Starting on the road to fitness after 50 (or thereabouts) Support thread.

[Alooffoof]

Hi. I’m hoping this thread will be useful for anyone who is finding it overwhelming or is struggling to get started on the fitness journey.

We are possibly facing similar hormonal, health and family etc obstacles. And can help and inspire each other to keep going.

I’m 50. I’m starting from a fitness level of zero. I had long Covid and now I’m breathless just going up the stairs.

My goal is to get strong, fit and flexible.

I’m looking at yoga in the first instance but I’m hoping to add some weights and cardio into my training soon.

Please join and let us know where you are at and what your goals are.

We have got this!

So today I thought I’d better crack on with making an effort and I managed to fit in 10,000 steps around work, which was about 9,500 more than I usually manage on a Monday and I tried a brisker stride than normal too. How are the rest of you doing?

I walked 10k this afternoon in an hour and 25 minutes. I have no idea if that's fast by anyone else's standards but it felt it to me.

I've tried running but my knees object so I walk...

Well done jowly, think we both get a pat on the back today.

@Biscuitburglar

Well done jowly, think we both get a pat on the back today.

I love your user name!

Can I join, please? I’m 50 and soooo unfit, thanks to a combination of home-working since lockdown and a very high-needs SEN child, meaning I’m knackered, a bit depressed and have very little free time. And everything wobbles.

I think a combination of weights, swimming and dusting down the spin bike (lockdown purchase, obvs) is what I need. I’m hoping this thread will inspire me to get off my ever-expanding arse and do it!

Hello, just heading out on a long walk, I could go the easy way or the hard way which is more hilly ... I'm trying the hard way ... gulp

How did it go Vanderpump? I did my first exercise class for a while tonight. Apart from the instructor saying in front of the whole class that she hadn’t seen me for a VERY long time and a malfunction with my very tight sports bra that couldn’t stand the strain and came completely undone, it wasn’t too bad. Although I’m aching already so I’m not looking forward to trying to get out of bed in the morning. I’ve rebooked already for the same class next week before my resolve wobbles as much as the rest of me. It was good though that there were lots of 50+ women in there, with a wide range of fitness levels, so easy to blend in, definitely not as intimidating as I expected.

Oh can I join in this thread to get some motivation.
Couple of years ago was reasonably fit ish gym goer - did 2 months of the 90 day jo wicks plan to try and keep it up in the 1st lockdown but it sort of fizzled out.
Now however.... job change now means long unpredictable hours, moved house and the nearest (affordable) gym isn't very welcoming and the classes seem to be booked within 30 seconds of release.
At 50 I feel like I have lost all muscle , am weak and just bleugh never mind the paranoia about my pelvic floor letting me down if I exercise!
I'm really struggling to find consistent time.
I walked for ages today - 20k steps - but probs won't do anything else for a week so it's just not good enough.

Wow that reads like a long moan / load of excuses.... apologies!!
I'm hoping being on here will motivate / kick my arse

I'm 61 and training to cycle across the country in July. I've got a personal trainer and she's got me cycling about 8 hours a week, plus some yoga, core work, and a weights session.

Mostly I'm exhausted, but I am getting fitter, and slowly losing weight too.

I'm not quite 50 (almost 46) but could definitely do with a 'reset' - having twins and a very difficult birth at almost 40 has ruined me! I'm currently starting C25K again, planning to lose 3 stone and desperately trying to regain some sort of spark

Please can I join you all. Have had a few traumatic years, relationship, menopause and unhealthy eating. I'm ready to bloody get me back!
Going to do Lucy Wyndham-Read https://youtube.com/user/LWRFitnessChannel and build up slowly as mega unfit, start C25K when this bout of COVID has gone and eat healthier.
I'm determined this time...I'm doing this for me - with this groups help ....please 🤗

Hi everyone, I'd like to join, checking in with efforts/progress, and reading everyone else's will hopefully be motivational 🙂I'm 53 and very unfit, since my dog died nearly 2 years ago, and my twice daily walking ground to a halt. I've lost muscle as well as cardio fitness. My inactivity has meant my hips are happy though - I have osteoarthritis, and they are stiff and painful after longer walks. I'll have to be aware of this as, having now been pain free, I don't want to return to the level of issues that I just accepted before. I also had keyhole surgery last week, so tummy still a bit sore. God, I sound like an old crock 😂. I'll check in everyday, as a way of ensuring I do something, and to see how you all are. Here's to improved physical and emotional wellbeing for us all-good luck everyone! Starting weight 11st 12lbs.

@Zazu44 I'm doing C25K at the moment, up to week 3 - I'm finding it very hard work but I did it last year and got up to running for 30 minutes, planning to get there again!

@ClaraTheImpossibleGirl that's great, I've done it too but a long time ago!
What are you doing diet wise as I need to lose weight too x

I'd suggest couch 2 5k, you need some impact exercise to keep your bone density decent and ward off osteoporosis.

Look up Jessica valents youtube channel for beginners pilates (actual beginners ones not like some on YouTube) and lots of videos for dealing with different problem areas/injuries.

Peri/post menopausal women need extra protein, so try assessing your current intake with my fitness Pal, as this is probably the best food logging for macros.

Thanks @EgonSpengler2020 that's really helpful ☺️

Can I join? I need some accountability and a kick up the derriere.

I lost two stone over lockdown and have now put most of it back on. I have been working at home for most of that time, which strangely enough did not give me time to work out more. Instead I ended up working out less, because I feel I need to be "present" at my desk at all times. Now that I'm partly back in the office I have the same problem when WFH, and when I'm in the office I have less time becaues I have a long commute. I swear I used to exercise regularly, but I can't for the life of me remember where I found the time.

Now that we have the moany section out of the way ...

I have a subscription to Cathe Friedrich online, which gives me access to a library of approx 350 full-length workouts recorded live in CF's gym, plus her back catalogue of 200 or so DVD workouts. Her level is intermediate to advanced but I tend to modify (i.e. take it a bit easy ).

My goal is to be doing 4-5 workouts a week, which should be absolutely doable. I usually do 30-40 mins, either cardio, metabolic (cardio with lighter weights and compound exercises) or occasionally pure weights. I also have a load of DVD workouts that I can pull from for fun and for a change of pace.

Oh, and I'm over 50 and need to remember to do the weight-bearing stuff as well as the cardio.

How are you doing @MaudMarchesOn? I can't work out how to find the time for exercise either at the moment - DP's out of the house 6am - 6pm, I have the DC or am at work between those hours, and by the time they're in bed and I've done everything round the house it's usually after 10pm

In a couple of months my main excuse will hopefully have reduced as I've accepted a new job which will be much more 9-5 mon to fri rather than unpredictable hours over 7 days woop!
Soooo I'm determined to get back to a gym and pretend to know what I'm doing with the dumbells and just feel better about myself.
Usual weekly 9 mile walk done today with v little rest of week - some days I only manage 2k steps. More effort required

@ClaraTheImpossibleGirl

How are you doing *@MaudMarchesOn*? I can't work out how to find the time for exercise either at the moment - DP's out of the house 6am - 6pm, I have the DC or am at work between those hours, and by the time they're in bed and I've done everything round the house it's usually after 10pm

Ditch doing stuff around the house. Prioritise yourself

Also do the exercise at the first chance

That can mean you get through essential household stuff much quicker because you just want to get to bed

I would love to join this thread. Currently doing rigorous water exercise 4x a week for 1 hour. Although I feel stronger and am toning a bit my eating completely wipes out any progress I have made.

ClaraTheImpossibleGirl Still here! I did a 30 minute Cathe Friedrich kickboxing workout on Thursday and a 30 minute dance workout on Saturday - I like Gina B's Youtube workouts, which have fun, recognisable music.

mudgetastic I can totally get behind ditching work around the house! I have quite enough to do without maintaining a sparkling kitchen as well.

Welcome momtoboys

Howdidthathappen1 I used to love doing long walks, and then I got a rescue lurcher and that all stopped. Love him to bits but he is the laziest dog imaginable.

Well done with the workouts @MaudMarchesOn! My friend has a lurcher and he is the soppiest, sweetest, laziest creature imaginable

Eurgh no long walks this week - work in the way of life as per....
I've actually got a lurcher type dog - proper heinz 57. She can cope up to about 9 miles but proper plods after 7 and doesn't really enjoy it after that.
I also joined the local (ish) leisure centre but as I can only book classes last minute due to unpredictable work hours there's no hope of getting a space.
Obviously when I start my new job I will be there every night
Going to brave the cold doing some garden digging today to try and get some muscles moving - think I've actually seized up this morn

I'd love a dog to take for long walks @Howdidthathappen1 - must make it more interesting! How annoying about the classes - I know our local ones had to really restrict them due to Covid, plus the popular ones are usually booked out the week before by the regulars, so I never even bothered trying to get on them. I do all mine on Zoom nowadays!