If you are in your 60s and 70s and used to exercise, are you better off that people your age that don’t do as much?

[Londonder]

Just curious as I don’t know anyone who is 60+ and used to working out regularly. I‘d like to hear how working out regularly throughout life is helping you being in good shape at this stage of your life. And what do you do?
My parents led a very sedentary life and now that they are in their late 70s they are not able to do much, even a 20 min walk is difficult to manage. I want to do my best to avoid that.

My DM is 78 and line dances 3 times a week for about 3 hours at a time. She also goes away for line dancing holidays both at home and abroad. She has a great group of friends from her dancing and looks like a woman in her early 60s!

Might just be genetics but DH’s parents who have always been sporty / outdoorsy (not running marathons but lots of dog walking, gardening & tennis) are fitter than mine who weren’t as active (all aged about 70 now).

Pressed post too soon - so DH’s parents can still do long hilly hikes but mine can’t.

Mine are still “ok” for their age though.

I have a just turned 90 year old who comes to my Pump class twice a week

I walked regularly until Long Covid hit. Fatigue means I can't do that now. No yoga or Pilates as I've got osteoporosis (you wouldn't know from looking at me) and no one will teach me because I'm at high risk of fractures. So I'm doing Tai Chi as there is no curving over ( bad for back). Any suggestions would be welcome as inactivity is driving me crazy.

My grandmothers were the same age. One went for a 3 mile walk come rain or shine every single day whilst the other preferred to watch TV with a slice of cake. The difference in physical ability and outlook in life between the two of them was remarkable. It was the one who walked who got dementia and went into general decline though whereas the unhealthy one lived to be 96 and only really struggled with mobility for the last 3 years of her life.

Slightly different take.
I am 68 and, I feel, reasonably healthy. I know people of around my age who are both more and less healthy. I can be active but am often sedentary (naturally lazy but make some effort)

I do part time relief work as a passenger assistant on the school bus runs that transport children with special educational needs and/or behavioural issues.

Most of the children we transport live in disadvantaged areas. The youngsters (13/14) have asked me a number of times how old I am. I have no issue with telling them. Today one said, 'How can you be 68 and look so young and fit?'. Kind of a compliment from a very challenging girl but as far as I can see it is down to a combination of lifestyle, opportunities and genetics (good skin is definitely genetic in my case).

The parents of these children do their best to give their kids a good life but most of them smoke, they haven't been given the right opportunity to learn to cook and live largely (if we are to believe the kids) snack/instant/fast foods.) (One girl goes to the shop before being collected and brings a 6 pack of crisps and snack biscuits to last her through the day)

In short, I believe genetics and luck make the biggest difference with lifestyle following on (but being at least partially determined by the first 2)

(Mum had 3 sisters, all different lifestyles and levels of activity with my mum being the most overweight and most sedentary. All 4 lived to their 90s (genetics) mum being the least fit)

There are several ladies in their 80s who play at my tennis club several times a week, one of whom still plays in the ladies teams.

Hoping I can still play when I'm in my 80s.

I’m in my late 60s. I play a couple of hours of table tennis once a week at a club with two 89 year old ladies who can thrash me and any partner off the table! Neither of them “worked out” in their youth, but they manage large gardens themselves, doing the pruning, weeding and digging.
I was never sporty or athletic, but still enjoy a six mile hike in the Perthshire hills or average six miles a day sightseeing on holiday. By contrast my sporty friend, also late sixties, who was a county level basketball player in her youth, has wrecked knees and needs a joint replacement, walks with the help of poles, and suffers spasms in her legs. She also has atrial fibrillation, which is common among runners and athletes.
So it’s not a given that the sedentary will be disabled in old age, or the sporty be more active. Much is due to your genes, or how much damage your sport has inflicted in the past.

Ooh, following with interest.
Great thread OP!

I'm 67, do a formal exercise routine of 10 minutes twice daily but always seem to be on the go at home or out and about.

I still feel like I did in my forties but I do take hrt and was diagnosed with an underactive thyroid many years ago for which I take Levothyroxine.

I am size 10, very fit and loving life. 🥰

MIL is mid-80s and until she was 80 she went hillwalking several miles every weekend with her local group. She can no longer do that but is still pretty active and is a reasonable weight.

DM is slightly older and for most of her life didn't do much exercise. Especially in retirement she has struggled with weight and falls, and is now fairly immobile.

However, that's just 2 examples, and exercise (and weight) is only one aspect of their lives; it is hard to know how much effect this has had on their current fitness and mobility, and how much is due to other separate health factors.

All I will say is that, for myself, I can't do anything about genetics, and many health conditions are a lottery. Exercise and weight are about the only things I can control, and exercising and keeping a healthy weight can only be a good thing.

My mum and dad are in their 60s. My dad lived a very active lifestyle. He played squash, went to the gym, ran, walked his dogs, climbed mountains and my mum practically just laid horizontal on the sofa and was desk bound in her job. Anyway, my dad has had several heart operations for atrial fibrillation, is on blood pressure meds and has the first stages of dementia. My mum is in a LOT better health physically and mentally.

My father is late 70s. Smoked since he was a teenager, lived on red meat, retired early and basically sat in a chair.
Had a stroke and refused point blank to work at any physio to improve his situation.

Caught up with my Uncle today, his older brother. In his early 80s. Ex military. Just returned from a walking holiday. Like my father, he had prostate cancer but has faired better and is as fit as a fiddle. He has kept himself busy since retirement with various voluntary/board roles and lots of travel.

So yes, I think it is a combination of physical fitness and mental attitude.

For many years I swam, ran, hurdled, and trampolined for Lancashire. I was pretty fit until my late 40s, now at 62 I can barely walk and am awaiting two total knee replacements. I have arthritis, osteoarthritis. Psoriatic arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and ankylosis spondylitis. Which are almost certainly all genetic although lifestyle probably plays a part too, but I couldn't have foreseen it when I was once so fit and active.

I think physical activity and general activity too.
My dad and FIL are the same age (78) but very different in health circs - and my dad is of an ethnicity that has a lot of health related issues.
My dad has kept very active, gardening, running around after grandkids, helping care for my nan and is really fit and managing his health. FIL is very inactive and isolated and very "elderly" in his ways. It's like he's 20 years older than my dad.

I'm 48 and a masters swimmer. I am fairly frequently beaten by women in their 60s, and there are a couple in their 70s who can match me in some events. There are lots and lots of 60+ competitive swimmers and a few in their 80s in the uk. And they all dive off the blocks just like the rest of us. Awesome bunch of people but a definite demo of the benefits of exercising.

The people I know in their 60s and 70s who exercised, still exercise. My DF does 8 miles a day and is late 70s. My friend in her 60s does hours of yoga a week and can do head stands, splits etc. In martial arts there are people in their 60s who are super fit and put many people to shame.

Unless fate is cruel, you do not have to discount exercise at this age.

Bit of a puzzle but I know lots of older, middle class (always) exercisers.
And lots of older working class non exercisers who have done very physical jobs their whole lives so getting lots of exercise that way.
The middle class exercisers are fit and healthy from their activity and the working class non exercisers are broken and exhausted from their lifetime of activity.
Obviously this isn't an absolute rule but is definitely a pattern I've seen.

That must be really tough.

Yes, I’ve had 2 strokes and I’ve got so much strength in my arms and legs due to previous exercise. I also left hospital before others because it aided my recovery

Forget to say in early 60s

I'm 58 soon and run ultra marathons. Also go to the gym twice a week plus walk the dog every day and had horses for years. I'm so much fitter than my counterparts but who knows how long that will last.

My dad has COPD. He was diagnosed over 12 years ago and he has never declined. He'd given up smoking a good few years before being diagnosed. He reckons its all down to exercise as he and my mum get a brisk 2 miles in every morning (walking). They are both closer to 80 than 75 so it's definitely helped.

It's tricky. My fit marathon running dad dropped dead at 46. His smoking, non-exercising brothers are still alive 35 years later.