50+ what exercise do you do?

[Floofydawg]

Inspired by a thread on AIBU, I'd like to understand from fellow over 50's what exercise they do. Interested to see if my activity is above average and whether I should be doing other stuff. I tend to gravitate towards what I enjoy more as that means I'll keep up with it. Conscious I should probably do some weight training but I find it boring. So here's what I do in a typical week.

At least two swims of at least 1k
2-3 45 minute spin classes, one of which is followed by a slightly shorter swim
A 30 minute dog walk most days

I have a gym membership so could do anything - lots of classes available.

What do you do?

"@Gwenhwyfar no lie-ins on a weekend for me. 9.30 spin class to start the day. Makes me feel a whole lot better than lieing in bed all morning."

But then you can't go out on Friday or Saturday night?
Someone left my party early because he had yoga the next day and I was a bit puzzled...

I'm 53. Just how hard do you think I party? Of course I go out. It depends what you want to prioritise. You obviously want to prioritise your nights out.

No DC, work 40hrs a week, limited energy due to health issues
Batch cook, food shop on weekends usually
Exercise is 30-45 mins

Finish work on a weekday, immediately exercise and shower then eat, possibly do some cleaning before relax/tv/reading
Sometimes I batch cook/clean if I have a half day at work or have a day off exercise in the week and do it that evening

So this week
Fri - work half day, food shop, exercise, cleaning, new meter fitting, laundry
Today - work half day, prescription collection, "relax" day as I need to sort my hair and various bits at home!
Sunday - exercise, batch cook, prep stuff for work and finish any cleaning
Mon - Fri - work, exercise, shower, eat, I've no cooking to do but will do the odd bit of hoovering/cleaning as needed and a load of washing
Sat - food shop and batch cook and on it goes

I am a runner. I don't think I have a saggy face. I think this would maybe be more of an issue for people who have lost weight through high impact (or any) exercise. I think my skin has more damage from the sun than the impact and that's entirely my fault. I've had too many incidences of sun cream in my eyes!

I run where I live. It's rural and I'm either on the roads or on the fields. There are no pavements. I feel comfortable running alone any time of day and use a head torch and reflective clothing at night. I have never been harassed.

I also run with a club which is mostly in town. If I get tooted my default is to think I know them and so I give them a wave. My biggest problem is cars not giving me enough space or time when they pass me.

I am also not a morning person and would prefer to go out at 9pm than 7am.

My face is weatherbeaten in a way that makes me rather more wrinkly than I'd hope for at my age, but it's not saggy.

Greatly I'm not at all frail. I have an ongoing condition which means I get an annual bone check. Apparently I have the bones of a 30 year old, not a 60+ year old.

Also, don't forget that a current size 8 is equal to what a size 12 used to be. Vanity sizing has a lot to answer for.

Did you used to work full time? If so you'll know that we fill the hours we have. If you were working on Mon and Thur you'd have to do your cooking and shopping on other days. You know it doesn't take a whole day to batch cook and shop, never mind two. But you have the time to do so and that's nice. I don't enjoy cooking. I used to tell myself I didn't have time to cook properly, but I do have more time now and I still don't enjoy cooking. It's not something I choose to do in my spare time.

DS2 had football this morning and we are just back. I'm going out this evening. In theory I could cook a lovely meal for us both. I have the time. I am going out on my bike though. I will of course cook a meal and get the jobs done but the meal won't be as fancy and loads of the jobs will get left and I will go to bed later than I should.

I just walk about 8 to 10 k steps a day. Nothing else:( Can't stick with anything else. But am at the top of my BMI so I should.

AuntieStella your face sounds lovely. Bland, smooth faces are lacking in character, except on babies and children.

"Did you used to work full time?"

I still do work full time, but it's 34 hours, not 40 and my commute is mainly walking so a gentle form of exercise already.

"You know it doesn't take a whole day to batch cook and shop, never mind two."

It does for me. Finish work at 5, go to supermarket, go home then it's about 6.30, make something to eat straight away then start peeling and chopping some kind of stew type thing that takes an hour to cook on the hob. By the time I'm finished it's chillout or sleep time. If I exercised after work on the two evenings I haven't got another activity, I would be too tired to cook afterwards. I'll be honest that I'm a crap cook and something like peeling potatoes takes me way too long. I don't like cooking either, but I'm aware I need to eat healthy-ish meals a few times a week at least.

"Fri - work half day, food shop, exercise, cleaning, new meter fitting, laundry
Today - work half day, prescription collection, "relax" day as I need to sort my hair and various bits at home!
Sunday - exercise, batch cook, prep stuff for work and finish any cleaning
Mon - Fri - work, exercise, shower, eat, I've no cooking to do but will do the odd bit of hoovering/cleaning as needed and a load of washing
Sat - food shop and batch cook and on it goes"

No other activities? No going out with friends/partner?

Those who are 50+ and get tooted at by men while jogging, may I ask what you look like? Not victim blaming (if indeed you feel like victims) just wondering.

I'm the next decade up and have the beginnings of arthritis, so I can't be as active as I would like, but I try to make sure I go for a walk every day, and once a week I take a ballet class aimed at my age group, which is somewhat more strenuous than you might expect.

Someone left my party early because he had yoga the next day and I was a bit puzzled...

🤣🤣 People like this baffle me too. Each to their own I suppose!

I would definitely rather exercise in the evening after work. Maybe at lunch time at a push.

Yes I see your point. I don't enjoy running though, so I would be devastated if I did it and wasn't slim 😂. Maybe I just need to find a a different form of exercise.

Thanks for agreeing! I was expecting to be told that my priorities were wrong and having to argue back that socialising is also important for health.
Maybe they just weren't enjoying my party I suppose. They didn't leave very early, but they could have stayed longer.

Try weight training with dumbbells.

Look up Caroline Girvan on YouTube.

Start with her EPIC Beginners.

Life changing 😎

@TheOrigRights

Hmmm.... yes, I think that I would be more inclined to go running if I lived somewhere quiet and rural. I'm not sure how safe I would feel going off a main road in the evening. Might be alright in summer.

supermarket, shopping, cooking: all that involves moving & taking steps.
(so does gardening, housework, childcare, parent-care, cleaning, DIY...)

People doing a lot of those activities should not have low step counts at end of the day.

I get crazy step counts on days when I do a lot of volunteer fundraising (single small location venue), too.

Socialising is often on one's feet, too.

If you can't face exercise then at least try to avoid lots of sitting.

Sorry I'm not 50+, I'm mid 30s. I just gatecrashed the thread as I noticed that you lot were putting me to shame, and I wondered how you managed to maintain strict exercise regimes 🙈

If 50+ ladies can do it, then I should be able to! I'll keep quiet now...

At risk of oversharing, this is the step count I got so far today.

Fitbit overcounts (maybe 10-15%), and it counts my cycling as steps (grr).

My actual activity was approx
7:45-8:05am cycle ride
815am-9am dog walk
9am-9:10am chat (on my feet)
910-1005 cycle
1005-1240 volunteer fundraising event, on my feet whole time, standing, helping customers, sending WhatsApp msgs, tidying, moving boxes, chat etc.
12:40-115 cycle
115pm+ organising stuff at home, I need to go shopping soon, too.

Top line is 1800 in 15 minutes, middle line is 900 in 15 minutes.
Fitbit seemed to estimate 1800 steps/hour when volunteering.
Call it 1500 / hour in reality (correcting Fitbit over-estimate).
Childcare for mobile kids, cooking, cleaning, Housework or gardening should be similar step rate. Certainly at least 800/hour.

I often wonder why cleaning obsessed MNers aren't all skinny as rakes (!)

I rarely get tooted.
I have a classic distance runner build - lean and long limbed.
I have a swishy pony tail and am told I look quite errrm determined when I run. Apart from when I'm listening to The News Quiz and then I can be laughing which must make people think I am really enjoying myself!

Ah, sorry. I misunderstood. From you saying you worked fewer hours than most and did batch cooking on certain days I assumed you had those days entirely off work so were spending the whole day cooking.

Yes, if you're doing a big old cook up after work that would take up a lot of time.

I've got quick healthy meals nailed! Air fried chicken, turkey or fish, cous cous or rice and steamed veg. From concept to table in 20 mins.

I don't batch cook per se, I'll just freeze 1/2 of a large meal (bolognese, shepherds pie). But there's just 2 of us so it makes sense.

@MidnightMeltdown A combination of local roads and parks. No one hoots or leers…
@Gwenhwyfar I tend to leave the house between 8am and 8.30am and start work around 9.30am. I guess I could get up earlier or do it at lunchtime but this works best for me.

Right, am going to dig out my weights and try to do them in front of the telly tonight. Need to look at Caroline G too, though I can never stick to these routines. But needs must!

That's an impressive step count @lljkk but probably because you are cycling as well? Good advice though to not sit!