Exercise - how much is enough?

Why not go for more but short walks, you seem to be fairly fit if you play badminton. You coukd increase another 5 minutes on the bike. If you like.
Don’t forget resistance weight training is really important at our age. You can get those wrist or leg weights or else carry (carefully ) a tin of beans in each hand as you walk round the house.
Not that I am an expert, but you seem to be doing fine.

Balance too, stand on one leg as long as you can. When you are cleaning your teeth perhaos or while the kettle boils. Try closing your eyes. Very hard.
I can’t do this and it’s reminded me that I shoukd be doing this too.

You are an inspiration! I hope I'm still out walking at your age.

Sounds as though you are doing plenty and I am inspired by you.

Personally I think it’s not really about the spurts of exercise but more about what happens in between.

On your feet more than on the couch😬

At 81 you do as much as you are comfortable with, try a few more minutes on the exercise bike, but dont overdo it.

I am 81, nearly 82, I regularly walk several miles. On a day out in London recently I walked over 4 miles in total. I also do Tai Chi, a regular class and short daily sessions at home, plus gardening around one hour a day. At the moment I am preparing to move house so spend several hours a day bending and stretching as I sort out packing, lug stuff for tip and charity shops in and out of the car.

I have ADHD, which means I am not good at sitting down for any length of time.

OP, I would say, you and I, are doing far more exercise than most people our age.

I will be 77 in a few weeks and do a lot of walking, sometimes up to 10 plus miles. I only started walking at 50 but so glad I did.

Good luck with the move Monica.

keepingquiet

You are an inspiration! I hope I'm still out walking at your age.

I agree

M0nica

I am 81, nearly 82, I regularly walk several miles. On a day out in London recently I walked over 4 miles in total. I also do Tai Chi, a regular class and short daily sessions at home, plus gardening around one hour a day. At the moment I am preparing to move house so spend several hours a day bending and stretching as I sort out packing, lug stuff for tip and charity shops in and out of the car.

I have ADHD, which means I am not good at sitting down for any length of time.

OP, I would say, you and I, are doing far more exercise than most people our age.

I certainly would agree with your last paragraph, and would add you are more active than many people far younger than you! Well done!

I used to walk for about 2 hours a day but I have hip arthritis now and have had to cut it down to one hour. I do some yoga and hip exercises most days. I feel I should do more but gets painful. I will be 78 soon.

I hate these posts (joke) - makes me feel like such a slob 😫

I'm near your age, healthy and active.

I walk dog(s) 4 times daily. Terriers are quite active. I think hoovering dog hair, daily, is exercise. The stretching sort one gets from pets.

I use exercise equipment when the mood strikes.

It seems to me you exercise enough. Perhaps add a bit on your bike if you believe you must exercise more? Balance pose while tidying?

If this is keeping you fit and healthy I would say it is enough but if you want to do more or less that is also fine.

For many people how much exercise they take is dictated by their medical conditions and while some are lifestyle related, many are also genetic. Some people are very athritic, have heart problems, or other illnesses that limit their strength and ability to take exercise.

I think comparisons are invidious.

Sounds like you’re doing brilliantly already! Definitely more active than most.

Same age and always had dogs so I have to walk twice daily. During last winter I spent long hours sitting every day and, come spring, I was shocked at how much strength I had lost. I had to give up several activities because I couldn’t walk far enough.
Now I walk slowly and not very far but my dog is still extremely active. Luckily she loves playing with a ball.

Just be careful not to do too much. I’m 68 and decided in January to walk much more in order to keep fit and loose weight. Now I have sciatica for the first time.
The physio says I probably did too much to begin with, but she says to keep on with the walking even though I have to take painkillers every day now.

I love walking and cycling but my limit is around 4 miles now due to arthritis in ankles and hips. Use it or lose it but after 6 mile walk yesterday my ankle was so painful. I am 69 and have noticed increased pain and stiffness particularly over the last year despite regular exercise.

I am envious of you playing badminton at 81 I had to give up in my 50’s due to shoulder problems. My Pilates class has a few 80 plus year olds and they do remarkably well.

I hope to still be doing regular exercise in my seventies and eighties.

Thanks, all. xx

crazyH

I hate these posts (joke) - makes me feel like such a slob 😫

Ditto! 🦥🦥

My mum is 96, she hates walking, gave up playing tennis about 35 years ago.
She can still walk short distances without help but absolutely speeds along if she uses her walker. Luckily she also loves the wheelchair so we get a workout if we have a distance to go.
Every time I think that I must do more I remember she wasn’t doing as much as I am now and she’s not in bad shape. That stops me feeling guilty. She still does all her housework, in short bursts, and I think that has helped.

I have spondylolisthesis and stenosis of the spine so walking and standing are very painful. However I do aquafit 3 times a week, chair based exercise once a week and chair based yoga once a week. The aquafit classes include waterweights and the CBE includes thera band resistance work. I feemul 5 hours classwork a week compensates for my hours I spend sitting reading and watching TV. I intend to add length swimming once my Wegovey prescription stars next month. I need to lose 3-4 stones to help my mobility.