ageing programe

Angela looked to me as if her skin had suffered quite a bit of sun damage.

Rowantree, my sister has just been diagnosed with fatty liver. She went off her food and was losing weight. Those were her only symptoms.

I thought the same, anno, but AR has the advantage of good cheek bones. I too felt just a little bit gleeful when she turned out not to be so perfect, Jingl [miaow]!
I am not going to attempt the challenge as I have a shoulder injury which prevents me from holding my arm forward. Doubt I could manage it without the injury either! I could never sit comfortably cross legged even as a child, have always had very tight hamstrings, despite exercising all my adult life so far.

I used to think Angela Rippon looked fantastic for her age then I found out she's "only" 72. Huh! ??

I thought I was fit for my 65 years...I do at least 10,000 steps a day at work and have been veggie for 37 years. I have strong legs... Can't do the crossed leg thing though.

Oh just read post by Suzied...will give that a try

I can do it too (age 66). Years of ballet have left me pretty supple and I can still do the splits (to intense chagrin of eldest DGD who can't). I do work hard to keep the suppleness though - use it or lose it, I think.

I couldn't do the cross leg thing, yet I've don't Pilates for about 15 years. I dread to think how unfit I'd be without Pilates. I think dancing to the radio is great. If you do 3 minutes one day, you can do 5 minutes the next time, etc., etc.,

For the dancers among you, I do a port de bras from first to second as I get up again.

I've recently started doing aqua aerobics again and it's brilliant - the water helps and you'll probably find that the group will be mainly of the GN age group. It really doesn't matter what sort of exercise you take up, it will do you good, find you new mates and unless you go to a snobby gym, the staff and fellow exercisers will encourage you to enjoy getting fit. If you've currently got health issues, check with your GP, but you'll probably have a local "Gentle Exercise" group, which pushes you to do what you can. And I've just taken up yoga - my mum started at 70+ and got quite good at it, but I have arthritis, and had an elbow replacement so can't straighten my arm and although I'm already getting better, and my balance is definitely improving, most of the moves are always going to be beyond my ability. Just do what you can. I approve wholeheartedly of Petra's suggestion of Youtube videos - you will discover what sort of exercise suits you, without embarrassing yourself - maybe Tai Chi could be a good starting point, since it builds your sense of balance and isn't over-strenuous. Good luck and enjoy!

Can't do it. Not even close.

Don't try! I've given up.

I used to do it all the time but fall over now! I crouched down to look closely at something in the supermarket and toppled over backwards; I felt such an idiot.

*It's more about balance than fitness. The two things are completely separate. *

I'm afraid you don't know what you're talking about.

Being able to do that is about your core. If you don't have a decent core, you won't have balance. To get a strong core, you need to exercise.

My balance went to hell after having brain surgery for an aneurism; no other lasting effects so am grateful it's just that.

And no, I can't spell aneurism.

I kind of fall the last foot or so to the cushion yet I manage to get up ok with Suzied's way! And a huge well done for the youtube . . . look how many likes you have. Pilates abs come into it here I suspect.
Mamie I can do it with one leg facing out in front and one behind and without the weights [forgot about them!]. . . can you remind the ballet bit of my brain what a port de bras is again please.?
The oldest lady in my pilates class is 88 and she can get her leg up to the ceiling!!! And the star pupil is 77 and has had 3 hip ops!!! and uses weights on her ankles and hands to do the class. She has been doing it for 10 years now and as I am 66 she is my hero.

Bbbface Don't you think it's possible to have healthy heart and lungs, but with poor balance. I do.

I wonder how much you know what you're talking about.

An older person's core can go to pot for other reasons than lack of fitness. Osteoporosis can badly affect the spine, which definitely doesn't help with keeping core strength up.

Also, some meds can affect balance.

Face it, the whole thing is rubbish. It's a telly programme.

Thank you, susied, brave, fit and technically savvy lady. Loved that beautiful cat, who so wanted to be in shot. Might try the sitting.......

Daft though it seems, I know my burgeoning bunion has affected my balance. I wobble all over the place sometimes, yet I think I'm pretty healthy otherwise.

That's my excuse sorted for not being able to do the crossing the feet thing properly.

Jingle... You can certainly have a healthy heart and lungs and no balance.

You can also have a healthy heart and lungs and do no exercise.

The particular exercise we are talking about is very much related to fitness however. if you have a strong core, you WILL be able to do this. The way to get a string core is exercise. Nothing else will get usually there.

I am a yoga teacher.

K8tie Port de bras refers to the series of arm positions in ballet and the way that you move between them. I start in first with arms curved to the front and then open out to to each side of my body in second as I get up. It gives me upward impetus and keeps the balance.
Might be better to look on YouTube than try and understand that rambling explanation.