To not exercise

[Katywester]

I was reading another thread about a woman who didn't enjoy showering and the questions asking her 'don't you exercise' surprised me as if it was a given that everyone exercised!
Am I the minority mum of three full time work etc that just can't fit in exercise other than a quick dog walk every other day?

I think MOST (able bodied, well) people could fit in a small amount of exercise every other day if they really wanted to.

Nobody has to exercise but there’s a vast difference on my health stats and therefore illness/ mortality risk when I’m exercising regularly to when I’m not. if you want to remain healthy into your old age then you should really try.

I actually gained weight when I started weight training….. but it was all muscle, and I actually look leaner now and my clothes feel way less tight. I have muscle definition, without looking bulky.

I am also infinitely stronger - which, when you get to my advanced age, is really, really important.

My mum never exercised and she became very, very weak. In her 80s she fell and broke her hip. The hip was fixed, but she never walked again - she simply didn’t have the strength. The last 18 months of her life were truly miserable.

Invest in your muscles and bones, people. One day you will be glad you did.

I do a lot of running and don't really think about calories/my weight. I've never struggled with my weight so I've never really associated the two. For me the metric I care about is vo2 max. Having a vo2 max in the top one third means that you have a 45% reduced risk of death from any cause when compared with people in the lower third.

Having said that the reason I run a lot is because it's the only time my brain goes quiet and all that I think about is my breathing and movement.

Pretty much.

I mean, I'm a dog walker - I do 20k+ steps a day, easily, but it's not like I do it because it helps me stay in shape - I do it because I love dogs, the fitness aspect is just a nice addition, lol.

I wouldn't expect or want any of my 'movement' of dog walking and school runs etc to burn any calories.

I am glad to hear that everything in moderation is OK as I have always felt suspicious of the notion of completely cutting things out. Now I just need to eat in moderation 😂

My garmin tells me my VO2 max. Do you know how accurate it is? I suspect it’s about as accurate as the calorie burn ie not!
I’m curious more than anything.

I hate it, but I have to do it or everything starts to hurt and I get out of breath going up more than one flight of stairs.

It’s a very disappointing state of affairs tbh.

My garmin tells me my VO2 max. Do you know how accurate it is?

About as accurate as a watch can be, in my experience, but obviously not as accurate as if you measure properly in lab conditions with a mask.

I find it's good for measuring trends rather than anything else. Eg my vo2 max goes up when I'm marathon training and drops if I'm not well, if I'm having down time between races etc. It varies between 50 and 54 generally.

Oooof, you're very fit! I don't check mine very often. It's 44 today and I'm 55 years old.
I have noticed my RHR has been elevated for the last few weeks - a combination of a lingering cold virus and being under a lot of stress.
Like you, I tend to look at the trends rather than the actual number.
In the olden days I used to glance at the kitchen clock, head out for a run and then check the time I got back. When I was old enough to drive I drove some of my routes to check the distance. How things change!

Ive lost three stone recently in six months and haven't done any exercise at all. It's all been via diet.

I once did several months of really intense exercise....think two exercise classes a day... weights and hiit. I became much fitter and stronger for sure but didn't change my diet at all and didn't lose any weight or look any slimmer at the end of it.

I wish I enjoyed exercise but I absolutely loathe it. I hated pe at school... I'd have preferred to sit indoors and do a maths lesson. I don't know what to think about when I'm exercising...hard to explain but my mind feels so bored during it. I have done some really good exercise classes though where I've got the endorphin rush...but I think it takes a very skilled instructor to build the atmosphere and engage the class. So many are rubbish.

Well done on your weight loss, you must feel a lot healthier.
This thread isn’t really about exercise for weight loss though, but about exercise for all round health (heart, strength, bone health, mobility).

Yes I understand. I actually would like to exercise to improve my health and to feel fitter and stronger especially as I get older...but the boredom of it is really the problem for me

This is why podcasts and audio books were invented! I hate going to the gym but I now go 3 or 4 times a week by listening to a podcast.

Can you exercise in front of a favourite TV show or listen to a podcast or book?

Absolutely you can! As long as your body is exercising effectively, it doesn't matter what your eyes are doing LOL

I’m not assuming people do cardio to burn calories - although it is a factor that it makes ME very hungry

I was literally just trying to discuss the science behind movement vs exercise. I used calories as a descriptive metric. It was not intended to educate people who already understand their body and what their body needs. Calories are a unit of energy, and most people understand them. Most people don’t know what vo2 is so that kind of chat is confusing. The thread has descended into exactly what a lot of people who don’t like or value exercise find offputting - a load of know it alls bickering over types of exercise!

My post was meant for people who do not see the value in exercise or believe they are already doing enough in their usual every day activity

I will give up now as no matter what I say someone will pick a hole in it and relate it back to them and take offence. 😂

Um yes - I know that 🫣

I was suggesting it because PP says she finds exercise boring….

I recon the perfect mix for a perimenopause or menopausal women would be twice weekly weight training heavy for bone strength, twice weekly cardio reaching zone 5, once weekly flexibility class and 7k plus steps daily.

I’ve started a new job where I can walk home. It takes an hour but I really miss it when I don’t do it. I get the bus if it’s raining heavily as it’s freezing rain at the moment. Otherwise it’s a great way to listen to my downloads of Vernon Kay’s Radio 2 show which I just love because it puts such a smile on my face and helps me decompress from the day. I get the bus in the morning because it’s quicker and I’m not a morning person. It’s helps with my aged aches and pains and menopausal symptoms. But yes I definitely need to shower when I get home. I have decent New Balance and Nike trainers I wear and SOREL boots when it drizzles or rain is forecast. Then I change my shoes at work. I exercise best I think when there’s a purpose.

Exercise is vital as we age. Was super fit before a period of ill health for my husband when I just didn’t have time. Absolutely shocking just how quickly it fell away and my joints became stiff and I was breathless on gradients.

This is what’s happened to me too after a long period of ill health. It feels so good to move again. If I had the time I’d love to do some classes again at a gym. I’ll see if I can make time but my walks so far have been successful in that I’m fitter and have gone down a dress size already

I was the same after being on virtual bed rest for seven weeks over the summer after surgery. I found it difficult to even walk upright, it was as if my body couldn't support my weight. Short walks turned into long walks then running again and back to weight training and pilates, I hated feeling so weak and feeble 😞

I agree with @BlondeBonBon about the combination of cardio, strength and flexibility for post menopause 💪

I had tough pregnancies and births and lost all fitness while my mobility and energy were compomised. Both times I built up from walking 100m to a couple of miles, adding some yoga then phasing into mainstream exercise classes/ running at about 5-6 months. It's made me really appreciate what my body can do and want to keep it moving for as long as possible!

When you've gone to bed to recover from 100m of walking, you can really appreciate being able to run a half marathon 18m later!

I often feel more achey from a couple of days of not moving than from moving, and I need frequent exercise to be able to sleep.

I had to take DS out for a walk at midnight last night as he had been ill a couple of days ago, and his energy came back through yesterday and needed to move and burn a bit off to be able to sleep.

You’re probably right but I reckon the proportion of women in their 40s or 50s achieving that will be tiny.