’m 36y/o, I’ve got a BMI of 42. Before anyone leaps down my massive throat, yes I’m aware that’s high.

My legs ache from even a small amount of walking, horrendously so, and my back hurts from simple tasks like doing the washing up.
l would be the person lagging behind you on a walk to a train station, or anywhere really. My partner and I have very occasionally done the 1 mile walk into town, and I need to sit down at least twice.

I have (very) recently started making a conscious effort to move more, and the easiest way to do that for me is to take my son out for a walk - there’s no choice but to keep up with him.

I’ve done 4400 steps today, and I promise you - despite clearly not being 10000, that is an achievement for me.

I won’t be stepping foot in a gym or doing any publicly obvious exercise (like running) until I’ve shifted some of this weight. I only consider groups that only very unfit overweight people attend, if such a thing exists, but there is no way I’d take my massive arse to a general fitness class or gym session where someone’s running 10k for the fun of it.

This is why I've exercised throughout my life...

In my
20s - to look good
30s - to be fit
40s - to keep my weight at a healthy level
50s - because I wanted to stay fit
60s - because I want to be able to stay active and strong as long as I can
70 - not there yet. I wonder what my reason will be?

My husband runs regularly. We are in our 50s and he has far more injuries and pains than i do. I am always on the go, being active. My bmi is 19 and I eat well. I do a bit of formal exercise with weights at home every day but nothing crazy. I certainly don’t think going to the gym is mandatory for good physical health. My mum is in her 80s and in great health just by being somebody who is always active, walking to the shops, never driving etc.

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 am in my 50's, menopausal and have a BMI of 49. I do a job that requires me to get down on my knee's for an hour at a time, quite a lot of moving and handling, I can move an adult in their riser recliner with ease to make it easier for me to get onto the floor. I don't have any ailments, rarely unwell, but I do have some occasional random aches and getting socks on is a bit of a pantomime !
I can carry 8 full bags of shopping about 15 meters, a bit like a farmer carry, usually containing at least 6 litres of milk, a couple of six packs of water and a couple of six packs of pop amongst other things.
I think I am strong ( picked another adult up off the floor last week ) but not fit and certainly not very flexible. I need to lose 10 stone and regain some fitness and flexibility.

I have been thin and very busy all my life so no exercise. I have now put on an huge amount of weight, but BMI is still 23 so overall it is ok while a massive shock to my system. I am totally unfit and need to do weights as my joints cannot cope with the additional strain (reasonable though the new BMI might sound).

I completely agree with you - it is essential to exercise through life for bone health, joints, muscles, enjoyment and to keep
going!! Don’t be complacent as I was!

if you have a job that requires lots of moving about or you’re a parent to young kids or you’re retired but spend your days pottering about - that is more effective on your joints etc than if you sit down all day and then go to the gym for an hour

I agree. I think generally being active and moving is far better for you, than having a sedentary job and then going crazy in the gym three times a week.

"My rheumatologist said my knees are weak and I should strengthen them. I really didn’t know where to start"

He (or your GP) should be sending you to a physiotherapist.

If you are autistic, you are far more likely to be hyper mobile than the average person. If you are going to the gym that's likely to make your muscles stiffer which in turn helps compensate the hyper mobility and is probably why you have less backache. I strongly recommend you DO NOT start stretching - it can make hyper mobility worse and potentially cause your backache to return.

Admittedly I haven’t read the whole thread. However, I’m probably much older than most of you, so let me tell you that exercising regularly will, at some point, mean the difference between being able to do things…… or not.

If you don’t exercise you will most likely get to a point where everyday tasks get difficult. It’s not necessarily a question of popping your clogs sooner rather than later - you are potentially looking at many years of increasingly poor health and increasing immobility and pain.

you don’t want that, you really don’t. So many people I know who are about my age find that their lives are restricted because they struggle with mobility and various ailments. So, if I can give one piece of advice, it’s that you eat a healthy diet, don’t smoke or drink too much, and exercise most days and walk as much as possible.

Here endeth the sermon. (From a very fit woman in her 70s who still skies, ice skates, swims, hikes, plays tennis et cetera)

I think there’s a lot of luck in how we age. I’m mid 70’s, don’t go to the gym, but I walk a fair bit (4 or 5 miles two or three times a week).

As far as I know, I have no health issues, I take no prescribed medications, and don’t have aches and pains unless I have done a lot of extra physical stuff.

I think I am lucky to feel so well.

I agree with you OP. Some of the responses on here tell you what you need to know 'Oh but my nan exercised daily and still got osteoporosis' or 'my friend did no exercise for 60 years and she is fine... ' I just don't think a lot of people get it to be honest.

It was a copper one (one that the doctor told me that they'd sent the wrong size!) though I did have problems with the mirena too - I didn't have the mirena as long because it never settled down for me. It's a little bonkers what women are supposed to put up with day to day though. No wonder we just grit our teeth with other aches and pains!

Never been to the gym in my life. I'm pretty fat.

I walk ten miles most days. I don't get aches and pains other than the remnants of SPD nerve pain from when I was pregnant.
I can run without being out of breath. I'm on my feet at work all day lifting and carrying. I have a lot of muscle.

No intention of going to a gym, it would be my version of pure hell.

I'm 43 and a non exercisor, much to my fitness loving husbands annoyance! I have no aches or pains, am flexible and have no problem keeping up on a long walk or running about with my children. I have 6 of them, and am the same size 10 now as I was when I had my first at 26.

Omg this is really interesting as I am hyper mobile!!! I suffer with tight hamstrings because of the way I stand. I’m currently on a huge mission to strengthen my glutes and lower abs to try and help. Thank you for this!!

I'm a runner - but a mooch around London last week had my legs killing me.

All my aches is caused by excercise 😅

Genetics is the big thing. No one in my family has any arthritic problems. We all have easily flexible joints - can touch our toes in our 70s. That flexibility and stability makes us much less prone to falls in later life.

But also it doesn't have to be about execise or gym. You can build a lot of that into your daily life. Stretch up to cupboards, walk to the shops with a rucsack (and home again is weight bearing).

Well done for trying to do something about it & keep at it 😃

them aches will go away, its just your body telling you the muscles are working

no one should pile on you for trying to increase your fitness levels, just support & encourage you. Its not easy

I was wondering this today funnily enough. I've done a hyrox style fitness class then a long walk up a steep hill and back. 23k steps, loads of cardio and strength, it doesn't give me any aches or pains. I'm past menopause.

But I have friends who find a long walk or all day shopping trip hard work.

I think it very much depends on what we consider "exercise". Some of the fittest older people I know are the folk at my allotment who never set foot in the gym but spent the last 30 years ferrying barrels of horse manure around, weeding, digging, carrying watering cans and such. My granny last exercised 50 years ago but she lives in a top floor flat in a five-storey building with no lift and walks 30 minutes each way to the shops every day, climbing the stairs back to her apartment with a shopping bag. She is 87, she is by no means pain-free or sprightly but she is in a better shape than most of her friends.
The trouble begins when people have completely sedentary lives and use their cars at every opportunity. I certainly found myself needing to exercise a lot more when I started driving in my late 30s.

Well done you. I think we get obsessed with certain goals and think we have to commit to a marathon or the gym 4 times a week, but sometimes the smallest goals are the most sustainable and successful ones if you keep at them over time. Simple small changes like taking the stairs instead of lifts, 10 min walk a day, it’ll all add up.

The most i have ever constantly acted was in my early 30s, on mat leave, with a 2 yr old and bf a baby. My joints shed until I stopped bf.

I walk around all day, but am usually quite tense and use my laptop at weird heights/ angles (teacher). So i ache.

I go to the gym/ run x4 each week. Ido a lot of physical stuff in the garden. So i always mildly ache. Although standing still makes me hurt the most.

Don't go to the gym, 57 now, haven't owned a car in decades, can happily walk a few miles at a brisk pace and (as a teacher) spend all day on my feet and sprinting up and down stairs. Rode a bicycle for decades - before pedal assist.

I think you'll find the issue is cars.