Help, oh expert fit people of Gransnet!

Farnorth I'm sure it would be OK on tablet just need to download the app

Just following on from the post from nipsmum about the health benefits of dog walking, if you dont have a dog and maybe dont want to actually own one, you can borrow a dog. There is a web site called Borrow My Doggie to match up owners and those who would like to share. You can search for dogs near to you, put up a profile saying when you are available, or indeed if you already own a dog and need a bit of help you can upload your request. Potentially its a nice way of making friends in your local area too - dog walking is quite sociable. I havent used it yet myself, but I have been looking at the site for a while now.

I love my Fitbit Charge, really gives me a buzz when my steps are up. I'm 66 and member of a gym. Work with a personal trainer (who's like my son) and do 6 x half hour a month and add in more myself. I initially lost 2 stones and 2 dress sizes. Went from a stretched 14, nearly 16 (cried when had to buy bigger shorts for a holiday) so did something about it. My nutrition is now spot on, I'm stronger and happier and a size 10/12. The best thing my trainer ever said to me was "you can be anything you want to be!" I work as a qualified Christian Counsellor one day a week (voluntary) and work part-time as an Examinations Invigilator in schools, am married with 4 children and 4 grandchildren. Life is jam-packed. I think it's important to stay healthy and strong and good nutrition is 80% of weight management. Go for it!! I do the Workweek Hustle and the Weekend Warrior on my Fitbit with a few friends and we spur each other on to do more steps! I try for 10,000 a day, don't always, and then sometimes do nearly twice that (after gym, shopping and digging our allotment!) My highest was 33,000 when on holiday in Lanzarote in January - I walked between resorts while my husband had a cycling day and we met up later. Life is what you make it. This is only my 2nd ever comment on gransnet but I read regularly

25 mins of hula-hooping Mercedes55! Respect!
I got a hula hoop recently and have progressed from 30 secs to 1 min.

Love my fitbit. I use it walking puppy on beach, use it when walking round shops, it encourages me to walk not take car/ catch bus, it inspires me to hit my target. Was given it as a present for Christmas

I have a fitbit (POLAR) which was recommended by my cardio rehab physiotherapist. Not only does it tell me how many steps I've walked in a day (target 10,000) but also my training activity (walking, cycling, strength training), calories and fat burnt etc. I have to synchronise it with my computer and physiotherapist can keep track of my activity! This spurs me on to make sure I reach my targets. It also logs my heart rate, sleep patterns etc. If I'm sitting for more than 55 minutes, it buzzes to tell me I need to get moving! Like others, I find it quite addictive.

Carolb25 Ask your doctor or read up on exercise after hip replacements. I had back surgery and was cautioned in the first year about Pilates, but after that was told anything that helps with keeping my spine flexible and healthy is good (NOT weightlifting though!).

Walking whilst minding my posture has done the trick and I feel stiff if I do not walk as I work from home on my computer and can get into wrong positions easily even though I have a foot rest and special chair.

I've used a Fitbit for about 15mths now and love it. I have no doubts that they aren't entirely accurate, but they do give you an idea of how many steps you are doing and are an encouragement to get moving. My GP has one and he thinks they are a great idea!

I always make sure I do at least 10,000 steps a day and if I haven't got to my target I will march in front of the TV until I have. I do 25mins of hula hooping a day, walk the dog and swim occasionally and don't have any weight problems so I'm not trying to lose weight, just trying to keep fit.

I have a Fitbit, I love it, it gives me the push I need to get to my required steps every day it also made me realise that I wasn't sleeping as long and as well as I could be so I made changes to help me improve that, go on treat yourself, in my opinion worth every penny, I had mine as a Christmas gift, it was the cheapest version on Amazon ?

I've got a Fitbit and I find that it encourages me to move more. It really encourages me to get my 10,000 steps in. It might not be absolute accurate, but it's good enough for me.

My daughter bought the DH a Fitbit for Father's Day and I had one too. While sceptical about these gadgets I have found it to be grat fun and it really challenges you to exercise daily. I aim for 10,000 steps a day and as my housework is partb of my fitness regime (no expensive gyms for me) I often clock up a few thousand before I leave the house though my walk of at least 40 minutes will add many more.

I have the 'Fitbit Charge' and it measures steps, heart rate, miles/kilometers covered/ calories/ flights of stairs climbed and the new one will even pass on your iPhone texts.

My DH is a bit competitive as you can compare your score with others on the joint score board online. However, I don't bother with this as I am only monitoring my own fitness.

Wonder what a 67 year old can aim for? I'm not too unfit or overweight. My problem is suppleness and I'm worried doing yoga and Pilates because of a hip replacement three years ago.

I use the fitness app on my watch, and before that , I used an app called Pedometer on my phone. It measures paces and stair climbs. I run, swim and cycle several times a week and did before I got the watch but you'd never guess from my less than svelte figure! The best piece of advice I've seen is on a bus stop. It says something like 'walking briskly turns a ten minute walk into exercise'.

DH and I both have the little Fitbit which you can pop in your pocket. We wear them every day often competing to see who has the most steps. Zumba gives me 6000 steps an hour - but that's just once a week at the mo! I try for 10,000 steps a day sometimes it's a lot more sometimes less. It does motivate you to get moving more and I need the motivation! ?

Walking... it's a habit you have to get into and not just for non-wet days. We walk to the shops, walk the dog we share with stepson on a lead (she needs a march, too, and not just a dash about with the ball).

It is a habit... like brushing your teeth. If you are going to do the 1/2 hour daily trek to shops and back or a round route near you, it needs to get to the point where you feel itchy if you don't do it.

As Yorkshiregel says, it's what goes into your mouth. I made a lot of food substitutions after back surgery. No cakes, but fruit or oat bars. I like crisps, but have only 1 little bag in a week as a treat. Or anything else that is calorific is now only had as a weekly treat. Look at the kcal content, especially the sugars.

HINT: DGD likes the Organix brand of snacks. I like them, too! They fill the hole, low salt and sugar and they can be very tasty.

And I do drink a probiotic daily as well. I do find that even if it's psychological, my stomach does not growl as much... especially when I pass the bakery window!

I've got a fitbit and I love it
Aim for 10,000 steps a day ... Don't always get there but it does spur you on to keep going when you find yourself about to slump in the chair
There's loads of them out there
Got mine from John Lewis and they set it up so I was ready to go straight out the store ...
Try it ...
You'll love the motivation....

For those who do not like going to fit clubs try getting the Slimming World Cook book from The Works on-line shop. That is what I did and there are some great recipies in there and also a day plan. Working for me!

My doctor says it is what you put in your mouth that does the damage. So I took myself in hand and now I have lost 11lbs! So happy!

I do not have a fitbit or similar, but I do have a peddle exerciser which is great and must be doing its job. Gets my muscles working in my legs anyway. Too easy to sit and watch tv all day, you really have to drag yourself away from it.

Do you have to have a smartphone to use a fitbit? Or would a tablet do?

" When I tells me to stand I walk to the kitchen and get a biscuit."
Thebeeb

Oops Crumble my post wasn't very helpfil. The fitbit is worn like a watch and links to an app, mine on my phone. It measures movement and reports how you are doing on its dashboard. Calories eaten have to be input but most other measurements are determined by the fitbit. You can program whether you want to lose weight how many steps etc

Like Gymstagran I love my Fitbit (although I'm actually using a much cheaper basic version called Mifit since losing my Fitbit on holiday). I find it motivates me to walk more and I like to check the steps I've done every day. It's a very useful tool for me but, of course, it won't be useful for everyone.

Another very important factor at any age but particularly when older is 'stretching' . The effort put into that after exercise or a warm up is important. This stretching does help to alleviate all sorts of pain and aches brought on or made worse by tight muscles. It does work - taken me a few years to bother to do it but very noticeable if I don't. You can do this at home in between exercise or in place of if you have problems that stop certain activities.

I have had a Fitbit for about 2 years now and used it in conjunction with my fitness pal to log food ....It helped me lose 2 stone by motivating me to walk 10k steps minimum per day and monitoring what I was eating. I feel uncomfortable if I don't have a brisk walk each day and it's also good mentally to be out in fresh air! I'd always recommend a Fitbit!!

I was in a similar position 8 months ago, feeling 'older' though actually it was more a case of 'unfit' I now think. I was walking and cycling a bit, but eating too much. I decided I needed to take action like you. I started Nordic Walking and now do this about 5 days a week for an hour, which has been a revelation; it really is more of a work out than normal walking, which surprised me and I love it. Also do Pilates weekly and occasional swimming and cycling. Have also managed to get eating under more control aiming for a healthy low sugar diet. I feel so much better now, physically and mentally. You really can make changes and I'm sure you won't regret it, even though it can be a bit of an effort at first. As others have said do what you like. You are right lethargy breeds lethargy but activity breeds energy. At this time in life I think it is even more important to keep as active as possible.