What exercises do you recommend for beginners?

At the beginning of Oct I started AquaAerobics and I love it. I feel much more supple and can do exercises under water that I could never otherwise do.

I have done my own little balancing and exercise routine every morning for several years so I also do that. I have bought the lightest weights from Argos and use those plus a rubberised exercise band. I swear my upper arms are getting muscle rather than flab.

I’d say try a few things and pick what you enjoy most.
Oh, I also try and walk as often as I can. Good luck.

TaiChi

Aqua fit for me and regular 40 minute walks. Whatever you do start very very gently!

Walking is a good all round exercise to begin with if you are not usually very active. Find out if your local sport and health centre have any classes that might interest you. I did a course last year for people with respiratory problems. It was helpful and the tutors took into consideration my somewhat lack of mobility because of osteoarthritis. It gave me confidence and a renewed interest in circuit training which I did when I was young.

Tai chi.
Walking briskly.

Sit fit . I am disabled and sit fit is not a soft option we have a good workout. We do exercises sitting down and standing using the back of the chair plus walking exercises.

I have static pedals at home I use do 300 rotations a day . Our sit fit instructor gave us 7 wake up morning exercise in January I do them every morning once dressed. Plus do weight bearing exercises which I use 500g ankle weights and 500g dumbbells.

During class we use 1kg weights but I can't use them hence I brought the 500g weights and take my ankle weights to class. We used resistance bands straight and circular .

I can't use gyms and the atmosphere isn't for me. We have a laugh during sit fit and a chat . Our oldest member is nearly 93.

The council I am under does active ageing sit fit classes 12 weeks for free.

My brother swims every morning for a hour lengths and walks minimum 10,000 steps a day ,has an allotment and uses weights at home .

Our instructor always says you should feel the exercises but if it hurts stop. I am fitter at 66 than I was at 50.

Have a look if your local council run exercise classes plus local church halls and libraries rent out rooms for exercise classes .

If you don’t want to go out or join a class to exercise, there are lots of YouTube videos with exercises for older or less able people. Doing it along with the video is better than going alone, and the timings etc are done for you.

Good advice, Doodledog. There are so many different types of exercise videos on YouTube for free, and you can watch and try them to find what suits you without wasting money in the process.

I definitely recommend Tai Chi. It is good for balance and stretching. See if you can find a class near you rather than trying to do it from an online tutorial. Otherwise any general exercise class that gets you moving would be great.

I know what to do, I just need the motivation to do it 🤔

I'm another fan of Tai Chi. After DH died I felt as if I'd been sitting in a chair for ever. Tai Chi was ideal because it got me moving around without being too strenuous and it really is good for improving balance. Our council even runs free classes.

There’s a really good Facebook page called Easy Fitness Over Fifty which I keep planning to do. There’s another good one, the name of which escapes me. When I’ve finished my decluttering I plan to start doing the exercises every day.

I’m 70 next month and have just completed a 12 week body transformation programme at a local private gym. Personal trainer twice a week and strict calorie deficit regime.
I’d put on a stone and really wanted to lose this and maintain body strength both of which I’ve achieved. Luckily I’ve always been reasonably fit and healthy but this has been the motivation I needed. I’m now back to swinging 14kg kettlebells and deadlifting 20kgs. My entire body shape has changed and I’m signed up to continue with this programme when I get back from holiday. I have always believed that it’s worth the hard work to maintain muscle and body strength as we get older.
Starting with small weights and building on this is a great step.

I can recommend Pilates; if you can find a beginner’s class in your area perhaps give that a look, as it’s important to get your ‘technique’ right, then when you’re more confident The Girl with The Pilates Mat on YouTube is brilliant for home exercising.

Walking walking walking

Walking is a great exercise and throughly recommended but it doesn’t help maintain muscle strength. Any exercises using weights and/or resistance work is the only way to maintain upper body strength. Exercises to strengthen the core muscles are also really important eg planks or lying on the floor and raising your legs or doing crunches are the only way to tone and strengthen the core muscles. Walking is great but it should only be a part of the exercise regime.

Another vote for Aqua fit here. I do a class once a week and then swim normally twice a week. Two days a week , sometimes three, I’ll go on an hours walk. I gave up having a cleaner and my smart watch tells me that I have done a vigorous workout when I clean the house . I always have one day a week when I do no exercise, or very little, I was told that our muscles need some recovery time.

One that’s often recommended for older people’s core strength, is getting up from an ordinary chair or sofa, 10 times daily, without using your hands. Keep arms folded in front of you and lean forward slightly.

Another recommended by a physio when I was still a bit weak and wobbly last year after pneumonia, is marching on the spot, but swinging the opposite arm to the leg. Apparently aids balance. At least 50 daily.

You can buy weights online, I have a pair of 1 kg ones which I lift (both up and sideways) while usually sitting on the sofa! (But I don’t do it often enough….)

I'd like to get some weights but don't know what weight to get. Can anyone please advise? I am mid-70s.

Look up We Are Undefeatable on YouTube, particularly Strength With Alex.

They are short (15 minute) exercise workouts, with Alex doing them standing, someone else sitting down and a third using a chair for balance. You adapt the exercises to your fitness levels. All you need is some weighted objects - either dumbbell weights, water bottles, cans of beans or something. Other than that, you do them indoors and can pause if you need to rest.

They are designed for people recovering from illness or who are otherwise compromised physically.

Thank you, Doodledog. Will look later. Very helpful.

after having cancer i now have lymphedema in both legs along with nerve damage to both and need to use a walker, doctor last week said i am now type 2 diabetic, exercise is difficult but i looked on youtube for chair exercises that i can do at home and have found a few good videos.

Doodledog

Look up We Are Undefeatable on YouTube, particularly Strength With Alex.

They are short (15 minute) exercise workouts, with Alex doing them standing, someone else sitting down and a third using a chair for balance. You adapt the exercises to your fitness levels. All you need is some weighted objects - either dumbbell weights, water bottles, cans of beans or something. Other than that, you do them indoors and can pause if you need to rest.

They are designed for people recovering from illness or who are otherwise compromised physically.

It’s on Facebook, too and is another one that I keep meaning to do on a regular basis!

You need to take into account any health issues you may have.
I would say this is the most important thing before doing any exercise routine and take the advice of a health care professional if necessary.
You can very easily injure yourself.
Best of luck