I would like to know what keeps all of you going in terms of fitness at an older age. Countless people just give up and stay as comfortable as possible in the later years by neglecting any kind of physical activity since it requires a lot of effort.
When you look around, you can read and hear all the talk about going downhill when you hit 60. Apparently we cannot recover from exercise easily anymore and we lose muscle and gain weight. Our bones become brittle and our joints ache.
I would like to prove these voices wrong and show that decline is not inevitable. That is the reason I exercise and improve my health as much as possible.
What motivates you?
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Money and longevity, it night prove crazy at the end, who knows, in any given era?
it’s pretty good if you have a dog because you are motivated by being unable to live with the guilt if you don’t take it for a walk every day!
Dog walks are an amble, not a cardio work out, but, better than doing nowt.
Being a physical jerk keeps me fit 
Welcome to the forum Senior fit…A good question…
Having been a dedicated ultra-distance runner for over forty five years and experienced all the benefits that running brings, not just for running but all areas of my life, at 75 and after three heart attacks I continue with daily walks and as much jogging as I can manage…
It has been said many times by those in the medical profession, that had I not been fit and a runner, the first heart attack back in 2004 would have taken me…
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Hello all, Newbie here, first post. Yes, I could go an introduce myself, but this thread immediately interested me as it’s a question I keep asking myself. ‘Why am I doing this?’.
I came out of this winter after the chest infection to end all (I tend to be prone to them). From end last November to end January 2026 I was terribly ill. Everything I was doing had stopped. This included 11 years of karate (Wado Ryu, 2nd Kyu brown belt) and park running. Now the latter had been somewhat hit and miss for the previous 12 months as everytime I ran within a couple of weeks I had knackered my knees again. Being ill for 8 weeks the knees hadn’t murmured. Was this a message. So I am a 57 year old UK woman. During Covid I was 105Kg, I started running built a home gym, got a lovely treadmill and lost 35Kg in 10 months because I heard overweight people faired less well if they caught it. I hit the magic 70Kg and the BMI dropped into normal for the first time and ulitmately needed a gall bladder removed 
. Then over the intervening time I put back on 25+Kg of it back on. So roll on to end January this year - the scales were out of battery and I was frightened to put a new one in. Aware that I wanted to restart karate, I needed to get fit again. So I read a load online and started incline walking at 15% and 4.5km/hr for 30 mins (not holding on) (first two mintes backwards) on the treadmill - the knees are fine 
I added, 15 mins flat out on a static cycle - seems to help my PF a lot, and over the last 5 weeks I’ve started to really work on weights - bench presses, goblet squats etc. Now I’m up to 5km/hr on the treadmill incline and with a 5kg weight in my pack. I put a new battery in the scales, have impoved my diet and since 2nd April have lost 4+ Kg. I am starting to feel better and I think my shape might be changing. So why am I doing it? I want my size 14 (70Kg) shape back again, and I want to live long enough and healthy enough to maybe retire in a couple of years and enjoy it. However, as I scoff my umpteenth salad it is very tough to do it without any support and knowing whether I am doing the right things. Hence logging onto this forum - hello everyone nice to meet you.
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Thank you and I’m glad you are a runner and still around!
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Joc, I think it is a good idea to look for support on your journey. It seems like you are very motivated and putting in the work. I would suggest that you not only eat salads but also get enough protein to support muscle growth. A great way to do that is to find a plant based protein powder and supplement. Why not give it a try?
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Golly … I’ve been a slob all my life. Even as a kid at school I ran around the hurdles on the track instead of jumping over them.
Now I’m 64 I’m thinking it’s a little late to change the habit of a lifetime. Even so, things like Tai Chi do look interesting for helping maintain balance and mobility/flexibility. That’s as much fitness as an incurable slob ought to realistically hope for.
@SeniorFit … @JOC … welcome, both of you, to the forum 
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Thank you! At 64 you are still a spring chicken! It is not too late to get fit. Tai Chi is awesome.
I have to confess that I have lapsed over the winter. Hit the gym last year and thoroughly enjoyed it. No more excuses, the weather is fine, back to business.
I’m loading up on the monohydrate and intend resuming my early morning workouts from Monday! 
Coincidentally and a bit like Morti I suppose, just discovered a Shotokan karate club only down the road from me! It seems to be highly regarded locally and caters for all ages…also 64. I’m going to have to give that one some thought. Get a month ticked off in the gym and take it from there.
Oh and a hearty welcome to the forum from me too people!
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Thank you kindly! Looks like you got your fitness under control. I take creatine and protein too and feel great.
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Hi all - the system won’t let me thank individuals as a new user. I leant into the the new AI phenomenon a few weeks ago and realised that I was probably a bit light on protein. I’ve added chia seed to my breakfast, a reasonable quantity of lean meat - usually chicken breast and some spinach to my salad lunch and made this the largest meal in the day. A lighter meal in the evening seems to help me sleep. I make that mushrooms and spinach on a slice or two of the high protein seed breads that the supermarkets have started selling, I add a sprinkling of crushed Omega 3 seeds. Also for dessert for lunch and the evening I have 4 tablespoons of low fat Greek Yoghurt with some fresh fruit. So I have tried to increase the protein, What I have found highly motivating was when I started to wear a fitness tracking watch about 6 years ago. Since the old one was well out of date I have shifted ‘camp’ and bought into a new system. I have a scientific background and find the data fascinating. So that is a good thing to do if you are into that sort of thing. I have also got into a routine, which also seems to help me. 1.5 hour gym session on a Monday, Wednesday, Friday and a 2 hour karate session on a Tuesday and Thursday. The daft thing is that I don’t actually enjoy exercising, I’ve just come in from the home gym tonight. I didn’t really want to go and do it tonight, but I did because it would have thrown the results on my new fitness watch LOL! What the gym is for me is an escape from the house for an hour or so, I have a busy home life. I can’t think of anything else to do, so I go out there, put something interesting on the TV/Tablet and have an hour or so to myself. I think/hope I am getting fitter as a result, what I don’t know is whether I can keep it going, but I’ve been at it now since end January, so hopefully it’s close to becomming a habit. I just hope its doing me some good.
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Which is another element to it I think. It’s a social thing, being in an environment with like minded people who largely have similar objectives!
The trouble is mine is a home-gym, so I do it by myself with only the TV/Tablet for company.
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I love to walk my dogs four times a day and I also try to do a few miles on my bike on alternate days, usually around the country lanes.
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Like minded people can lead to an unwelcome conclusion 
I’d always been very active, fit and slim, until Covid messed up my muscles and flexibility. My weight went up to 12 stones, the most I have ever weighed. Swimming saved my health and sanity, as did giving up alcohol. I managed to lose the first stone by giving up simple carbs. The next stone and a half was giving up booze and swimming. I’m not sure whether I will ever be flexible enough to be a yoga babe again, but I’m so much happier & healthier not drinking. I think as you get older being gentle but consistent with exercise is key. Moderation and all that.
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