Staying Active at Age 66

Add me if you like. I’m 68. Just finished my morning PT exercises. Pickleball next.

I’m 66 and trying to lose 40 pounds. I am down 14 so far. I’m interested in seeing what exercise other people my age do. I currently ride a stationary bike or walk 6 days a week. Thinking of yoga. I have arthritic knees. Good Luck to all of us on this journey!

2aycocks wrote: »

concordancia wrote: »

I am only 45, but I have been fighting spine issues since my early 30s. When I am at my worst, water is the only way to get any exercise at all. Deep water aerobics are better than regular water aerobics, but climbing up a ladder can be hard with a bad back.

The other piece of advice is to change things slowly. I would try to walk more and start body weight exercises and end up hurting myself and being back to nothing. This time around, I only added 500 steps a week to my goal, and some weeks I worked on walking faster instead of walking more. I didn't start adding body weight exercises until I felt confident with the walking and I started real slow with that as well: push ups on a high counter at first.

It seems hit or miss for people, but I also find yoga very helpful. I start off with my physical therapy exercises and am very careful when learning new poses.

Is there a specific kind of yoga that you do? My hubby bought me a yoga video to work out to that he said was beginner. I did fine until I had to go from being on my hands and knees to lifting up my behind and on my tiptoes from that position, in one smooth move. I went down like a box of rocks! Didn't know whether to laugh or cry!

Did you go down from lack of strength or from pain? If the strength, just keep trying! If the pain, work on building your core in other ways.

A word of caution about learning yoga from DVD's if you have skeleto-muscular issues. I started yoga long after taking physical therapy and otherwise learning to adapt everything to my own level; a good yoga studio will help you through that process if you are adapting to new issues.

I currently do exercises that I have learned over the years, plus attempt to keep up at my gym. I had a Yoga Zone Yoga for a Strong and Healthy Back DVD that I loved, but it got stepped on. I recently downloaded the Down Dog app - their beginner takes a lot more strength than I have! I also bought a book called "My Pocket Yoga" which is nice because I can focus on one new pose at a time, without trying to keep up with videos. I don't have good internet access where I have room for yoga, so I haven't tried them, but a lot of people recommend the Adrienne videos on youtube, as well.

I find these posts very helpful. Two years ago I ruptured a disc and I since then have gained wt which only puts more strain on my back. I get discouraged and want to quit seeking comfort or distraction through food.

concordancia wrote: »

2aycocks wrote: »

concordancia wrote: »

I am only 45, but I have been fighting spine issues since my early 30s. When I am at my worst, water is the only way to get any exercise at all. Deep water aerobics are better than regular water aerobics, but climbing up a ladder can be hard with a bad back.

The other piece of advice is to change things slowly. I would try to walk more and start body weight exercises and end up hurting myself and being back to nothing. This time around, I only added 500 steps a week to my goal, and some weeks I worked on walking faster instead of walking more. I didn't start adding body weight exercises until I felt confident with the walking and I started real slow with that as well: push ups on a high counter at first.

It seems hit or miss for people, but I also find yoga very helpful. I start off with my physical therapy exercises and am very careful when learning new poses.

Is there a specific kind of yoga that you do? My hubby bought me a yoga video to work out to that he said was beginner. I did fine until I had to go from being on my hands and knees to lifting up my behind and on my tiptoes from that position, in one smooth move. I went down like a box of rocks! Didn't know whether to laugh or cry!

Did you go down from lack of strength or from pain? If the strength, just keep trying! If the pain, work on building your core in other ways.

A word of caution about learning yoga from DVD's if you have skeleto-muscular issues. I started yoga long after taking physical therapy and otherwise learning to adapt everything to my own level; a good yoga studio will help you through that process if you are adapting to new issues.

I currently do exercises that I have learned over the years, plus attempt to keep up at my gym. I had a Yoga Zone Yoga for a Strong and Healthy Back DVD that I loved, but it got stepped on. I recently downloaded the Down Dog app - their beginner takes a lot more strength than I have! I also bought a book called "My Pocket Yoga" which is nice because I can focus on one new pose at a time, without trying to keep up with videos. I don't have good internet access where I have room for yoga, so I haven't tried them, but a lot of people recommend the Adrienne videos on youtube, as well.

Actually I went down because of both strength and pain. I've had 3 shoulder surgeries including one full shoulder replacement. That shoulder I never got full range of motion back so can't raise that arm but part way up. I also have Rheumatoid arthritis so putting so much weight on my arms killed my joints. I'm just not nearly as flexible as I need to be. I need to find a good stretching workout and yoga for old stiff people.