What sport or fitness did your mum do?

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My mother was born in the 1940s. When I was a child (1970s), my mother regularly did ... swimming, tennis, jogging, cycling, softball, horse-riding, aerobics, yoga, walks. + random other fitness or sport.

My dad's mom didn't do sport, my other grandmother (short person!, born 1900s) used to coach basketball as an adult, and rode horses as a youngster. I'm not aware she did any other sport, though.

Did your mum do any fitness or sport?

Someone mentioned badminton upthread - I had forgotten that mum played badminton in her 50s and early 60s in an adult league. She learned to play from scratch. Most of her siblings (all born in Ireland in the 30s and early 40s) were actually quite sporty, come to think of it - hurling and camogie, rugby, cricket, and hockey, plus Irish dancing and ballroom dancing were all part of their lives. Mum went dancing two or three times a week in her 20s, and got to the dances and home again by bike. Back then, dancing was incredibly energetic and not for the faint hearted. No wonder she's fit as a fiddle.

Born late 1930s, dabbled a bit with her Lizzie videos and did a bit of a yoga course at some point, but very little interest in sport/ fitness through most of her life. I wasn't any good at PE, but that was OK as we're not good at sport in my family.

The saving grace for me was that she liked the idea of me dancing, so I went to lessons (which I enjoyed but had no talent at. She was also happy for me to do the DoE award (because it resulted in a trip to the palace having heard about it from a teacher friend). This lead to me taking up hill walking, and aerobics, then yoga, other fitness classes and running. DoE also involved me learning to swim. DM didn't like swimming because it's cold and therefore didn't facilitate me learning.

She first broke a bone in her 50s, again in her 60s and arthritis set in rapidly in her mid 60s and has plagued the last 20 years.

Her generation has been stitched up by society. They naturally had an active youth, but life became more automated at the point that keeping up muscle density becomes more important. They were raised on rationing, expected to be slim through the 60s and 70s, given lots of poor dietry advice and exercise options were limited and constrained by being lady-like. All the female relatives I've had born around then have really struggled with osteoarthritis in their last decade or two.

I'm hoping that weights and high impact exercise throughout adulthood will help fend it off...

Mine did aerobics and Callanetics. She also had a rebounder (mini trampoline) and step machine. And did lots of walking. I grew up doing those alongside her. She’s still in good health although does have a knee issue which has required surgery. Her parents just did lots of walking and have lived long healthy lives too (minus knee issues).

None. She's 82 now and fit as a fiddle. She does watch what she eats as she's scared to death of getting diabetes like her brothers and sister.

My mum born in the 40s did no formal exercise and still does not. I never however remember her being sedentary and she still isn't. She was either working or looking after the house or garden and never sitting still. She still spends hours a day gardening which keeps her active and well.

My DM is 82. She danced when she was younger and taught country dancing. She then trained as a fitness instructor and took classes until she had a heart attack at age 74 (heart attacks can happen to the slim and fit). She now attends classes aimed at people who have had heart attacks etc and she also does exercises every morning. She also walks every day and does her garden. She puts me to shame!

My DM was born in the 40s, hated sports at school, but used to go walking and bowling with my dad. In later years became reluctant to walk anywhere and uses the car even for 5 minute journeys, now becoming less mobile which is a worry.

She always looked down on sport and we were never encouraged to do anything physical, she is bemused by my DSis and I as we are both very active.

This sounds like my mum. She was not sporty at all. She took us as kids to various sports but if (when) we found we were awful at them. (I'm pretty rubbish at most sport) then she would agree and we'd give up. There was another mum at school who was into running and fitness and mum was very disparaging of her. She was also bemused when later Dsis and I found sports/fitness that we enjoyed and that it's something we do for fun and socially rather than something to be endured.

When we were young she walked and cycled to most local places as she didn't drive but once my dad retired he essentially became her chauffeur and she rarely walked or cycled anywhere.