How do women over 60 get in shape?

[Shelley]

Hi all!  I am starting this thread to help all the ladies from our old forum get started up again over here in the new place.  Hope you all find this thread.  Getting in shape after 60 has its own challenges especially when you have lost muscle, have slowed metabolism and hormone changes.  How are you getting and staying fit?  What s working for you?  

[pearlhilb]

I enter my weight lifting workouts manually on FitBit because, as you say, otherwise you don't get "credit" for the calories.  On the activities tracking page, you can enter the amount of calories burned.  I do this for the stationary bike too, since FitBit doesn't detect any "steps" when I'm doing it.

[Wibb]

I'm new and I don't have any ideal what I'm doing!  Any suggestions?

[JulieInMadison]

I suggest you give walking in place a try. When you are watching tv is a good time to try it. You can earn a bunch of steps that will surprise you and keep you motivated. 

Also, request to be friends with some other people who appear to have goals similar to yours. Then you can compare how well you are keeping up with your goals compared to your friends. Good luck, have fun!

[Wibb]

Thanks!

[BbalanceD]

Hi Joyce I am over 60 so I was commenting on the group about How do women over 60 get in shape. Do I need to do anything to join?

PS I am located in NSW Australia so our seasons are the opposite of America. December is the start of summer and today was 30 degrees centigrade - way too warm to do more than walk slowly.

[Sunnylane]

Hi Bbalance, Since it is too warm where you live to do a brisk walk outside,  you can do jogging in place or if you have a tredmill or recumbant bike inside where it is cooler.  If you have stairs in your home, climb those a few times.  not only will you get steps on your fit bit but you will achieve badges for stair climbing.  Good luck and keep us posted on how your doing.

[Turley]

Hi Everyone, I am 63 years old and have severe osteoporosis (tscore -4.5). I have made exercise a priorty.  This means going to the gym for Zumba, Body Step or Dance Fitness (cardio) two-three mornings a week, and Body Pump two-three three mornings a week.   I also complete core exercises (torture planks, hovers, balance) for a half-hour most every day. If I don't go to the gym, I will not do the necessary exercise. Since getting a  FitBit Zip, I also walk two miles most days.  I got to this place because of my very bad bones. I had to give myself daily Forteo shots for two years.  I am off the shots now and have been exercising with this routine for nearly three years.  I also try to eat a healthy diet most days. The benefits are that my bones have greatly improved.  I am stronger that ever and have lost about twenty pounds.  The FitBit Zip has been a welcome addition to keeping focused on maintaining my health.  I found that seeing changes within my body, I am motivated to keep going. Upon retirement, I have time for this lifestyle and can no longer use "don't have time" to take care of myself.

[tasia]

👍👍
Sent from my iPad

[anamaria]

Which Fitbit to you recommend?

Ana Maria de la Torre
anamariadlt@me.com
530 906 4678

[Turley]

I have the FitBit Zip.  I have had it since August 2014. It really motivates me to stay active.  It does not, however, track sleep but I am very happy with it.  I don't know about the others.  Thank you for the inquiry.

[offthewall]

Have had fitbit one 2 years and yes - does keep me aware of activity! Used the sleep monitor a few times - but since my sleep was perfectly normal - have not used it since.

[Sandy93099]

hi to everyone and thanks Shelly for starting an over 60 group.  I am new to fitbit.  My son got a Flex and gave me his almost new Zip a couple of weeks ago.  I love it.  I am 67, not very flexiable  (as in muscles and joints are stiff). last April I started walking around my neighborhood 3 times once a day with my neighbor.I log over 10,000 most every day and aim for 20,000 a couple times a week. I also LOVE my Wii (especially the balance games,and the Yoga exercises). I can log my Wii activities in my FIt Bit account.

[cdpatches]

What I have found in the last year is "walking" is the key to feeling better - took a long time to lose some weight, but the inches were coming of - it feels good to be able to look at Mediums when a year ago I was xlarge and a little tight - This is serious walking - always have been a walker, but now I have a goal (thru my flex) and I try and walk for a minimum of 15,000 steps a day - my husband has finally come around - he does not 'enjoy' the walking but he is seeing results and that is so inspiring

[Rubes]

I am 65, diabetic, started with Fitbit One, then went to Flex, now have a Charge.  Really like the Charge because I can push the button and see steps, distance, calories burned, as well as the time.  Nice not to have to wear a watch alongside the Flex anymore.  Now I have to decide which friends to give the One and the Flex to.  lol

[BbalanceD]

Inspiring

[nananella]

Hi.. I got my charge today now I am not sure I got the right thing or even if I need it..6 months ago  I ran a half marathon and then got sick and because of Meds my weight went from 135 to 175 yes you read that right...I went out today and ran 1 mile (before  I bought my fitbit)...I have my fitness pal connected to it and Run Keeper...please someone tell me the benefit of the fitbit....I am just confused...thank you

[Shelley]

Hi Nananella!  I am sorry to hear you got sick and the meds made you gain weight.  I had the same thing happen to me and even when I got off the meds, the weight didn't magically disappear.  If you ran half marathons you might not have as hard a time sticking to exercise as I did.  It is very easy for me to fall off the wagon.  I have to stay diligent and use all the tools I can to stay on track.  I got my first Fitbit over a year ago.  I started with the Zip and then had the Force and now have the Charge.  Fitbit helped me have the motivation to stay on track and lose 60 pounds but I also had to change my eating habits.  A lot of people use my fitness pal along with Fitbit.  They enter their food into MFP and it pairs with Fitbit.   I like having the Charge on my wrist and checking my steps as the day progresses.  It gets me to move around more.  I especially like being able to go to the fitbit dash board.  Strange how motivational it is to try to get the orange to turn green.  I also like using the Aria scale and how it syncs with the computer and I track it on the logs daily.  I also really like being part of the Women Over 60 group under Communities.   I have made friends, learned from some of the women and had a lot of support.  It has been over a year since I first got the Fitbit, I went from obese to a healthy BMI, dropped 6 sizes and gained enough energy to keep up with my young grandkids.  It has been very helpful to me.  I wish you success whether it is with Fitbit or some other tool.  Good luck to you!

[wcl1951]

watching what you eat is a start

walking/jogging instead of watching tv, walk/jog to the supermarket instead of catching the bus

basically exercise when you can and as much as you can

[Sunnylane]

Welcome to the group.  what are your personal goals?  if you share some of those we will know better how to cheer you along and help you get started.   I will offer, that many of us on the list desire to get fit, eat and live healthier and a few of us have sore or artheritic knees or hips so we talk to each other and find different ways to achieve our goals. There is lots of really good support in  this group.  We are glad your here.

[Sunnylane]

CD Patches.    I am very  glad to hear your husband has come around, I am in the waiting mode for mine to join in. So guess what he's getting for  Christmas???   Yup a "One".    🙂