Too late at 48 to be honed & toned?

[trinni]

I have just put on a bikini and realised my thighs are going south!
I'm not overweight and have never done any proper exercise in my life.

Is it too late at 48 to tone up my legs and see some real results or have I missed the boat?

If I'm salvageable, what type of exercise should I do and has anyone else left it this late to begin?

I'm very determined but need low cost (ie not gym memberships) effective exercise.

Anyone?

Thanks fridays - 100 days for something to become a habit is a good one to bear in mind. The majority (including myself) probably cave in before this.

I want to get to the stage where I actually look forward/dare I say, love exercise, that would be my dream.

And Ripeberry - I can cope with gaining weight as long as I look a bit better for it.

ivykaty, the one off the A46 and named after our county...

ooo - so do you do classes? and how did you know which way to run around the golf course? i do spin a lot, i like spin and the bikes are good

haev you seen me up there?

good luck with whatever you choose to do.

i have recently started swimming 4 x a week and this is to lose weight and get healthy. i have lost over a stone so far by eating much less & my swimming - however i still have a long way to go.

anything is possible, just make the time for yourself

when I walk fast, I end up with sweat dripping down my back- that's how I know I am moving!

You should just be able to keep up a conversation with someone at the same time.

My own regime- which I have let slip a bit-was to walk 5-6 x a week and if I didn't due to rain etc I would use my dumbells and do ar exrcises and squats at home.

My aim is always to do something every day- if it's not a walk then 20 mins of exercise- squats, plank, bicep curls etc. Try touse music with a beat to get some rhythm!

bookmarking to remind me to look c25k in the am.

Thanks to all of you for your inspiration, you're a lovely bunch of ladies.

I'm off to get some sleep now and start a new week with a new mindset x

ivykaty, I don't think I have seen you!

I've done a few classes: Outdoor Fit (great fun) pilates and yoga but tend to stick to the gym or the pool. Reception have a map of the trail so I followed that but did get a little lost and ended up on the golf course. I was not popular with the golfers!

Never done spin, is it hard?

Depends really - but you can set the level lower than the others - so it is as hard or easy as you like - tony is a monster just outdone by phil...I did phil this morning and agian at 9.30 in the morning - Tony sets you up proper on the bike though, is a good start and funny, phil is a kenilworht wheelers boy and hard but really good -cheesy music

so will you do the tri in septemebr?

Ooooh I didn't know about September. In my head I was mentally prepared for May. Hmm. Not sure. Are you?

Wilf - I didnt, did watch part of a programme about wind though.
Cloud appreciation soc do a really good book on identifying clouds.

well in my head I was preparing for May - but thought the push may...

I am still working on the swimming - 14 lengths and 20 is needed.

Well if you see me up there - come and say hello...photo on my profile

I definitely will! I usually have 2 little blonde boys with me on a Thursday.

ok

its never too late

48 is young, some people take up regular exercise in their 60s or 70s

please do it - the appearance of your thighs is unimportant compared to the benefits you will feel to your overall energy levels, your strength and stamina and your self confidence

you do need to find soemthing you like, though, or you wont stick at it

I started c25k this year and can now run for 30 mins without stopping. Quite slow - run at 8.5k per hour so fall short of 5k by .75k but I haven't run for years and never managed more than 20 mins even at my slimmest/fittest. So I fully endorse the c25k. It is getting boring for me now though - so am combining it with other exercise. Maybe that would work for you as well?

No of course not. I'm 47 and just getting rid of a bit of flab that had sneaked on with pregnancy.

I'm a lifetime sports hater/loser but I've found that an hour in the pool once a week works a treat. And it provides peace and quiet too, can't take my phone in there! And the pool has the least expensive creche I've ever found.

I did c25k but like others got bored of running. My approach now is just to try and do something every day.

I do go to the gym when I can, but I also powerwalk, do Davina DVDs and swim. I find by varying my exercise I am more likely to keep it up. I usually end up doing something 5 times a week, but like I said I aim to do something every day. The exercise has made a massive difference to my weight and mental health, and the more I exercise the more I want to do it.

not read the whole thread but another advocate for couch to 5k here. I use the Robert Ullreys podcasts thought there are lots of others out there if you search google. I am on week 7 (run 25mins no walking) and have noticed a definite improvement in my now diminishing 2 csection belly! The great thing about it is that you get a real sense of achievement which I wasn't getting when I was just "going out for a run"

I got as far as thinking about it today, but my back was sore so I only excercised my thoughts