Exercise in middle age

shyhall
shyhall Posts: 24 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
Hi folks, I'm 48 soon to be 49 middle aged woman. I joined as I want to be a fit slim 50 year old next year. I thought it would be the best 50th birthday present I could give myself.

I have been doing proper exercises, ya know warm up, stretches, bit of this and that from the fit star app I downloaded. It's been a good few years since I did "proper exercise" but I've been happily surprised that I already feel a bit more looser than I did before and that my body is still capable of doing exercise in middle age! I've found that I'm actually enjoying the exercises and the feel good factor after.

I also don't feel so hunched up sat at the office desk at work and it's helping to improve my posture. In fact I never even thought about my posture until I started exercising. I realise now how bad it has become over the years.

I have to watch my back a bit as I pulled it last year and ended up with sciatica and a slipped disc. That took around 6 months for everything to fully settle down, so I'm being careful to ease into things and not go too mad. I've managed to lose 7lb so far in just over 3 weeks.

Anyway I just wanted to say that if like me you are overweight, middle aged and exercise was a swear word (ha ha), then give it a go. It's surprising what a difference even just 10 or 20 minutes a day can do. :)

Replies

  • Rufftimes
    Rufftimes Posts: 349 Member
    Better shape than when I was 20.....44 years young today!
  • BruinsGal_91
    BruinsGal_91 Posts: 1,400 Member
    I'm running faster, stronger and longer in my 50s than I ever did in my 30s and 40s.
  • Alpha12
    Alpha12 Posts: 251 Member
    pinuplove wrote: »
    I read this as 'exercise in the middle ages' and came in here expecting to see things like 'outrunning the plague' and 'jogging in a full suit of armor' :disappointed:

    :):):)

  • Rocknut53
    Rocknut53 Posts: 1,794 Member
    AndreaWatkins2015 wrote: »
    I'll be 62 this year and I'm in the best shape of my life......go for it girl age is just a number :-)

    Myself as well. 63 and training to climb the Grand Teton in Wyoming in August with my 45 year old son. I'm at my lowest weight in 36 years, having shed 62 pounds. Over the past 18 months I've gotten my cholesterol to good numbers and defeated acid reflux as well as banished knee and hip pain that was interfering with my daily life. You can do this. Just keep your already great attitude and listen to those on here that offer up the best advice on how to make it happen.
  • Leadfoot_Lewis
    Leadfoot_Lewis Posts: 1,623 Member
    The only thing I do differently in my 40s is I spend a good amount of time on mobility each day, especially before I lift. Otherwise, I'm just as intense about my workouts as I've always been.
  • BrianSharpe
    BrianSharpe Posts: 9,248 Member
    I started running in my early 50s (I'm 61 now)...best decision I ever made. I added strength training a few years ago, also a great decision.

    Both men and women benefit significantly from adding some strength training to the mix (you don't need to bench press a ton.....) for men it's maintenance of lean muscle mass (we start losing about 1% per year after 40) for women it's also bone density - especially important for post menopausal women.

    You're on the right track.......keep it up & have fun
  • AnnPT77
    AnnPT77 Posts: 34,162 Member
    I started rowing at age 46 (after cancer treatment, including chemo, BTW), and am now 61. I feel like I became reasonably fit (cardiovascular capacity, strength) from that and other activities in the first 2-3 years, even while remaining obese. I kept up a pretty active routine, but didn't manage my eating (portion size, mostly) adequately until 2015.

    Now, at 61, having lost around a third of my body weight, I'm certainly in the best overall shape I've been in decades, though I'm not sure about "best ever". For sure, my cardiovascular capacity, strength, flexibility, etc., are very good for my age, and better than they were in my 30s-40s. Improvement is definitely possible in middle age.

    Improvement would be possible later age, too, if I were a li'l less lazy li'l ol' lady. ;)
  • tiggerlove
    tiggerlove Posts: 225 Member
    I worked out when I was younger and then stopped for quite awhile because I was always to busy..I've been working out now for the last 4 yrs constantly and I just turned 58 in March and I feel great even after having total knee surgery. Age is just a number if you can do it go for it
  • Machka9
    Machka9 Posts: 25,592 Member
    I'm 50 and still a very long distance cyclist. :)

    In fact, since I turned 50 in March, I wanted to prove to myself I could still do it.

    I cycled 1000 km in March, and 1000 km again in April. Included in that were three 200 km events, one 300 km event, and a whole bunch of other cycling.

    Plus I walk, climb stairs, and do some weights.

    I was out of shape when I was 47, but lost the weight when I was 48, and started building up to the long distances again since then.


    And ... my husband is 61 and right there doing all this with me.
  • shyhall
    shyhall Posts: 24 Member
    Thanks everyone for all the replies.

    Exercise in the Middle Ages, that made me laugh. I think I will leave the pillaging and jousting to someone else!

    I use to do loads of cycling and swimming in my teens and 20s but then life got in the way like it does.
    I'm not sure if I could manage running, certain - how can I say it politely - erm female attributes would knock me out. Lol

    I'm fortunate that I have decent lung power as I play the saxophone. Now just have to lose another 28 pound.
    That would put me at 9.5 stone.

    Probably for my height (I'm only petite 5" 1") I should be around 8 - 9 stone but I wanted to be realistic. Besides I'm a bit
    old to be a cat walk model. Lol Although people often think I'm only in my 30s, I wish :)

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