What is wrong with me?

I also do an online class and unlike my colleagues, I don't have a dog to walk, spent months abroad before covid, had a new kitchen, or children who are doctors etc, etc. I therefore only join the group a few minutes before the class starts and just listen to the tail end of the conversations. I then have a few minutes general chat with whoever I am put in a group with. It works for me and is much the same as you mentioning that they all say they have been exercising. You just do what works for you and you enjoy what you do.
Schellea of Fabulous 50 on Youtube released a video a couple of days ago about how not to feel envious of others. Her message is that if you fill your head with thoughts about other people there is no room left for thoughts about yourself so let the other people go. I guess that takes practice but she is spot on.

I am exactly the same, got quite a bit of equipment including weights but just cannot get motivated at the moment although I do work4 afternoons week in a busy care home
,I’m running up and down stairs a lot so I’m counting that as exercise!,...?‍♀️?

Can’t stand boasters, but I think you are right though to be concerned about how little exercise you’re doing yourself, you need to keep the muscles and bones in your legs strong to reduce the risk of falling as you get older. A fitness watch or a pedometer does motivate me to keep up the daily step count, just aim to do 100 more steps than you did the day before, and your guilt will soon disappear.

When listening to other people, remember the old saying 'believe none of what you hear and half of what you see '

Well it's easy to get stuck in a rut and lack motivation but you say you would like to get motivated to do more. That is the start, you could break the day up into two walks, starting like I do with a walk to the local Asda or to just get out and walk a fair distance just along a nice route as far as you like to go.

I feel better that I went out relax have light lunch. And I decide I will go for another walk mid afternoon.. So I feel better that I am keeping fit in my own time without over doing it.
Just take things slowly go at your own pace, then maybe you will be inclined to walk further as you get used to going out regularly.
It works for me.

I've been doing surveys about coping with the current situation. They ask about how much exercise I've done. Frankly, very little formal exercise although I try to remember to do 10 mins on the exercise bike morning and evening. I live in an area with good walks, but seldom do them - it's too much faff getting ready.

So the surveys go back looking like I'm a couch potato, but in fact I've been much more generally active since March. That activity just doesn't get quantified in the surveys.

Simon Cowell may well be regretting his new purchase of an electric bike. I've just read he was test driving it in his own courtyard and fell off. He's having to have back surgery this week. Antonia, don't feel pressured by other people's comings and goings. We are all different and there's absolutely no need to measure yourself against others.
I hate any kind of organised activities. I try to have a bit of a dance , in my bedroom and if I do this twice a week I'm pleased. If I do it three times a week I'm ecstatic .

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@Antonia, there is nothing wrong with you - it's the people who need to boast and justify themselves that have something wrong with them. They try to make us feel insignificant and lazy... because, after all, walking 30 miles is probably their only achievement. The rest of us just get on with life, finding time for what we must do, and for what we want to do.

There is no need to feel you have to compete with anyone else, but you should try to get into the mindset of getting fitter for YOU and your health.

You say you already walk for fifteen minutes which is fine, but how about slowly increasing it ?

The secret is to increase gradually so that your fitness levels improve along with the longer walk.

If it’s too busy where you live, why not drive somewhere fairly close where there is open countryside or to a park?

The change of scenery will motivate you to walk further to ‘see what’s round the corner’ as my husband always says !

It would be so great if as a country, we end up slimmer, fitter and thereby healthier.

There’s no reason why not.

Antonia there is nothing wrong at all. You are right about those on the bikes and they are a pain. I usually get a family unit on the pavement (mum, dad, and two children and always a little young one at the back straggling along) they take up all the pavement and take ages to move because of the one at the back. I know they all want to exercise so as we are in this lockdown I just let it all go over my head. I am always out for some exercise as I have to walk for health reasons. I do not do the 4 miles my doctor advised. (he will be lucky) but I try my best. Yesterday it literally poured with rain all day and I went no where and it was lovely. I did catch up on some indoor cleaning and ate some lovely chocolate.
Stay in and enjoy your cross-stitch and when you can take a few short walks around the block just for a bit of fresh air.
Why has everyone got to power walk, jog or cycle miles it just doesn't suit everyone.

I wish I could get motivated to go for long treks - the most DH and I manage is a 15 minute walk around the block,

There is a happy medium between your short walk and a long trek!

IMO unless you have a disability of some sort, 15 minutes is not long enough to keep reasonably fit.

My daughter, who is very fit, and would normally be spending all her free time climbing Scottish mountains, has been doing Joe Wicks. She recommended I try the Joe Wicks Ultimate Beginners workout aimed for us oldies or the very unfit. I did it once, and had to modify or miss out some of the more tricky exercises, but I felt a certain satisfaction from doing it. I probably should do it again but I've become terribly lazy! I do try to move about a bit and rely on my fitbit to remind me to move, but many of my daily 'steps' are achieved by swinging my arms and legs while remaining seated!
When the weather is nice I enjoy a short stroll or do a bit of gardening so I hope this colder weather improves soon to get me motivated. I'm sure you're not alone in enjoying sedentary activities. Personally I think our mental health is just as important as our physical health so do things you enjoy!

I don`t see how anyone can enjoy exercising, unfortunately it is important to get the heart pumping a little bit and to get slightly puffed from time to time. I hop on my cycle and do a minimal of a ride around the block and before I know it, I start to enjoy seeing the cows and farms and so the ride lengthens. I don`t half feel virtuous afterwards. You just have to clear your mind, grit your teeth and say `oh well it will all be over in half an hour`

I cannot stand walking, it is boring and too slow, no running for me, don`t want to injure my knees or ankles. No indoor cycling, very boring

Have you thought about trying different routes for your walk rather than going around the same block. Maybe get a map of your area and search out public pathways. I’ve always driven around my local area now im walking I’m finding nice places I never saw whilst driving. Then maybe you could increase the walk from 20 mins to 30 mins etc a day and build it up like that. It’s great for your mental health as well and keeping fit. Good luck give it a go.

Nothing wrong with you, yes there will always be boasters in all walks of life. Oh I’ve done 20 miles today, I really don’t give a monkeys, just going off to do my nightly swinging from my chandelier,,,,

Lupatria I was worn out just reading your post!

Antonia, don't beat yourself up. Bet those people cycling 30 miles don't post when they are having a rubbish day they just like to be superior. Believe me, you are not alone, I have been baking and eating way too much and sitting too much too. If you really feel like you want to do a little exercise just walk on the spot when the adverts come on, start small. Good luck and just carry on being you and getting through these times like we all are.

I really enjoy Leslie Sansome's Walk at Home classes on YouTube. I like feeling like I'm in a class with her students & it's easy & good fun, plus a mile can be done in 15 minutes. I try & do a couple of miles a day but sometimes I don't feel like it & sometimes I go out for a real walk in my own! You have to do what you feel comfortable with & s** everyone else!

I.think.dancing to classic fM might have been a mistake as well.

I go for a walk round the block as early as I can and have a good jogger-hate. Come back either angry or feeling I have won for the day depending on proximity of any joggers encountered. Later I walk some circuits taking in front and back gardens. 175 steps per circuit. That was till last weekend. Was getting my 10k steps done till in absence of my dear cleaner cleaned behind loo and twisted knee, so now enjoying tea biscuits and sudoku. Take it as it comes.

The recommendation is that we aspire to 10 000 steps a day. It's around 4 miles and takes between an hour and 90 minutes. Multiply that by 7 and you've got nearly 30 miles/week

I just put on some favorite music and dance in the house. Nobody is watching so dance as you are able until you get tired.

Antonia, You are lovely! Your cross stitch will let for 100s of years. Their bike rides will be forgotten next month.

People who have to boast, who have to be 'one-up' on others or worse put others down, are just not worth listening to. They must have something wrong with them if they can't just be themselves without having to boast or make out they are better than others. People will say they have low self esteem but I'm not so sure. I think it's a habit that they develop from childhood of simply boasting about being better than the rest and they are too stupid to realise it makes people dislike them!
Right now we need to be doing whatever we can to keep going and keep happy. It's a difficult and unnatural time, and my impression is that the vast majority of people have adapted amazingly well and risen to the demands of the day. It shows that human kind does have the ability to do what is needed for the good of everyone. I find that most heartening amidst all the very sad news of the people who have died.

I have never been any good at cross stitch although I have several craft hobbies; knitting, crochet, a little embroidery and a kind of patchwork collage 'mess'... I put decorative collage pieces on tee shirts and skirts and trousers, especially for my grandchildren. It's always abstract so nothing can go wrong! Oh and I always walk about 20 miles a day and 30 at weekends. NOT! ? I'm in a wheelchair outdoors and should use one indoors but it broke. I feel pretty smug if I walk up my garden in less than half an hour!

Keep happy, my love, ignore the show-offs! Laugh at them!

At a brisk pace you can cover a mile in 15 mins, if you build it up to do 15 mins each way you cover two miles a day then you can boast that you're doing 28 miles a week, very do-able for most which is more than you can say for doing cross stitch, I wouldn't know where to start.