over 60

I do much more now, than before I was 61 y.o.! [Before: about 0 hours per week; now, about 6-9 hours/week, average. I'm a runner, now; before: I was a workaholic and couch potato.] I'll be 70 y.o. in January 2015 and planning another marathon for that year. Meanwhile, I'm running half marathons every few months.

I go in spurts. I didn't start working out until sometime in my 30s, and then I'd workout 3 to 4 times per week until something interrupted the routine, which was usually an injury. I didn't work out much at all during my 50s. I'm 60 now and working out 4 to 5 times per week. I'm now in the best shape since my 40s, maybe my 30s.

This morning I just switched my workout routine to alternate days between body weight exercises and HIIT. I'll run on alternating days unless the weather is bad in which case I'll ride my stationary recumbent bike.

I was always fairly strong, able to help my husband carry one end of the couch when we moved furniture, etc. but yes, I've noticed I'm not as strong as I was. Also, for a number of years I was kind of sloth-like if I were to be honest.

But now that I've made the decision to lose weight and get stronger, its getting better. Like luluinca said, losing over 50 pounds and determined to continue losing is an incentive to work on strength too.

The hard thing for me is figuring out how what to do when its so damn cold outside. I have the best intentions but for example this morning when I woke up it was Zero outside and windy. It doesn't take long at those temps to chase me back indoors. Walking a treadmill just isn't the same, for me. I think I'll become a snowbird in a couple years. Seriously. I need to be able to be outside without freezing to death.

I will be 57 next month... I started running about 3.5 years ago... I run 5 days a week and started running ultras this year. I also do weight training and cross training the other two days a week. I may not be as strong as I was when I was in my 30's, but I am definitely in better overall shape than I have ever been. Like noexcuses said, I just need more time to recover between difficult runs/workouts... and it hurts a whole lot more when I take a dig out on the trails...

G8rRay wrote: »

I do much more now, than before I was 61 y.o.! [Before: about 0 hours per week; now, about 6-9 hours/week, average. I'm a runner, now; before: I was a workaholic and couch potato.] I'll be 70 y.o. in January 2015 and planning another marathon for that year. Meanwhile, I'm running half marathons every few months.

70 and running a marathon? You are the definition of an athletic beast.

G8rRay wrote: »

I do much more now, than before I was 61 y.o.! [Before: about 0 hours per week; now, about 6-9 hours/week, average. I'm a runner, now; before: I was a workaholic and couch potato.] I'll be 70 y.o. in January 2015 and planning another marathon for that year. Meanwhile, I'm running half marathons every few months.

^^This is so awesome! What an inspiration!

I exercise 100% more than I did when I was younger. In fact, I am in better shape now (age 63) than I have been in decades. I joined MFP on 3/12/12. I have gone from morbidly obese to "normal" weight. From being unable to walk up a flight of stairs without getting out of breath, to working out in the gym 5 days a week. My goal for 2014 has been to get in 18,000 to 20,000 steps daily on my fit bit, which I have been achieving.

I live in Minnesota, but walk year round on days I do not go to the gym, even in the cold and snow.

bama6977 wrote: »

Wow!! At 68 thought I was out here by myself. I'm down to swimming, walking and body weight exercises. Every time I go back to gym for lifting, "my body says I'm older, but my brain disagrees", that leads to injury. Oh well, don't have a choice about getting older, but damn I can choose to not be old.....will start back 5x5 Monday!!!

Beautiful---Age means nothing

I'm 61 and used to cycle a lot in my late twenties and thirties. Nothing much when I was younger. Then I started weight training so that I would be stronger for cycling. Then started powerlifting for a year or two in my late thirties. Life got in the way every now and then and there have been long periods of not doing much at all. Now I am back in the gym lifting heavy because I have always enjoyed it. I love cycling as well but am not so inclined to go out on my own now.

I started running about 3 years ago, managed a 10k in just over an hour, had some knee pain and eased off. I'm back doing it now though, but not so intensely.

I have finally seen sense and stopped trying to achieve what I used to achieve years ago. I still push myself a lot, but give myself more time to recover. I like being the old woman who lifts weights in the gym and I love being strong. I generally go to the gym 5 days a week, and run outside with the dog 2-3 times between 5k and 10k. The 5k is at 5 a.m. before I go to work, the 10k is on the weekend.
I still work full time, unfortunately sitting down all day so I go to the gym straight from work, otherwise I wouldn't go!!

I will be 61 next month. I do workout just like when I was in 30s but with less intensity. For example, I don't do jump ropes or jumping jacks as it huts my knees. Instead I do Yoga, Zumba and other things.

At 65, retired, I have time to exercise that I didn't have when I was working. Then I did a lot of hiking on the weekends and vacations, but only a bit of walking at lunch during the week. Now I walk 2-3 miles every day and run 30-40 miles a week.

hiphop10 wrote: »

anyone over 60 do you do less exercise then when you were younger?

I do a little less because seems I don't have as much strength as when I was younger
slowly but surely I think my strength is getting better.
anyone else in the same boat?

Define "younger"? I didn't start getting routinely active until my mid-40s, after cancer treatment. I do more now (at 66) than I did then . . . because I have more time in retirement, plus am much stronger, fitter, and lighter weight than I was then.

I remember wondering if I'd be able to make it through a 5-mile fun bike ride with a group of friends when I was in my 40s, and now - still not a serious biker doing big distances - it's been a pretty common thing this summer to take 20+ mile rides a couple of times a week, on non-rowing days. (I row boats 4 days a week for about an hour in season, weather permitting.)

It's great that you're working out, and your strength is improving. I'm betting you can find a lot of up side improvement yet to come, if you stick with it.

One thing I do notice in myself as I age is that I need to be more intentional about recovery and volume in context of overall cumulative physical/psychological stress; and that injury avoidance has a higher priority because if I need to take a forced break I de-train a little faster, and it takes more time to get back to baseline afterward. YMMV on that.