Exercise - how much is enough?

M0nica

I am 81, nearly 82, I regularly walk several miles. On a day out in London recently I walked over 4 miles in total. I also do Tai Chi, a regular class and short daily sessions at home, plus gardening around one hour a day. At the moment I am preparing to move house so spend several hours a day bending and stretching as I sort out packing, lug stuff for tip and charity shops in and out of the car.

I have ADHD, which means I am not good at sitting down for any length of time.

OP, I would say, you and I, are doing far more exercise than most people our age.

Monica, I’m totally out if breath just reading about your amount of activity! Good for you though!
I am the original couch potato. I hate walking! Very naughty of me because I live on the seafront here and can walk up and down watching the ferries going in and out. I am lucky, but in spite of the views, I still hate walking! Unfortunately I have become diabetic and have high cholesterol (not overweight, thankfully). Diabetic nurse insists that I should walk straight after a meal, to keep the cholesterol manageable. Just when I feel like sitting with a magazine!

I joined the gym when I retired and am still going at 82 years old, I do 3 classes a week, aerobics, line dancing and Zumba gold, also swim, my aim is to keep going as long as possible.
It was very hard going after lockdown but we all soon got back on track.
The social side plays a big part too.

Sounds wonderful,

I traveled SE Asia several times a year for many years alone years ago. Now I travel with my partner who is better at booking accommodation along the way on the internet.

Well done, good for you. Do you go alone or with a group?
I am looking forward to Race the Wirkd this evening, exoect you might be watching too,

I have and it was amazing. Followed by a 6 day walking holiday in turkey in April through the mountains and the Mediterranean coast. This was totally amazing. Planning hiking in the Philippines later this year. I work 2 to 3 days a week in an upmarket hiking/ travel clothing store which pays for my adventures. I believe that the more you do the more you are capable of.

Well done Miss C. Have you done your backpacking? Use it or lose it.

I am 70 and I refuse to get old. I may have a few wrinkles but I try to keep fit.
I completed a 12 week body transformation programme last year in readiness for a back packing trip around Sri Lanka. This took in both diet and exercise I have a weekly personal trainer and try to do 3 additional classes every week. I’m lucky that the gym is only 5 minutes walk from my house so it’s convenient. My progress is tracked and it’s great to see my fitness and strength levels get better each week. I broke a personal best this morning by a round of deadlifting a 32kg kettlebell.
The trainers work with clients of all ages and fitness levels and it’s never too early or late to start to do something.

I can recommend an exercise bike if you find that a daily walk is no longer within your capabilities. Modern bikes do not take up as much room as the one I had years ago. The seats are bigger, too, so they are more comforgable although I did also buy a padded cover for mine. They have a window between the handle bars that shows how long you have been cycling, how far you have travelled and at what speed, how many calories you have used up and what your pulse rate is. Mine was around £100 on Amazon. I keep it in the sitting room where I can watch the birds on the feeders whilst I cycle.

I’ve started doing more incidental exercise- housework, shopping & gardening as much as I can. I have generalised spondylosis and arthritis so just keep doing as much as I can.

OP you’re doing well.
If you’re managing to do any exercise it’s better than none. After knee problems, the physio said that even walking round the supermarket is exercise.
It’s not a competition, and you have to be motivated, not feel defeated before you start as happened when the health program I’ve been put on greeted me this morning with 100 push ups challenge!

emilie

83 is female expectancy. Half of us are dead by then.Watch out.

But that is an average, not a sell by date. the older you get, the more your life expectancy increases. I come from a long-lived family - and I want to follow in thata family tradition.

Being sensible and keeping fit, and eating well is part of it, without getting obsessed by either.

83 is female expectancy. Half of us are dead by then.Watch out.

I'm only 70 and I think you may be more active than me! I started walking more after my kids bought me a fitbit a few years ago but I only aim for a target of 8000 steps a day! I often don't make the target but sometimes exceed it. I walk with a 'Simply Walk' group for an hour once a week and try to move every hour even when having a lazy day.
I try to walk to things near home instead of driving and when I drive somewhere I try to park a bit further away so I have to walk a bit - even if it is just the farthest point from the door in the supermarket car park. I use the mantra 'Every little helps'. I've lost a lot of weight in recent years which has made walking much easier but since reaching 70 last year I have started to feel my age more.
Weight bearing exercise is important to reduce the risk of osteoporosis affecting bone strength. I take a calcium supplement in the hope that will help too. I'm aware my balance isn't as good as it might be so worry about falling. I need to try the standing on one leg thing I think!
It sounds as if you are doing fine. I hope I'm still going as strong at your ageif I last that long!

You are a year older than me & doing so much more! Be very pleased with yourself & keep going while you can! My Nan always said ‘use it or lose it’ & I try to remember that & do my exercises & have a short walk each day without too many ‘ouches’! You are an inspiration!

I have spondylolisthesis and stenosis of the spine so walking and standing are very painful. However I do aquafit 3 times a week, chair based exercise once a week and chair based yoga once a week. The aquafit classes include waterweights and the CBE includes thera band resistance work. I feemul 5 hours classwork a week compensates for my hours I spend sitting reading and watching TV. I intend to add length swimming once my Wegovey prescription stars next month. I need to lose 3-4 stones to help my mobility.

My mum is 96, she hates walking, gave up playing tennis about 35 years ago.
She can still walk short distances without help but absolutely speeds along if she uses her walker. Luckily she also loves the wheelchair so we get a workout if we have a distance to go.
Every time I think that I must do more I remember she wasn’t doing as much as I am now and she’s not in bad shape. That stops me feeling guilty. She still does all her housework, in short bursts, and I think that has helped.

crazyH

I hate these posts (joke) - makes me feel like such a slob 😫

Ditto! 🦥🦥

Thanks, all. xx

I love walking and cycling but my limit is around 4 miles now due to arthritis in ankles and hips. Use it or lose it but after 6 mile walk yesterday my ankle was so painful. I am 69 and have noticed increased pain and stiffness particularly over the last year despite regular exercise.

I am envious of you playing badminton at 81 I had to give up in my 50’s due to shoulder problems. My Pilates class has a few 80 plus year olds and they do remarkably well.

I hope to still be doing regular exercise in my seventies and eighties.

Just be careful not to do too much. I’m 68 and decided in January to walk much more in order to keep fit and loose weight. Now I have sciatica for the first time.
The physio says I probably did too much to begin with, but she says to keep on with the walking even though I have to take painkillers every day now.

Same age and always had dogs so I have to walk twice daily. During last winter I spent long hours sitting every day and, come spring, I was shocked at how much strength I had lost. I had to give up several activities because I couldn’t walk far enough.
Now I walk slowly and not very far but my dog is still extremely active. Luckily she loves playing with a ball.

Sounds like you’re doing brilliantly already! Definitely more active than most.

For many people how much exercise they take is dictated by their medical conditions and while some are lifestyle related, many are also genetic. Some people are very athritic, have heart problems, or other illnesses that limit their strength and ability to take exercise.

I think comparisons are invidious.

If this is keeping you fit and healthy I would say it is enough but if you want to do more or less that is also fine.