How does your fitness routine change as your age, and what's been most effective?

[Enjoylifealways]

😄

I’m doing more exercise in my 50’s but not seeing any reward for it, whereas in my early/mid 40’s I was doing less and looking fit.

I do a lot of walking in my 40s and 50s. Little else really, just a bit of swimming and cycling, occasional golf and a couple of ski holidays. I’ve lost 8 stone in weight over that time and reversed type 2 diabetes. I feel and look healthier than ever, complexion better, no aches and pains, lots of energy, and blood tests come back normaL after previously showing signs of high cholesterol, fatty liver and low kidney function. . I went to the gym 3 or 4 times a week in my 30s to do weights, cardio, etc., but it really didn’t have much effect. Daily walking 8-10k steps has literally been life changing but it’s a very long term thing, just losing a pound or two every few weeks, doing down a clothes size every few years. Not for the impatient.

Pilates as I've got older (50s). Having a strong core makes such a difference- and also means I can hold a plank for longer than the young uns in my PT classes 😁. Seriously though, just had an op which left me with restricted arm usage for a while and having a strong core has made all the difference to what i can do. Made me really appreciate how powerful pilates is (rather than just being an odd extension of yoga)

I'm mid forties and I do reformer Pilates. It's really made a difference to body and mind. I'm feeling stronger, longer and more agile.

Late 50s and I swim 20 minutes every week day and walk 30 minutes every week day. I weight train a couple of times a week. I do very little at the weekends. Feel pretty fit but much less strong than I used to.

Same! So unfair !

Me too. Swim for 40 mins 3 times a week, couple of spin classes, walk the dog most days. 10 years ago I could do this and eat what I liked without gaining weight. Not any more.

I have done Pilates for 20 years (started in mid 20s) and I totally agree with this

Same as above...more in my 50s and less effect. Weights 3 times a week. But I need to walk more. I do 8000 a day in an out of work and in the summer a 40 minutes dog walk on top. In the winter not so much....

I'm stronger though and having done Pilates fairly regularly for years I can plank for England.

I've lost a stone and a half but have another stone to lose. That's food though.

I used to run but my knee won't cope with that now. Then I walked everywhere and walked 30 minutes each way to work every day then Covid happened and I now work mainly from home. I'm in my 50s and knew I needed to do something low impact but weight bearing so took up aqua fit and love it. I can see a huge difference in my muscles (mainly I now have strong muscles in my arms which I never really did!).

Have always excercised. Weights, spin classes etc. Recently retired and 60 now so have much more time. I road cycle about 250-300 a week as well as still do gym and spin classes. Feel pretty fit at the mo and still improving. However, I find that it takes me longer to recover fitness level now when I’ve had a cold or an injury.

I find weights to be the most effective thing after years of different routines.
Do 5 weights workouts of 45-60 minutes a week, plus try to walk around 10-12k steps a day.
Keeps me maintaining weight without much effort with food

Trying to do more in my late 50's but finding whatever I try causes damage eg running to my back/knees.. still I persevere..

I do more and more as I age. I'm only 57, though. At some point I'll have to do less & less I suppose. I was never strong.fast.skilled, so I only measure effort in time spent. Lately I have some new ankle pain & half wondered about joint wear. I know a guy who needed knee joint replacement while still in his mid 20s, though. I'm doing better than that.

I remember my dad still seemed active if not as fit as he used to be, at 57yo, but by late 60s he had had a stroke & couldn't get himself off the floor easily & couldn't walk far without back pain & had (?needed) daily naps on days when he wasn't working. My mother having been a Jane Fonda type fitness person in her 30s was an old lady after ~ age 52. I'm going to enjoy & savour every day I'm still fit. -Still running down the Stairs

My in laws are late 70s and still hoovering a 3 storey house, walking the dog on the beach or in a glen every day, can walk miles on a day out. They have a nap in the afternoon now. They've never done any formal exercise after they left their 40s...but stayed really active.

My allotment neighbour is mid-70s and can still over take a 'young fella' on his road bike - while shouting back words of encouragement.

My aim is to stay strong into my 70s. Hence weight lifting, walking on the weekends....a bit of Pilates.

20s aerobics/ step class/ dancing/ yoga classes
30s circuits, running (it was what worked at fitting in around young children)
40s circuits, running, heavier weights

I've learned more about different training strategies and am stronger and faster than I was 5, 10 years ago.

I'm doing high intensity (zone 5) and I'm now addicted.

Tabatas

And lifting heavy - I'm still learning there (I just follow a simple routine) but have noticed huge improvements.

I'm also having to eat more as a result

Late 50s

40s!

Finger slipped 🤣

I'm on tamoxifen so joints can be a bit creaky sometimes. The weights help there

When I was younger swimming and martial arts, cycling to work etc did its thing.

I didn't do much regular exercise when I was younger - occasional periods of swimming regularly and we've always done a certain amount of walking.

Now in my 60s, working PT and DH is retired so we've time to walk about 8km per day, more at weekends. Pilates weekly, and I've just started doing a little yoga

I always was a runner/excercise/spin class person.But my hip became really painful over the last year I pulled a calf muscle.I started yoga instead and I feel much stronger, fitter, look leaner AND my hip no longer hurts.I'm upping the gym yoga and joining a studio to do more as it really suits my body in my 50s.

I'm in my 60s and run 5k twice a week plus a martial arts class weekly.

It's good for maintaining flexibility, general fitness, energy levels and aerobic capacity. My weight is stable and I feel good. Sometimes running in the winter is less than appetising but I stick with it and am doing ok because this winter hasn't been cold so far.

Weight training in my late forties and fifties had transformed my body and mind

I’ve also started Thai boxing and it’s amazing

Tai chi isn't very popular in the UK but I've been doing it for 15 years (I'm mid 60s) and am still so fit and flexible.
Plus I have been given a smartwatch and saw the other day that 30 minutes of tai chi kept my heart rate at exercise levels. I remember Michael Mosley doing a programme on tai chi and being surprised at the energy requirement.
You do have to find a well trained teacher who you like and stick at it.
I have also cycled all my life and I walk close on 10,000 steps a day and try not to sit for hours. I used to be a gym bunny but find I don't need it now.