55yo looking for the right approach to exercise.

[MonkeyTennis34]

Apart from walking the dog, I do no other forms of exercise and I know that I really need to!

I'm a healthy weight so it's not about weight loss, just getting fitter.

I've noticed a few aches and pains in my hip area...would something like Pilates be useful for this.

I've done HIIT in the past but would like to try something different.

I'd like to build my core strength as well as work towards a higher level of fitness.

We have a treadmill at home which I've used in the past but I guess that only addresses cardio.

Can anyone suggest a form of exercise they might suit me?

Happy to use YouTube.

I’m assuming you’re a woman, so I’d say you need to be doing some weights, some leg strengthening, and something for balance like yoga/pilates.
Would you like a spin class ?

@DustyLee123
Yes, I'm a woman!

I've tried spin class before, it nearly killed me!

Your other suggestions sound good.
Do you know any YouTube videos that might be good?

Swimming is great if you have aches and pains as the water supports you while you exercise.

I’d sign up at your local gym for a month & have a couple of sessions with one of their personal trainers.

Even if you don’t keep seeing them, they’ll be able to provide you with a workout plan covering what you need & then you’d also have a better idea of what to look for on YouTube,

Ah yoga…I’m the same age. If I don’t do yoga I ache.

walking the dog daily is fab..staves off five of the major later live illnesses. Don’t underestimate it!

Strength training at this age is what is recommend- weights. Walking and swimming. Pilates is amazing too

I'm 56 and joined a gym a couple of years ago ... do cardio and some weight machines but my favourite thing there is step classes, great fun and I feel much stronger.

Pilates wonderful for strength, flexibility and balance.

Try Tom Morrison videos on YouTube e.g.

- his simplistic mobility method is also brilliant for getting rid of aches and pains and getting stronger especially if you are doing more work with weights.

I’m doing the apple fitness app. The workouts are short but effective.

Firstly I think you need to decide whether you want to go to a gym, pilates studio, leisure centre or just stay at home?

At your age I would be using weights either at home or at the gym with a PT. There's lots of you tube videos including Heather Robertson or Caroline Girvan. Caroline's quite advanced I would say but you can do improvise at first. I do think Pilates is a great way to build strength though but it can be expensive.

Your user name suggests you may enjoy the sport I love @MonkeyTennis34 !

Pilates is great for balance, core strength and toning and is my favourite exercise. Also some weight training using dumbbells or kettlebells , the alternative is callisthenics which uses your own body weight instead. Your focus should be on improving strength, flexibility and balance now. I’m a little older than you and do a combination of Pilates, yoga and body balance at classes and do some weights cardio at home using YouTube videos

I’ve been doing weights for about 18 months now & I’m lifting a lot heavier than I did at first, plus different weights for different exercises, so that could be an issue with doing weights at home?

Another vote for Apple fitness. Huge range of workouts with modification for the less flexible. I like yoga and hiit. There is Pilates too. I have an Apple Watch and like to close my rings.

Listening to mel robbins podcast with an orthopedic surgeon Dr vonda Wright and she's outlining exactly what you should do
Walking
Lifting
And twice a week get your heart rate really high for just 30secs four times
Some really great tips!

For my workouts I really like Mr &Mrs muscle I think it's called on YouTube and they have some great bodyweight workouts for starting out

Another vote for Pilates. It's low impact and great for flexibility and strength. I would go to a studio rather than try it at home, because a good instructor will make sure you are doing everything correctly.

I also tried yoga for the first time recently and really liked it. It's different from Pilates, but complementary.

I'm 50, long-time gym-goer for mental/physical health rather than weight loss, and these days am doing two body pump classes a week for a decent weights workout and cardio, plus a yoga and a pilates class, sometimes a swim, for core, balance, stability and all that good stuff.
I have some gluten/hip pain with associated nerve pain down my leg, probably from sitting too long as I work from home, so am focusing on trying to sort that through strengthening and stretching. I also walk between 7-10k a day with my dog before/after work.
Maybe try a few classes out at a local gym, or sign up for a session with a PT to see what you enjoy - I reckon the main thing is to have fun so you'll keep going!

Walking - brisk
strength training
pilates/ Callanetics / barre

I like the rowing machine in the gym. It’s a good general workout, excellent for core, and you can row with your eyes shut listening to an audiobook or podcast. An hour of that two or three times a week is both relaxing and effective. I was really surprised at how quickly my balance improved, and I’m now fit enough that rowing at max level (10) doing 27 strokes a minute still doesn’t push my heart rate into the ‘peak’ zone on my Fitbit. At level 8, 25 strokes per minute, I can sustain a phone conversation without the other person realising I’m working out.

Reformer pilates! 100%

Having said that though, IMO the right approach to exercise would be through a PT - worth it to have someone take the guesswork out of it and tailor your workouts to your unique needs and goals.

The right exercise is the one you keep going back to! Dog walking is brilliant for the cardio aspect/heart health (if walking briskly?), so now you mant want to add in some weights for your bone health, and yoga for balance. Pilates could do both, it depends on the teacher, but I'd also recommend something real world before You Tube - I'd never work myself as hard as my PT works me, plus being self-taught leaves you very susceptible to injury.

Personally, I think signing up with a PT helps keep you accountable, works you hard, and encourages you to do stuff in between, as otherwise you're going to be in a lot of pain every time you see them lol!

As pp suggests…

Pilates-I have been doing The Girl With The Pilates Mat daily since Christmas (saw a few recommendations for her on here and gave it a go). I had done Pilates years ago. Her workouts are free on YouTube and there is a huge variety.

Tom Morrison - found him on YouTube during Covid lockdown and it works, he’s straight to the point and has lots of different quick workouts to sort out those aches and pains.

I am 50, I work outside everyday for about 2/4 hours and play a niche sport: hip/back pain was starting to really affect me and I could only sleep on one side at night. After 3 months they are negligible and I won my sport’s league this season.

Ballet for beginners
Weights
Faster walking than a dog mooching along will allow you
Rowing machine

I joined the local sports centre about three years ago (early 50s, having not exercised regularly for years), had a few PT sessions in the gym and tried lots of classes. I also started parkrun, I jog round slowly but it gets my heartrate up and I really enjoy it. A good week for me is:

Mon: zumba and yoga classes
Tue: brisk 40 min walk
Wed: barre class
Thur: body combat and yoga
Fri: yoga
Sat: parkrun
Sun: gym

I don't always manage all
of these and sometimes do gym instead of one of the classes. It's nice going to classes regularly, you start getting to know the others and can feel improvement.