Feeling younger than I’ve felt for years

Well done Primrose53 and enjoy your new found freedom.

Apart from the physical side the exercise will do so much for your mental health. Exercise causes the release of endorphins - the 'feel-good' hormones - so it will help you to feel happier too. And the knowledge that you have taken responsibility for your health and well being will also help alleviate some stress so it's a win-win.

For anyone ( most of us!) who have less time than intention, there are some great 7 minutes workouts on Youtube, LWR, I think her name is Lucy Wyndham Reed. Some movement, is better than no movement, and as Primrose has so eloquently and positively posted, you will feel so much better for it.

Nannylovesshopping that is amazing. Well done!

Summerfly ooh ankle and wrist weights sound good! May have to invest.

Try not to bother about “joining in” or worrying what people think. I just do it! I probably look like a blob in my ancient batho but I will treat myself to a new one when I am a bit more toned up.

Wow Primrose, very well done. I’ve been poorly for the best part of this year, but I’m finally beginning to feel better. You’ve given me the push that I very much needed to find my get up and go. I have wrist and ankle weights, plus dumbbells. I’d like to start at our local gym, but I’m going to try and start off slowly on my own first. I’m not very good at joining in with anything new. Thank you so much for your post. You’ll be running marathons next! 🏃‍♀️

Well done Primrose!! I started at a gym 18 months ago, previously had bad hip pain, was convinced needed a new one, saw osteopath who said, no you don’t, you just need to work the muscles that are not working, he recommended gym and what to do there, I am no longer in pain and literally feel like a new woman, added bonus, dropped a few pounds, win win!!

I love this post

Lovely post well done Primrose. I’m 67 and my mum passed away this year after being poorly for years. I recognise your feelings of being old and tired. Just before I read your thread I was giving myself a telling off, for not getting out for a walk again today.
I’m still very tired. We’ve just been away for a couple of days and I’m exhausted.
Maybe it’s early days for me, or should I push myself. We’ll see.

What a great message Primrose53 really good news having travelled the same road and came out the other side with determination to ‘start living my life now my carer’s role had ended’! So happy for you .

mrsgreenfingers56

You give me hope Primrose53, you really do as I am looking after my mum at 94 with double dementia and feel tired, worn out and no time for myself, exactly how you felt. Not an easy dad with mum today so your post gives me heart.

If you can, try and get even half an hour or an hour to yourself. I know it’s not easy because when you sit down there are things like Mum’s bills to pay, appointments to make, prescriptions to sort out etc but make that time just for you.

I should have done that more but you just keep going on the treadmill don’t you? Have you got anybody who could help you with that?

I had nobody else to help me and I got so exhausted that I used to drive off, park up somewhere and just cry!

Have a look if there are any classes near you. Some only last 45 mins others an hour.

I am telling you this so you learn by my mistakes.

Cambia, I follow a woman on line that is in her 50's and a weightlifter, but only does her weights with hand weights at home.

On youtube, look up Cheryl Coulombe, under her playlists look up 30 min Full Body Workout. Her instructions are simple and start off with very light weights.

As Primrose says, there are lots of on line programs, but I find the woman above to be realistic in goals and the videos are easy to follow.

Bravo and a seriously well done to you. 👍🌷. I know your successful outcome is all you need but thanks for sharing. So joyous to read something heartwarming. Oh yesss.......

Sorry mean day not dad! You can tell I haven't had an easy one!

You give me hope Primrose53, you really do as I am looking after my mum at 94 with double dementia and feel tired, worn out and no time for myself, exactly how you felt. Not an easy dad with mum today so your post gives me heart.

Cambia

CanadianGran

Good for you Primrose. Staying active has such a great impact on our health, mentally and physically!

I do a weight workout at home 3 x weekly, and yoga 3 days, with Sundays to lounge about. I fractured my elbow late August, so couldn't do either, and I did notice the difference in flexibility and strength. I'm working my way back up now, but with lighter weights.

Can you recommend a weight workout from home please? We were going to the gym but as we travel so much we need to follow a home workout really and haven’t found one yet.

There are loads of workouts on YouTube. Just search for beginners weights, older women or, as the Americans like to call us, Seniors weight workouts.

Very well done Primrose, and thank you for sharing this. I have never been a fan of organised exercise as such, but lately have started a Pilates class, and a movement class, and I feel so much better for both. I don't have to take too much time out of my day, just walk along to the church hall for both ( different days, of course!). Like you, I find it a social thing too, we laugh and chat, and there is no pressure, no competition, just fun exercise. I now do the Pilates at home too, just five minutes here and there.

Good for you Primrose

Your time is now

CanadianGran

Good for you Primrose. Staying active has such a great impact on our health, mentally and physically!

I do a weight workout at home 3 x weekly, and yoga 3 days, with Sundays to lounge about. I fractured my elbow late August, so couldn't do either, and I did notice the difference in flexibility and strength. I'm working my way back up now, but with lighter weights.

Can you recommend a weight workout from home please? We were going to the gym but as we travel so much we need to follow a home workout really and haven’t found one yet.

Putting me to shame….

I am full of admiration for you and wish I had tackled my lack of energy sooner but am encouraged to try to do more physical activity - use it or lose it, I guess.

Well done Primrose.. you have certainly earned this new burst of life.. enjoy...

fancythat

CariadAgain

Good for you for getting back to exercising. It's "your time" now. I don't think most people would even realise they might be spending part of their retirement being a carer - so it's been a difficult few years for you having that to deal with (probably totally unexpectedly).

So - yep....enjoy yourself now that you can "retire" properly so to say.

Many may not.

I certainly do, as 3 grandparents, now great grandparents, are still with us.
Part, or main part of the reason I have been decluttering.
I can see what could be coming.

Crikey! That's a high risk of being a carer indeed! Families are going to vary indeed on that one. I'm from a (very heavy indeed) heart attack family on both sides - and that was before "modern medicine" and its very mixed blessings.

So I was very young (toddler age) when the grandparents both sides died. So young I don't remember any of them. But then the people my mother told me were her parents turned out to be really her grandparents and her "father" therefore died when she was very young herself and her "mother" died when I was just a few years old (I finally had that one pointed out to me by someone as to why my mothers "elder sister" was 17 years older than her.....when I expressed my astonishment to them about there being such a big age gap between them, rather than the couple of years gap I would have expected. They looked at the family photo and told me what they'd just "seen" in it - ie I'd not been told it how it really was).

My fathers parents really were his parents and they died when I was very young too.

I do have both admiration - and sympathy - for people who end up becoming carers. It's not a situation I've ever been in - as my father had told me many years beforehand my mother would want me to be a carer for her in later life, ie whilst she was still quite young and healthy and he instructed me not to do so - as he said she'd "drive you mad if you try to". So my mothers favourite child (ie my brother) and his wife took on a carer role there when it came to it (as they lived nearer to her than I did by then) and they were on a much more similar mental level to each other than I am to my mother.

So it was the man in the family - and not the woman - in the event that did caring duties when it came to it. It was much more appropriate for her favourite child/same mental level/married and therefore a spouse to help as well person to be the carer person.

But I certainly have had female friends that were put in that position and have a male friend now that is in that position and his parents have their own house still - but he "tears his hair out" at intervals on what it's like dealing with this.

My admiration to you that it looks like you are planning to go as far as taking them into your own home as well....

Fancythat I don't think it's necessary to be a swimmer to do acqua aerobics. I knew someone who did this every morning at her retirement village swimming pool. She used to stand in the water to exercise. Hope this is useful to you.

Thank you for all those lovely comments.

fancythat you don’t need to be able to swim. You stand in the water approx up to your chest and exercise to music.
When I was young I was a good swimmer but I get so bored just doing lengths so this suits me better.

There are some ladies there in their 80s going down to maybe 40s. They are all very friendly and supportive to this newby who forgets an item every time! Sometimes my hairbrush or talc or drinking water. Fortunately I haven’t forgotten my swimsuit ……. Yet! 🤣

I go to seated exercise classes using resistance bands. I have worked my way up the different band colours and am one step from the highest one.
It's a social group as well with a break for a cuppa afterwards and a quiz or arts and crafts or a talk from someone. We all love it and the age group is from the 60's upwards. I wouldn't miss those classes for anything .....apart from a gp, hospital or dental appointment.
Well done you for doing something for yourself.😊👏👏

CariadAgain

Good for you for getting back to exercising. It's "your time" now. I don't think most people would even realise they might be spending part of their retirement being a carer - so it's been a difficult few years for you having that to deal with (probably totally unexpectedly).

So - yep....enjoy yourself now that you can "retire" properly so to say.

Many may not.

I certainly do, as 3 grandparents, now great grandparents, are still with us.
Part, or main part of the reason I have been decluttering.
I can see what could be coming.