When is it too late to get fit?

[pancakes22]

Is it possible for a very unfit (out of breath walking up 4 flights of stairs unfit) 33 year old, mum of one and currently pregnant with second to get fit...? Is it too late for me? I'm ashamed that I'm not healthier and want to be able to run around with my kids or go on a bike ride and have a healthy life but just never have the time, money (or prior inclination I suppose). I've never been into sports etc and exercise has just kind of slid by. I was so embarrassed on a trip to centre parcs that I couldn't get up the hills on the bike as I was so out of breath. That's not the mum I want to be. I am conscious I'm getting older and don't want to leave it until it's too late but I don't know where to start or how to fit it in. I can't afford to joint gym or personal training etc. I have excessively tight Achilles and hamstrings and so when I have in the past tried to go for a long walk or try and run it becomes agony on my legs.

It's never too late! And certainly not at 33. Although, as you're pregnant you should be careful not to over exert yourself.

Could you start with something like a pregnancy aqua natal class, or a pregnancy yoga/Pilates class?

Never too late I was 39 had my two children and discovered the gym and lifting weights, even saw a glimpse of abs at 42 years old....

Still go to the gym 2-3 times a week just for my sanity.

Try a few things, classes, weights,, cardio find what you love not what you feel you should be doing... if you love it the results and fitness will follow.

I thought you were going to say 70 not 30! It’s probably to late for you to have an Olympic career but a “good” level of fitness you’d be daft to say 30 is to old.

it's not too late!

there was a poster who took up martial arts in her 50s, I think, progressing through the belts?

anyway, why not. Re the Achilles, is a foam roller any use for you?

Never too late & certainly not at 33! I have a friend who retrained from lawyer to personal trainer at 40 & is very fit & successful having been sedentary, unfit & several stone heavier before that. 33 is so young!

Not remotely too late!

I'm 45, I started Couch to 5K when I was 43 & I've just done my first half-marathon.

I'd really recommend it, you start running just 30 seconds at a time & slowly build up.

It's never too late and I would certainly encourage you to try some sort of exercise that you would enjoy. However I noticed that twice you mentioned that you were out of breath and I wondered if you were perhaps anaemic? When my children were young I always thought I was terribly unfit as I used to get out of breath very easily but it transpired that I was severely anaemic and once I started on prescribed iron supplements it made a huge difference and I felt 10 years younger and fitter. Also, because I didn't feel so tired, my fitness naturally improved as I was able to do so much more.

You’re only 33 OP you’ve got plenty of time 😊 Also you say you are out of breath but that could be due to your pregnancy. I suffered breathlessness during the latter stages of both my pregnancies as it was caused by all my organs pushing up onto my lungs. Good luck with everything and congratulations on your pregnancy

Never, ever too late.

I joined a running club at 45. At 33 you’d be considered one of the young ones.

I quite like.refit revolution on YouTube. It's a little bit like Zumba I guess but lots of different dance styles DD likes joining in too. It won't give you a six pack but I still low impact, quite fun and will improve your cardio health

It's never to late. I'm 20 years older than you and started running when I was 50! I've done anything from 5k's to the Stirling marathon last year. I do 5 HIIT classes a week as well as meeting with my running club 3 times a week (although I realise it's not easy fitting fitness in with young children.). I wish I'd found my fitness mojo at 33 and not waited until Imwas 50 Good luck OP

I am 46. I will admit I used to be very fit in my younger days. I completely stopped exercising for about 5 years for medical reasons around the age of 40. I hated the slide into middle age, loss of tone, waist and strength. So last year, I restarted. I spent a year walking, made myself average 10k/day each week for a year. Then, I restarted running, did C25K until I could run for 25 minutes. I am now comfortable doing 10k/hour. Still looking for my waist, but I have my cheekbones back and a much flatter belly.

At 33ish, between children, I got a static exercise bike and pedalled on that in front of the TV the each evening. Using only that, I was able to get fit enough to do a London to Paris bike ride.

Pregnancy (SPD) trashed my fitness so I had to start from the beginning twice, as in from walking 100m to the post box and back and going to bed to recover.

Exercise advice for pregnancy is generally to keep to your comfort zone within your existing activity level. Walking, swimming and pregnancy classes (aqua, yoga etc) are good ways to keep mobile.

After pregnancy build up very gently. Pregnancy and birth require recovery. Walking and specific postnatal exercises are a good starting points within the first couple of months. Gradually build it up. I had hard pregnancies and births and was about 6 months before I felt ready for mainstream exercise classes. Most after 2-3 months.

I took up C25k when DS2 was 6m. I was 32. I'd finally stopped limping but was still low on CV fitness. I ran my first HM at 33 and have kept the habit. Handy as I have speedy kids! We do things like parkrun as a family and are fit and active together.

No it's not too late. Be patient for now and checking iron is a sensible suggestion.

If my MIL can go on a walking holiday in her late 80's then there's nothing stopping you, is there?!

Never too late. I'm not pg but this overweight mum who hadn't exercised since quitting compulsory sport at 15 is now running parkrun in Saturdays. Highly recommend it, you can walk, or jog &walk for lower impact. Another thing is just to walk for exercise, we got a dog! I've shifted 7lbs without dieting running on Saturdays and once in the week (normally 3km in week)

Hi OP,

Have you got a group near you for mums to work out? I have something close to me where you can take your child and walk with the pram and there's also group walks around parks? I don't know if you also have something similar but it's worth you checking it out as it's free and it's a way of socialising with other mums as well, they most likely don't do hardcore work outs either and you can do if at your own pace which is what you want really. Even just walking to a shop instead of driving can be an improvement! Start off small, font force yourself into running 2 miles because you don't want to injure yourself. A walk is free, go for a speed walk for 10/15 minutes and then work your way up gradually. Also diet is a big thing, how is your diet? Don't starve yourself as you will need food for energy to be able to exercise and go for a walk or have the energy to join a group. Try to stick to three meals a days (a varied mix of vegetables and protein, some carbs), have fruit for a snack instead of chocolate of crisps and you can also get granola bars and start doing fruit smoothies if that would encourage you to eat more fruit?

Hope this helps! But yes check out mum groups by you that are free, you don't need to spend a fortune on gyms! Gl

I am 52 and started exercising at 47 , doing Zumba once a week (totally un-coordinated and had to stop for breath at first ) then a year later I started Couch 2 5k as a podcast and joined a running group. I was always last / worst at PE and my family an I still can’t believe it happened, but its the best thing I ever did. I’m slow, very slow by most runners standards but the club is so encouraging about working hard ‘for you’ rather than by others standards. Within weeks you really notice your recovery rate improve and in months I was running miles. I recommend it 100% , you don’t have to run to be an olympic athlete , run for your goal. Its a great example to set your kids too. I’m now a run leader and love helping people just like you who don’t think they can do it ...you can !

Never too late!

I started running 15 months ago aged 37, parkrun with friends. Gone from jog-walking in utter exhaustion the first few months, to completing a 10km race in a little over 50 minutes. And lost a couple of stone in the process (which was the entire point of the exercise). Just gotta do it.