Weights

My advise is to buy a medium strength resistance band to strength your legs and arms make sure it's long . To strength your inner and outer thighs a pilates ring will help with that. Also a pilates ball I have a smooth on but some like spiky ones but the spikes hurt my body . We use leg weights I can't use 1kg weights as others do most in their 70-80's . I brought a pair of 500g weights for my ankles . I have static pedals at home and do 500 rotations every morning after doing 7 exercises.

If you want to use weights best go to a sports shop to feel which are comfortable for you . I use 500g dumbbells at class. I can't use the 1 or 2kg dumbbells. But the 2kg rounded on with an triangle sort of handle I can use for 12 reps I think it's the shape is easier to use.

I go to a sit fit class and a move it or lose it class weekly . But you can use household things like tea towels, cans or bottled water .

Move it or lose it have videos showing exercises online . But do stretching and cooling down exercises. If anything hurts stop.

I brought weights during Covid because I couldn’t go to the gym . I got them from Amazon and have 1,2,3 and 4 kg ones . I’ve also got resistance bands . At home I watch you tube videos and there’s a Canadian woman I follow on facebook who does videos. She’s early 60s and includes stretches as well . I’ll try and find her name. I try and do 30 minutes 4 times a week at home , if I can’t get ti the gym .

Thank you - very helpful replies! I am a horse owner so get a lot of lifting (hay bales, shavings bales and feed sacks etc!) but feel I should be doing more!

I'm a big fan of resistance bands. I use them about three times a week at home, at my own pace and at my own convenience. I use the BHF videos and I'm making such good progress with be looking for more challenging ones soon!
I have never lifted weights- they just don't appeal to me.

I'm 77 and use weights regularly both at classes and at home. I have a 3kg and 5 kg for home use but if you are new to weights but reasonably fit I'd get a 2, 3 and 5kg set. tbh I don't fine the 5kg is heavier enough now and would use a 10kg for leg work. It's really interesting how quickly it's possible to improve strength with consistent exercise. Good luck, I find it fun and very effective.

I bought mine from Argos and they’re fine. Start off on the lightest, 1 kg. I also bought resistance bands from there and they’re fine too. Don’t leave a band on a hot, sunny windowsill though! I did that with one I no longer used and when I did pick it up again to demonstrate to my daughter it split in two. Lesson learned.

For anyone that wants a gentle yet useful exercise schedule including weights I’d recommend Pahla Bowers on you tube it’s free and a joy once you get used to her chatter!

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I bought some weights and bands and I think I used them once! So so boring.

What my husband and I have preferred - during and since Covid - is a little light yoga (new to us) for 10-minutes first think in the morning and last thing at night.

We use our ipads or phones and follow:

10-minute Yoga for beginners with Adriene (5.8 million views)

on YouTube

Adriene is a very calm teacher and she has loads of other workout videos too if you want a longer or more strenuous session. We don't. The 10-minutes twice a day (sitting and lying) is short enough to avoid us getting bored but long enough to feel a benefit (especially with the breathing instructions so that our lungs are exercised too).

Recommended.
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You could start weight training with things you have at home, like putting water into an empty 2 litre milk bottle (2ltr equals 2kg / 4.4lbs), tin cans, bags of sugar etc Even the odd small grandchild if you have one available 🤷🏼‍♀️

I'm a personal trainer. If you are buying weights go to a shop and try them out. You may need different weights for different exercises. As a rough rule of thumb, if you can do 15 repetitions easily, the weights are too light. (You could try a bicep curl or an overhead press for this). If you can't do 6-8 reps they are too heavy. You should be able to do 9-12 reps, but be feeling it for the last couple of reps. Have a look on my You Tube site for free advice and exercises specifically for older people.

I purchased 4kg from Amazon and resistant bands as well. I was advised this was good weight to start with. If there to easy to lift there not doing any good.

I think one of the main problems at our age is actually keeping up with exercise routines, so rather than investing cash in equipment straight away I made myself some weights by putting sand in empty ‘Options’ plastic jars.
It works (when I remember to do my arm exercises)

I've been doing training with a coach for a while now, started with resistance bands as they are fairly low cost, don't take up much space and there are lots of exercises you can use them for. I would also recommend going to a sports shop and trying some before you buy. Aldi/Lidl have already has sports equipment in on their middle aisle deals but you might still find some bits there? Otherwise as Faxgran suggests use a plastic container/water bottle filled with something. 1 litre of water weighs 1kg without any packaging so filled water bottles are a good start.

Weights - be very careful! I feel sure that mucking out your horse and lifting hay bales is sufficient exercise !

I’m 71 and fitness has always been important to me. I enrolled for a 12 week transformation course at a local private gym over a year ago. It started with two personal training sessions a week and use of the gym and classes when I wanted.
I now do one PT session a week and up to three classes. I love it. It keeps me motivated and on top of my fitness and ongoing encouragement from my trainer. I’m now deadlifting 32kg and every week I see an improvement in my ability. It keeps my weight in check and I’ve never had a serious ache, pain or twinge in my life. Last week in holiday I was walking 12 miles a day and often go on hiking holidays abroad.
It pays to persevere and the benefits are tremendous.

I second Pahla B! She’s great.