Only 50% of middle age adult manage more than 1 brisk 10 min walk a month.

When I lived by the sea I used to walk much more. I would go down to talk to the sea most days as well as volunteering in a Charity shop. Moved 2+ years ago & have nowhere but streets to walk round. So have put on weight & gone up a size. Keep meaning to be more positive but keep thinking why? Nearly 82 so maybe I should put up with slowing down a bit! Feel really guilty tho when I cant fit in my size 12 jeans now. Sad aint I 😂

Until my husband had his first Stroke I walked about 3 miles every day. Brisk, timed walking. I also often joined walking groups. Now I can’t find the time and daren’t leave my husband as he is prone to falling.

I have a walking pad in my bedroom which I very occasionally use but I miss being out in the fresh air.

It is a matter of habit. I have never been able to afford either driving lessons or a car, so walk or ride a bike. Always havve done. These days I am better off than I was formerly, so I can actually afford to take the bus now and again.

I cannot claim to take ten minute walk every day, but I do so at least theree times a week, and often take one or two walks of over an hour's duration.

But as I said, it is a habit, one I formed when I left home at 17 and had no-one to drive me anywhere any longer.

I am fortunate to still be healthy - but, I have no idea if this is connected to my habit of walking, biking, doing my own housework etc. or just sheer luck.

Monday I do a gym class first and then hour
Tuesday I volunteer at my local library so park up and walk
Wednesday it is Pilates followed by volunteer reading
Thursday I go to Walking netball in the morning, choir in the evening
Friday I drag OH out for a walk somewhere or an event.
Saturday it is usually Park Run , although my friend and I walk it (5k)
Sunday might head to the allotment to help weed/ pick/trim produce
Factor in cooking, cleaning, shopping, reading, book group, theatre trips, meeting friends, holidays, knitting a blanket for a friend I think 30 minutes a day might be possible 🤣🤣
I do realise I am very fortunate to have my health although I have arthritis in both hips and lower back . I want to keep going as long as I can . One life, live it .

I see young people, teenagers and young adults at the bus stop and often think, when I walk past them aged 78, why aren't you walking - only 20 mins walk from here to town, 35 mins max to the railway station and you'd save the bus fare and do your heart good. Yes, I do take the bus but only if I'm short of time or the weather is a problem.

Sometimes I wonder just who does these surveys. Either we are fitter here ( I doubt it,somehow) or more health aware because just about everyone I know over the age of 70 makes a conscious effort to exercise in some form or other. All the walking groups round here are thriving and even walking round the shopping centres takes a couple of kms at least, they are huge these days.

Some people walk miles at work each week, too.

It’s possible to walk without leaving the house. I had a lot to do at home today so didn’t venture out, which is unusual for me. I did manage a 30 minute Japanese walk though (3 minutes fast, 3 minutes slow, alternating) with a very smiley young lady on YouTube guiding me through the delights of Tokyo. So I’ve clocked up just over 8000 steps with that and my normal activities round the house.

What about people with agrophobia?

Dame means same.
Proving there is something that's like a dame.

I wonder how many of the "non walkers" go to the gym and work out?
Not that it's the dame as staying mobile, but perhaps some are concentrating just on building muscles, burning fat (or whatever it is that people do at gyms)

On a positive note though, our 5 AC, aged between 24-41 are all excellent walkers and all have a good amount of movement and exercise almost every day! DH at 70 walks the dog for an hour every single morning

You fine folk shame me, I was a very good walker and very outdoorsy however a condition I developed at 44 has got progressively worse and I am one of those who doesn’t manage to walk every day

Get a rescue dog they'll soon retrain you into walking. I have multiple health problems but still manage to take her a walk everyday. No I'm not going to win any races but being outside, breathing fresh air and seeing how nature changes from season to season is uplifting. I used to walk an hour every day but that is impossible now but I always feel better for my short walk.

I do plenty of walking and still work part time anyway, but the government is more concerned with those in their 40’s-50’s I think.Any type of exercise is good, even housework.

I’m in my 50s and walk every day. In my old job I used to walk about 40 miles a week but now I only do about 16 miles. I have a 20 minute walk to work, then 20 minutes back. I do three hours a week at the gym. I walk to the shops etc. I’ve just walked two miles to meet my daughter at youth club and walk back with her. I just incorporate as much walking as I can into my everyday life. I have osteoarthritis in my hip and if I don’t stay mobile I know about it!

I spent most of my middle age years cycling everywhere. I am sure that did me good.

Yes, people definitely drive more.

My son only lives a few minutes walk away from us, but he would jump in the car if he needed to pop over. And he wouldn’t walk to the shops if he needed say a loaf of bread, he’d drive.

Whereas I would walk.

He could do with the exercise though!

Yes, its a different pace of life now.
Everyone is so busy trying to get the basics of living running smoothly, and meeting their obligations.

MissAdventure

I was just going to ask if people think this is because so many people drive these days?

I suppose most people have to drove to work the shops etc

I was just going to ask if people think this is because so many people drive these days?

I'm very grateful to be healthy at 77 and I walk a lot because I don't drive. I usually average about half an hour a day.

If I'm given vouchers as an incentive, I'd definitely up my walking game even more

the post wasn't about elderly people. I understand elderly or disabled people might not be able to do a brisk walk, but they should still be able to access some sort of exercise

I think we will have a generation of people who will be dying younger again - as in before retirement

How can anyone walk less than 10 mins a month?

we aim for 4000 steps a days, as my husband is poorly but I easily do 10k plus with just walking from office to office at work if I need to talk to people (but I suppose I do leave my desk)

I ended up most definitely getting more than a ten-minute brisk walk today. The planned playpark outing turned into a castle adventure instead. Not a nicely manicured National Trust style castle you can amble round but one with multiple worn spiral staircases into corner turrets, out onto the fifth storey roof in a gale and rough and broken floors to negotiate. I think I’ll sleep well tonight!