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 
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!
Thank you kindly! Looks like you got your fitness under control. I take creatine and protein too and feel great.
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 Since the old one was well out of date I have shifted ‘camp’ and bought into a new system.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.
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.
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.
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.
Gentle and consistent and not drinking. I think you’re on the right track!
What kind of gym have you been hanging around at Spitty? 
It just life Gym, but not as we know it.
It’s key to get your BMI to healthy and normal and the rest is then easy. Carrying any extra weight puts so much stress on your health, particularly if it’s visceral. I didn’t realise alcohol was such a poison until I gave up. Even a little booze is toxic. We have such a drinking culture we don’t even think about it that way. There are some great alcohol free alternatives these days so it’s not so bad in a social situation.
I would advise anyone taking up exercise in later life to do so gradually and not push yourself. Someone I loved died suddenly (the same day) after pushing himself too far in the gym and being blue-lighted to A&E. If you have any health conditions do not overdo it.
That’s a bit of a sweeping statement AnnieS, by that token, any synthetic substance consumed including Prescription Drugs, Processed Foods must also be or, is it the case that these products are socially acceptable so harmless?
We know that there are poisons in all this stuff. I’ve just been watching a protect our plates video about how much acrylamide there is in instant coffees. Socially acceptable is an interesting term. Smoking nicotine was such for decades. If you look at the poison content, it’s the socially acceptable equivalent of inhaling a car exhaust.
There’t not much we can do about prescription drugs as they save lives. But every so often we see one being withdrawn suddenly. The main objective is to stay healthy and active as long as possible. I’ve seen friends gradually give up all the bad stuff we did when we were young 'uns.
I have the thought that if I can get myself back really healthy again (i.e. get back down a normal BMI - which is always my biggest fight, apart from that I’m doing OK from fitness angles this year) then I might be able to continue to avoid needing to take any prescription drugs. I have elderly parents who have both needed heart operations, and who have high BP and cholesterol so I know that I stand a chance of inheriting a predisposition to those conditions. I think that by looking after myself maybe I can live longer without needing regular prescription medication. The hardest thing is convincing myself that is a good enough reason to exercise at least 5 days a week.
The need to see my nineteen Grandkids settled an happy before I snuffit.
What if a Great Grandchild appears? that could be tricky.
I’ve budgeted for that.
