Do you workout as much as you should??

As a child I loathed PE and any form of exercise. I was rubbish at sports, too small to get the ball over the net in tennis and the last one to be picked for any teams (humiliating in the extreme). Roll on my early 40s and I fractured a bone in my foot while on holiday in France. On my return I had a bone scan and hormone test and not only was I menopausal but had osteopenia.
Even then it took me years to realise I needed to exercise to strengthen my bones. I was put on HRT and sent away. Then I had further fractures - to my wrists, one very spectacular one Christmas eve which needed repair surgery. However I had begun to exercise sporadically and go to the gym, trying to lose weight and get fitter and healthier (I was obese as well!)
And then finally lockdown arrived. I did Joe Wicks daily and pulled a muscle. Then I joined a local online exercise group and did Early Risers aerobic/HIIT/ weights mix three times weekly and one or two Pilates classes. I also acquired a FItbit and ensure I do as close to 10000 steps daily, whether inside or out.
I'm a convert. Late in life I know and maybe too late to recover my bone density but the decline is slowing and I'm fitter. I do weights to strengthen my muscles and am trying to include balance exercises to prevent further falls.

Sorry for the very long post but I was very late to the exercise party and now I'm doing what I can most days. Still probably could do more. I had begun going to the gym pre-lockdown but not now. I would love to learn to swim but don't feel safe enough yet. Whatever we're doing, it's probably never enough, but life balance is vital.

The thread I read before this one was titled "Being told what to do." Co-incidence? I think not.

I don't workout at all and never have done. I wasn't keen on games and PT at school, but I did both (reasonably well) because they were in the timetable. After leaving school, my only exercise was dancing (quicksteps, foxtrots, jives, waltzes, in smoky dance halls) and speed walking from Waverley to Chambers Street to reach my seat before a lecturer started speaking. I never again went near a games pitch or a gym, except for a short period in my fifties when I accompanied a friend to a "women only morning" once a week at the gym, followed by a game of badminton or squash (her idea, and she always won)

My future husband sometimes went rock-climbing, but I never joined him. We went on some very pleasant long walks together, taking our children with us once they arrived, but the object of the walks was to see the countryside/scenery/ landmarks, not to "get fit". When he died after nearly fifty years of marriage, I kept up the walks, but they have gradually got shorter.

I am now over 80, and my body is getting less efficient in various ways, but I reckon I am at least as healthy as many people I know who have gone to a lot of trouble through their lives to keep fit. What they have achieved by all the workouts is to get strong in all the muscles that they have exercised. Their body health is no more than mine if you add up all the muscles and organs that make up their bodies.

I walk 10,000 steps every day fortunately its an exercise I enjoy.

Monica is saying what I thought when I read this thread re having to have a workout which sounds very American to me as in' have you been working out'. Bleugh. I do know I should and must keep active if I dont want to seize up altogether but going to the gym or using equipment at home is not going to happen here. I have a fairly active day with usual household chores as I do most things every day, I play golf at least twice a week which takes four hours and is about a 5 mile walk with lots of swinging the upper body, we go for walks in the country when the spirit moves us which is most weeks. That's it for me. I may take on a Pilates class in the Winter when golf is more sporadic according to the weather.

Wow! Have you seen the latest research about the link between intense exercise and motor neurone disease.

An active, everyday life is best. No need for workouts. My mum making beds, doing the washing, walking to the shops, carrying the load home, doing the garden would have said she didn’t have time?

I get out with the dog every day after work for about 30 minutes., and try to alternate yoga / weights. It's hard when you work full time. Unless I do the workout right away when I get home it will get put on the back-burner.

I find on a nice day DH will tempt me with a cider in the back yard. The dog will get a walk afterwards, but the other will get put off. I do love yoga though.

I have always hated exercise, I dislike anything that makes me too hot. I’ve never set foot in a gym, I can’t swim, and the exercise bike I once bought was hardly ever used.
But I’ve always had an active job, enjoy walking, and always do my ten thousand steps.
I’m sure in an ideal world I should do more, but I wouldn’t want to waste my very valuable time doing something I really wouldn’t enjoy.

I go to aquacise three times a week, swim once a week, walk with a friend once a week, average about 5 miles a time.

Walk into town several days a week, try not to drive unnecessarily.

Never gone to a gym.

I garden and go for walks outdoors, push the vacuum around quite a large house and enjoy ball games like tennis and table tennis when possible (I have arthritis).
Is that enough? It feels like it.
I applaud Grans who do more ?

I do Zumba a couple of times a week, and Aqua aerobics twice as well. Other than that, a bit of gardening when I can be bothered, and washing the car once a fortnight.

I walk the dogs for 1 hr+ every day, so I average my 10k steps, but that is my lot.

Why should I work out at all, let alone have workouts I should do?

I walk a lot - and fast, I live in a rural area we are surrocunded by fields, woods and footpaths. I love walking everywhere and litening to the birds or watching the changing seasons.We have a big garden and I am the gardener and enjoy regular sessions of Tai Chi.

Should do workouts? Bah, humbug.

Never been into the gym or workouts. I normally do Tai Chi once a week and am currently waiting for the class to open up again. I find it good for stretching and balance and for me it is much more enjoyable than strenuous exercise.

I spend so much time working hard in the garden, or decorating, sanding, painting, etc- that I have little time to use exercise machines or gyms. Much prefer to walk in countryside or swim.

Having seen how people can degenerate after a fall, I know I should do something to keep my strength up to prevent having falls at all when I get old and frail, even if it is just walking. I haven't even been doing that recently because DH has a slipped disc and has been housebound.

When I do think to do exercises, it's usually just after a meal or when I'm supposed to be getting the next meal ready.

When do you all find the time?

I’m a servant to a horse. Hard physical work every day but it never feels like a chore . I’m allergic to any other form of exercise.

I have tried various types of exercise but the only one I do every day is walking. I live in a hilly area so it is good aerobic exercise and the countryside is lovely here.

We were able to return to our club swimming pool last weekend for the first time in over a year. A pre-booked one hour session, so allowing for drying off afterwards we swam for a good 45 minutes.
The seven other people in the pool did little apart from bob around and chat. I did think they might just as well have met over a bottle of wine on the patio!

Me too

I walk my dog every day for approximately 2 miles.

Sometimes we bat along at a great pace, others he seems to want to sniff at everything.

My exercise level depends on him, but I do enjoy our daily walks and it seems to keep us both fit.

As long as it’s not bucketing down first thing in the morning I’m up and out for walkies at virtually first light before all the families come out. I can have a socially distanced walk of about 6 miles and pass the time of day with the few other early birds. Exercise classes/going to the gym have never appealed so I’m definitely not missing them.

Esspee
? my sort of girl.

I missed the gym today. Have done for the last 32 years ?

I wish... I had to give up Zumba on doctors orders he said if I kept on I would need a new knee within a few years. I also have artrose in my hips knees and feet.

Ive tried pilates at home but she said stretch and my hand hit the wall, lay down and the dog tried to give me CPR. yuk

So I just stick to the walking, we walk about 10km a day with our dogs and I take my camera with me so while Im snapping away it doesnt ever get boring.

Id like to do more but its finding the right motivation , the right level and the space and time to do it.

I struggle just getting around when I first get up because of my joints. On a good day I can have a jig around the house with music on or potter around my raised beds outside. I was extremely fit when younger and very active sadly that's just memories.