how many hours

I walk to the shops and if I have a load of shopping catch the bus back otherwise I walk. I do a great deal of cycling and tend to cycle somewhere most days and do a really long ride of about 22 miles plus once a week. Other than cycling I do a bit of swimming when the mood takes me and sometimes keep fit for over 50s. In the evening I just sit with the iPad/book or watch tv. Housework is done when its needed.

I do an hour of Zumba on 3 days a week, 2x1hr of Zumba on Mondays, and the usual housework every day. I work 2 days a week too.

I'm also like you merlotgran but why is it when I get out of bed my feet and knees don't want to bend so I'm dragging along like a very very very ancient person.

Merlotgran that made me laugh ? As others have said just do what you can & what the old bod tells you!!

I have always exercised and still enjoy it. Arm pumps with 5kg weights, stretches, climbing the stairs 2 at a time many times a day, walking 4 dogs 3 times a day...not mine but I have to dog sit so have the house to clean every day too.
I do at least 2 loads of washing every day, mostly for my teen grandson who showers twice a day and changes his clothes about a million times a day!
I help out at my sons business which is physical too.
I do my own small garden and tidy my neighbours.
I'm busy at the moment painting and decorating. Phew I feel tired thinking about it.
I take my grandson to rugby twice a week where I chat to the young parents for a break ? I watch Coronation street and I'm waiting to watch Poldark now, yeah!
I sleep 8 hours a night.

I do get very nostalgic for the days before exercise was invented and we were allowed to sit and read all day without feeling guilty. However I have taken the health advice on board and try to keep moving, bike everywhere, Pilates once a week, voluntary job in a cafe so on my feet for four hour shifts twice a week, always use the stairs and not the lift etc. I am not so good with walking due to a dicky knee. I try not to sit for extended periods and tend to watch TV on iPlayer so I can pause and have a bit of a walk around.

watermeadow it shows the stupidity of the ticking boxes culture!!! So what I do is ignore it all and do what I know is right for me!

I despair sometimes about the upcoming generation: My kids won't eat anything if the sell by date says otherwise... I look, smell and say its o.k.....no apparently it isn't...because the box says otherwise lol

watermeadow, that is ridiculous!

How many hours? Far too many. I'd actually be a bit scared to work it out. Most of my favourite activities are sedentary - reading, writing, jigsaws, films, quizzes eating, drinking, watching telly, surfing the net. I'm not a gardener and I'm certainly not a good housewife, so if I stayed in the stats would be shameful. I have a MiFit (the cheapo version of the Fitbit), and it motivates me to get out and walk at least 8,000 steps a day. I do yogalates three times a week, but I'm mainly on my bum for that. I used to run and am thinking of taking it up again, though it wasn't kind on my back. I think my saving grace at the moment is looking after the grandsons - we do two very long days a week at least and only get to sit down for story time. Thank goodness they love their books!

I had a check up, boxes ticked by a moronic girl. I said I walked my dogs for an hour and a half daily, walked everywhere, did volunteer work on 3 days, did hours of childcare every week, cared for a large garden.
She said I was “inactive” because I didn’t go cycling or to a gym. I said, “How many 70 year olds belong to a stupid gym? I use my energy on useful things!”

I have arthritis in my knees and was told by doc and osteopath to exercise to build up muscles above and below knees to compensate. I have a fitbit and usually manage 10,000+ steps every day but it's not aleays easy

I was given a fitbit by my DD and DS 18 months ago and I get a lot more exercise as a result. I work in a school as a Learning Support Assistant and thought I walked a lot between lessons until I actually measured my steps! I try to 'win' each hour which sometimes involves taking a detour to do the required 250 steps. Some days I make my target easily but I struggle at weekends as it is very tempting to sit with my laptop all day. I usually go for a walk in the evening -especially in Summer as it's cooler - to reach my target of 8000 steps and sometimes exceed the target, but would struggle to do 10000 a day because of the time it takes not to mention not fancying going out in extreme heat or cold. I feel so much better though for keeping moving and the fitbit is probably the best present I've had for many years. I often walk places now that I used to always drive, and when I do use the car I try to park a bit further from my destination to get the steps in. All the little things add up and the more I do the easier it gets, so unless you are struggling with mobility or in pain, walking is great exercise that most people can do. I have also found that going for a walk with a heavy shoulder bag gives me back ache very quickly so I usually go out with just my keys and my phone in my pocket and if I need to take more I use a small rucksack which really helps.

I think the advice is to keep as active as you can - within your capabilities so no two people will be the same. Some days I don't get much chance to sit down at all (job, kids, dog etc) others I might just feel like a 'duvet' day (although not in this weather ha ha)

If you are in reasonable health a dog will always encourage you to get out and about more than you may otherwise do but I am not recommending people get a dog just for that Sometimes I feel 'pooped' and I get the large brown doe eyes looking at me and I think "how can I refuse" so up I get and I am guestimating I do probably walk the recommended 10,000 steps most days but this IS only a recommendation and I don't stress if I've not done it.

In summary - do as much as you feel you can do and to heck with what other people say or do. Or is that not what you are asking? Maybe you are doing market research bahaha

Not talking about those who can’t exerchse due to painful conditions. .

I'm afraid to say it ,but even the effort of standing at the sink to wash dishes gives me great pain and I have to resort to my perching stool.I don't do any exercise at all.I would love to garden but that's impossible too.If I bend to do some weeding I'm likely to topple over,mowing absolutely kills my back and I dare'nt kneel as I would never get up again.Two replacement knees.Walking is almost a no no too as i have a flacid foot that more often than not does it's own thing,and I never know when I will fall over. Housework? what about it?

You get fed up of being preached at ?

I expect you mean on the TV - loads of programmes offering advice which you can take or ignore Camelot it’s your body but our NHS which doubtless provided the funding for your hip operation. And yes, not a problem doing 10,000 steps or any exercise you prefer if it’s important to you.

Seems there’s plenty on this thread who keep going and just the odd few who prefer sitting on their derrières.

I walk 50/60 miles per week

What merlotgran said

I keep going for as long as the knee and back holds out, sometimes I can't even finish the washing up, sometimes I can walk around for ages. So absolutely no timetable.

no real timetable more of a weekly thing.stationary bike 6 hours a week,too hot here to ride outside until nov.
walk the dog 2xs a day(10 minutes)yard work(mowing,trimming trees taking care of garden plants),about 6 hours a week,but have to do 20minute sets.again its so hot.mowing takes a minimum of 1 and a half hours.legs and arms get a good workout.
everynight i put on old rock and roll and dance for at lest a half hour.sometimes more if the music"moves"me.
when on computer will set something to load and go off and do indoor chores,dishes laundry,mopping etc.

Good for you Sara.

I get sick of being preached at, do this, do that, don't eat this, eat that, do 10,000 steps a day (ever tried it?) which is a number arbitrarily thought up by the marketing dept. of the manufacturers of the early pedometer.

I do think it helps to try and keep the legs strong to avoid unnecessary falls. I had a new hip 9 weeks ago and it still feels stiff and painful when I rise from bed or a chair but soon eases up. Have to force myself to do the exercises the physio gave me! I am idle by nature. Favourite hobby is knitting, necessarily sedentary.

I'm with sew on this. Erratic is good. See a need and meet it but try to fit everything around socialising. Lunch out is my very favourite and regular activity. Fit in domesticity only when essential. The joy of retirement indeed. Hallelujah!

I'm with Teacheranne I can't stand let alone move, I'm on crutches waiting for new knees and my knees are now the size of foot balls. No amount of icing and elevating makes any difference although the amount of energy it takes to do the slightest think should count for something. My weight is going down slowly because I hardly eat, Morphine is a great appetite suppressant.

I fit in a half hour or less meditation every day and it really helps to reduce stress/anxiety and is pleasant at anytime.

My life is erratic. I have no time table. Having retired and on my own. I can get up when I want, eat when I want, housework when I want.My late mother would have hysterics as she had a timetable for everything.