What made you decide to start running/exercise?

[Freda999]

For me, a combination of another birthday looming combined with weight gain.

Used to be very slim with no effort (I know) but when I reached age 40+, combined with WFH has made me go from a size 10 to 14.

Am at the start, very new to running but not hating it. Also hoping I don't kill my knees, all feedback greatly accepted 😄

Hello 👋

So many reasons really-
Mid forties, reaching the age my DM was when she developed (and died of) cancer

Peri-menapause symptoms (namely anxiety and weight gain)

I only began six months ago but I already feel so much better, physically and mentally.
I'd even go so far as to say it's addictive!!

Peri-menopause (Typo!)

Perimenopause, anxiety and weight gain here too!

Strength training is by far recommended over running for 40+ women. We need to focus on our muscle mass and strength and bone health due to oestrogen loss. I found bodyweight training rewarding as you can build up from nothing eg doing 5 squats week 1, and really notice the change. It also burns calories much more efficiently than cardio does do you lose weight more easily.

Running was the most efficient way to get a good workout between my baby's feeds, and to my surprise I found I liked it!

I do a mix, mainly running, swimming, strength classes and yoga with some sporadic cycling.

Weight bearing exercise is important for joint/ bone health and running does benefit bone density. When you land, the force is 3x your body mass.

No one exercise will tick all boxes, but some do tick quite a lot. What matters most is finding something enjoyable and logistically viable.

A group of people at work decided to sign up to Race for Life and even though it's only 5k, I realised there was no way I was fit enough to even try.
I was embarrassed that i was so incredibly unfit and thought I'd give c25k a go.

Lost 2 stone through the heartbreak diet after years of being overweight, was determined to keep it off!

I used to run many years ago and a serious injury put a stop to it. I got back into it during the first lockdown and it became something DH and I could do together as well as getting fit. It was never about weight loss for me, but more the benefits to heart and lung health as well as mental well being. DH has a physical job now so he doesn't come out so often but I still go. Type 2 diabetes is rife in my family so I'm always conscious of keeping that at bay.

Running fitted into my day when I had two small children. Before that I cycled. I built up to half marathon (all in my 40s). Now a series of minor injuries has encouraged me to stop, coupled with being able cycle more now kids are older.

lockdown and my dc coming home on their last day of school with a quite crumpled piece of paper with a c25k running plan as suggestion for exercise.

kept it uo ever since. did a couple of 5k 'races' and have signed up for a 10k in the new year.

I love it.

Wanting to be strong.

I do weights rather than running but I was attacked and wanted to be stronger. I know it probably sounds really silly but there’s no self defence classes around here and I decided that I wanted to be stronger.
It’s also been amazing for my mental health, I’ve proved to myself that I can do something.

Lockdown - needed to escape the madness of wfh/homeschooling and running helped with the stress release

Joined a local club last year once things stated to open back up and found a whole new group of friends

Had a minor accident and lost fitness and flexibility after restricted activity for a couple of months. Hoping to be up to running 5k by Christmas!

Also think I’ll enjoy Christmas more with a regular exercise regime to mitigate the indulgence.

Never did running but started other exercise and cutting down the amount I ate after I didn't recognise my body shape anymore, used to be slim when younger, so wanted to get toned again, I enjoy exercising everyday now.
Walk whenever you can instead of driving if running isn't fun.

You've made me look into weights, ordered a mini set. My own version of c25k is coming along, up to 5 min stints. Also got a set of resistance bands, need to get onto YouTube for something to do pre work on my non running days.
I have a bit of imposter syndrome, I don't 'feel' like a runner, maybe will improve in time.

A looming 50th birthday and an extra 3.5 stones. That was twenty years ago and although I've had to stop running because of joint problems I still walk a lot and have kept the weight off.

I have a bit of imposter syndrome, I don't 'feel' like a runner, maybe will improve in time.

you run. therefore you are a runner.
wrt strength training I can recommend you look up 'core exercises for runners' on youtube.

I used to like running but fell out of it. Then I thought I’ll plan to run on Saturday morning which was delayed until Saturday afternoon and Sunday morning before long it was Sunday evening and I hadn’t run and it was a plan to run next weekend. Then I got into parkrun and it was done by 9.30 on Sat morning and it was great. I wish there was a Wednesday evening parkrun too!

I was feeling fat and middle aged. I remember sitting on the balcony one morning a bit hungover and eating a bacon roll watching people run past and decided I'd rather be the woman running past than the one watching. I hated running when I was younger and still don't love it but love having done it and also that it's free and I can roll out of bed, run and be home and exercised by 8am

Nomorechoco, I wonder if the runner noticed you and wished they were sat on a balcony eating a bacon sandwich 🤔😁

Got a bit fat and felt that if I didn't do something about it at 43 then I never would. Running is fab- the exercise and the getting outdoors is so good for your well-being

early twenties went skiing and realised I was embarrassingly out of puff. Then started running and realised it was a good way to keep the weight off. Few months later did a 10k run. That was 20 years ago. Never looked back.

I'm mid 40s. I started exercising because I started to look frumpy and wanted to avoid look old before my time. Also seeing how quickly both my parents develop physical problems in their 50s meant it is something I wanted to avoid as much as possible!!

Early 50’s here. I wanted to lose weight and get away from people during lockdown! C25K was the start, then I trained for a HM. I recently started strength training and some spin classes too. The strength training has made a huge difference, I wish I had started that sooner. I’ve been very surprised by how much I enjoy it and it’s allowed me to get rid of that stubborn last stone. Now nearly 5 stone down from my initial starting weight; a weight I haven’t been for over 20 years!