50+

[garden4569]

Hi I am 50+ and feel the need to make some changes, I walk the dog but that is basically it in the exercise front. I prob do around 7000 steps a day, so definitely can't describe myself as fit and can feel my flexibility reducing year on year!
Are there any other 50+ers out there who have got fitter, does anyone have any advice?

I'd like to be a fit and active person throughout my life but am struggling to put down the wine, not smoke and actually be better at looking after myself!

I did go through a phase in lockdown if doing skipping 400 skips a day in lockdown and that was good.... Keen to hear some inspiring stories from you 🙂

Watching with you OP.

Definitely take up yoga 🧘‍♀️
You will see benefits from that

Totally unfit until 54. Out of breath on gentle hills, no energy, etc. Yoga, weights, and a bit of cardio have totally changed me and also got my BP etc down to good levels. Start with one activity - like your skipping - and build on that. Consistency and doing it even when you don’t feel like it is the key. You always feel better afterwards. It’s not instant either so expect to see improvements on a monthly basis and not a daily basis. You can track fitness improvements directly with a smart watch and a BP monitor.

Swimming?

YouTube yoga, Madfit and Joe Wicks workouts. Start with a beginners 10 minute session, do that every day for a week, as well as your walking, then build on more. Save the wine for a weekend. Eat more veg and less meat. Use a Fitbit to track your progress.

I'm 40s and fairly fit, I mainly do pilates and really enjoy it, lots of great YouTube workouts. Great for core muscles too. Those of you who do yoga, have you done pilates and how does it compare? I've tried it but find it more boring than pilates.

Get a fitness tracker, it has greatly motivated me. Often after dinner if I haven’t done my target steps for the day I go out for a walk. Also surprises me on days I haven’t moved much how few calories I have burned.
I started running in my mid 40s, always hated it before . I started with a group of friends very slowly. Rather than a catch up over coffee and cake we would run. I am now addicted!

I did C25K when I was 50ish

Best thing I have ever, ever done

And I thought I was useless, unsporty and the wrong shape to run, and that everyone who sang its praises must secretly have been the sporty cool girls at school or lying about how well it worked. Then it worked for me

Thank you for your feedback and suggestions, I'm going to make some changes and refer to this thread to keep me believing I can do it ...

Took up boxing training at 48. Still do it, and love it (pad work and bag work only, no actual sparring). That's my cardio.

Took up weight lifting at the start of 2020 and also love it. My body has firmed up very nicely, physical stuff like housework is not daunting and sweaty any more and I'm in the best condition I've ever been in. I'm 53.

@AuntieStella

I did C25K when I was 50ish

Best thing I have ever, ever done

And I thought I was useless, unsporty and the wrong shape to run, and that everyone who sang its praises must secretly have been the sporty cool girls at school or lying about how well it worked. Then it worked for me

Me too. I still don't love running and rarely do it now, but C25K was an incredible confidence boost, as well as giving me the fitness to get into other types of exercise that I enjoy more.

I've signed up to a half marathon in a couple of months.

😱 half marathon?!

I’m 53, not very flexible and have had a mastectomy, ovaries/fallopian tubes/ hysterectomy all done over the last 5 years. I swim 3 times a week as it doesn’t require huge stamina, I just go at my own pace. It definitely helps with stiffness and overall fitness. I also do long countryside walks at the weekend with the dog.
However my GP has now told me I must do more weight bearing exercise, so I’ve signed up to a Pilates class. Nervous about it as I’m a real weakling and have very little core strength.

Pilates is really good. We used to do it pre covid - it’s better if you have a bad back than yoga.

Another vote for Pilates. Just started reformer Pilates and love it. I do that weekly plus a mix of resistance and cardio at the gym, and dog walking. I've seen real results since April. I am 55 and feel 20 years younger.

I did NOT feel that way a year ago. I've also lost three stone since last October plus on an adapted version of the med diet, cooking everything from scratch.