Are you over 50 and really toned and fit?

[MistyBay]

Am very interested to find out. I do quite a bit of exercise - I’m consistent rather than a ‘beast myself’ type.

im seeing very good results over the last two years since I gave up alcohol and sugar and started exercising most days. I walk for sn hour every day on top.

I’m wondering what I can plausibly expect fitness-wise now I’m 50.

if I lift enough weights will I get rid of bat wings completely?

if I eat well and do enough cardio and yoga, will I get a waist?

are you over 50 and do you have a body of a 25 year old is what I want to know?

i need to know what to aim for.

If you lift weights then yes you can have a great, toned figure. My personal trainer is 60 and has a lovely figure. She also has a full face because lifting weights requires you to eat more as you’re building muscle

I'm 50s and fat and unfit, if that helps?!

This thread has inspired me to try Caroline Girvan. I’m going to try her beginners week but only half a session a day initially so I don’t break … 15 mins yoga before and after… means I don’t have to extend my gym membership (currently swim only) and it looks more effective than me just randomly going and lifting weights .

I'm a huge fan of Caroline Girvan - she, along with Mark Hyman's The Sugar Solution - changed my life. Caroline's workouts are tough but I find them both enjoyable and rewarding.

However, if you aren't used to working out with weights, @Taylorscat , you may want to work on strengthening your core. Try the Bowflex 3-minute plank - which I do every day - and Rebecca Louise's Best Abs and Caroline Girvan's Braced Abs and Core. Lucy Wyndham Reed's Thighs & Glutes workout is great prep for Caroline's Bulgarian lunges.

@PaminaMozart I’ve done yoga every day for 2 years now and swim 2k x3 a week so hopefully my core can hold up - just !

I also only have 3kg weights so I was thinking of going through with them / without them initially and not add bigger weights until I’m sure my form is correct

I'm 59 and have a waist. I hate running, but walk a lot (commute, job, on my feet a lot at work too). I do a lot of twisting type movements which I think help with the waistline. Anything like planks and sit ups alone don't do it for me. But we're all different.

Definitely a good idea to start with low-ish weights, even if your core is strong 😀
I used my 3kg for quite a while before moving on to 5kg.
Getting new dumbbells has become a rite of passage!

My waist was 23 inches last year when I was running 180kms/month. Had an injury. Gave up. It's no longer 23 😫 but it's definitely possible. I'm 53.

Mid 50s, great arms, legs and butt. I do have abs but my waist is not great, probably due to getting pregnant late 30s and having a lifetime of bad living prior to realising mid 40s that I was not immortal. I think it’s perfectly normal for any woman to have a slightly rounded tummy. Maybe if I restricted my diet so
e of it would go but one of the reasons I exercise is to enjoy great food, so I have made my peace with my small belly.

Carine Girvan has been mentioned several ti
es on this thread. She is a true game changer in home fitness. As she does functional fitness it’s also extra beneficial for over 50s to improve our balance and reduce the risk of injury from falls.

You would burn out, most likely.

As long as it's nutrition and exercise you're on the right path. Don't over do it and stress the body but also be as active as you can, walking is the best for not stressing yourself out. And strength training.

I'm 57 with low levels of body fat - my trainer when I suggested 23% said definitely less than than but I've not had it measured. BMI under 20
I have some lines on abs but no waist because my hips are small and my shoulders are big. Even when I was young and 7.5 stone, I didn't have much waist shape.
Weights 4 times a week with progressive overload. Since doing more weights, im less bothered about the numbers on the scale but rather what my muscle looks like. I eat a ton of protein and don't eat junk and v little sugar (basically just fruit).
I can't kid myself that I have the body of a 30 year old but I want to get older with a good amount of muscle and DM had osteoporosis.
I do a decent amount of walking with DH as a weekend activity

I'm in my 60s and fitter and more toned than I used to be but I am overweight and still have a long way to go.

However, in the exercise classes I do, there are several women my age or older who are extremely fit and toned. Gives me something to aspire to!

And then there's Angela Rippon...😎

https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2023/sep/25/angela-rippon-strictly-come-dancing-splits-kai-widdrington

So I did my usual yoga , followed by Caroline G’s warmup, followed by half her day 1 beginners - and only about 2/3 of the time on each exercise. I liked it though. No chat and a timer. I’m just going to rotate the first half of the first 3 beginners until I find them a bit easier - just body weight too which is a good way to start . Long road ahead I think I found them tough!



I wonder if she had a dance background and at one time could do the splits or is just naturally flexible as many dance teachers, decades younger than her, I know of can't do the splits and don't have much flexibility. Though that standing split might not be quite flat on the floor.

It took me over a year to get my left leg split back (nearly 40) and I still need to stretch a lot first!

I'm waffling! It's bloody great of course.

@PaminaMozart - do you have any advice about how to recognise your limits? I started Caroline Girvan about 3/4 weeks ago with 2kg and 3kg weights because that’s what I had, but then upped to 5kg for lower body workouts because 3kg didn’t feel like much. But last week I put my back out during the routine - it’s feeling much better now but still a bit stiff during exercise. I want to continue with CG but want to make sure I’m doing it properly and not damaging my back. Any advice? Thanks!

Reformer pilates 3 times a week. I am in the best shape I have ever been in my life. Completely toned and no fat or wobbles anywhere

If you have back problems then you need to learn to row with the correct form otherwise it is easy to damage your back further, even if it is just to warm up.

I am an ex-rower and some of the techniques I see in gyms are either useless, laughable or outright damaging. I wouldn't rely on an average PT instructor as I have heard some of them spout some absolute shite when it comes to rowing machines.

There are loads of videos online that can help eg

48 - but in good shape with a waist.

Shout out for the Jillian Michael’s app. Been doing her for years, it is called ‘the fitness app’ and has loads of stuff on it.

also yoga with Kassandra each day, it is only 10 mins.

Weights is key I think.

also skipping has been really good, started in lockdown and it is super fast effective cardio. Get a smart rope that has an app and it’s addictive.

Oh and I gave up UPF food recently, plus caught a stomach bug and lost 4 kilos.

So that helped !

I am not an expert. What exactly did you do to put your back out? It might be safest to consult with a physiotherapist or a personal trainer.

Having said that, do you warm up properly before each workout? Do you do lots of stretches? Are you careful to do each movement slowly, with total control?

When I was starting out with Caroline, I would always watch her introductions, and parts of the workout, the night before, so I'd have a good idea what to expect, and I'd go over any moves that didn't seem straightforward.

There is a fine line between challenging yourself and playing it safe. Sometimes I start off with a low weight and increase if it seems too light. Alternatively, I start off heavy and dial down if need be. I'm also not afraid to substitute easier moves if I don't feel comfortable.

As Caroline says: It's you against you!

I hope you get better soon. The only other suggestion I would make is to really work on your core. It'll make everything else sooooo much easier 😅

Yep, Reformer Pilates and you'll have the body of your life. Classes are really expensive though.

Swimming. I swim 2k every day. I am 51 and slim and toned. I have tried reformer and didn’t really feel like it did anything for me,. How often do you have to go?

Mid 40s but peri menopausal with 24" waist (27" navel).

Waist size is purely due to overhauling diet (no upf, limited sugar). I also strength train at home 5 days a week. I don't do any cardio.