How can i make an old person exercise?

[Long slender neck]

I have an old relative who lives alone and is overweight. They will retire soon and i think they could become a bit of a hermit, the weight could pile on as they adopt the pensioners diet of cake and biscuits.

How do i get them fit? Have tried a fitness watch/ step counter to little effect.

[MrB]

Male or female?

[MrB]

And how old?

[spen666]

Remove all chairs from their home, then get some of the furniture some offices put outside to stop them sitting down?

Seriously, you cannot force anyone to exercise, you can only encourage them, and try to remove any barriers that are stopping them, whether physical or mental barriers.

As others have said, more information about this person would assist people to make suggestions

[Long slender neck]

Female, sixties.

[spen666]

Female, sixties.

Build them a human sized version of a hamster's wheel?
Disconnect their electricity and make them generate their electricity using a static exercise bike?


Seriously, are there any barriers to them exercising more?

Probably need to find things to get them out of the house. Just pottering around and being active will be enough usually - rather than the need to do "sweaty" exercise.

Stopping them being a "hermit" would probably be the best thing you can do.

Might have to spend time with them to understand them before trying to gently prod them towards being more active

[Monkey Boy]

Female, sixties.

Maybe look at the local leisure centre if she has one, they often run courses for older people in the day time.

[Friend or faux]

Buy her a dog

[cockhat]

I have an old relative who lives alone and is overweight. They will retire soon and i think they could become a bit of a hermit, the weight could pile on as they adopt the pensioners diet of cake and biscuits.

How do i get them fit? Have tried a fitness watch/ step counter to little effect.

Since when has a pensioners diet been “cake and biscuits”?

[Daily Express bot]

Female, sixties.

Age Concern offer some superb advice and most Church Halls and Libraries have gentle fitness classes and yoga for those looking to improve their overall dexterity and fitness. All swimming pools run classes too for easy water therapy. My local library do a pensioner rate of daily gym use for £30 month with excellent classes and facilities.

Ultimately though, if she has no interest it will be an uphill task.

[Currywurst and Chips]

I have an old relative who lives alone and is overweight. They will retire soon and i think they could become a bit of a hermit, the weight could pile on as they adopt the pensioners diet of cake and biscuits.

How do i get them fit? Have tried a fitness watch/ step counter to little effect.

If she’s got a gym that has a few extras like a cafe, sauna/steam room and a swimming pool near her (and she can afford it) encourage her to go there

My gym is rammed full of pensioners every morning who use the cafe for socialising and meeting new people before doing some swimming or similar (it’s easy on the joints and good exercise) then finish off with the sauna before being home by 1 or 2PM for lunch

[Chicken Dhansak]

See if there are any pensioner clubs in the area. Being with other people will be good for her.

[Dohnut]

I have an old relative who lives alone and is overweight. They will retire soon and i think they could become a bit of a hermit, the weight could pile on as they adopt the pensioners diet of cake and biscuits.

How do i get them fit? Have tried a fitness watch/ step counter to little effect.

It is very commendable to look out for a pensioner relative. I wish you well in that respect. But to suggest a pensioners diet of cake and biscuits is perhaps not right in so many cases. In fact it may be driven by loneliness rather than laziness.

We are not all the same. I’m a member of puregym. At 75 not the oldest, just one of many pensioners who pump iron regularly and whose physique is something to admire, not mine I may add. My personal streak (weeks without a break) currently stands at 50. Perhaps one aspect of going to a gym is meeting other pensioners for a chat. In fact there are many activities, Bowls, golf and so on that combine social with physical aspects. Exercise as a bye-product of and enjoyable activity is perhaps a better option.

[Scuba Diver]

Buy her a dog

Good idea, and might work
However I've known lazy owners and they just didn't walk the dog, so guess what - the dog suffered too from their sloth.

[Scuba Diver]

I have an old relative who lives alone and is overweight. They will retire soon and i think they could become a bit of a hermit, the weight could pile on as they adopt the pensioners diet of cake and biscuits.

How do i get them fit? Have tried a fitness watch/ step counter to little effect.

Depends where you both live, but maybe in the first instance take her for walks and get her into the habit of recording the steps that way?
I doubt she'd want to pound the streets of London, so try and focus on parks and open space.
You may not have the time for this of course.

The biddies at the gym idea is also good. If she's relatively socibable and approachable, she'll soon make friends.

Sad to say, and try as you might - some people are simply not interested (in exercise) and it is an impossible task to change that mindset - -definitely worth trying for a period though.

[BIGRON]

I certainly don't think being 60 odd is old , I would willingly do a few ' exercises ' with here if she's unattached and that way inclined

[Daily Express bot]

I certainly don't think being 60 odd is old , I would willingly do a few ' exercises ' with here if she's unattached and that way inclined

I may have to buy a new hat BIGRON

[Long slender neck]

A dog is a great shout as that would require minimal effort from family.

[Chief crazy horse]

At the end of the day she herself has to have the will.

[The Reverend]

I have an old relative who lives alone and is overweight. They will retire soon and i think they could become a bit of a hermit, the weight could pile on as they adopt the pensioners diet of cake and biscuits.

How do i get them fit? Have tried a fitness watch/ step counter to little effect.

It is very commendable to look out for a pensioner relative. I wish you well in that respect. But to suggest a pensioners diet of cake and biscuits is perhaps not right in so many cases. In fact it may be driven by loneliness rather than laziness.

We are not all the same. I’m a member of puregym. At 75 not the oldest, just one of many pensioners who pump iron regularly and whose physique is something to admire, not mine I may add. My personal streak (weeks without a break) currently stands at 50. Perhaps one aspect of going to a gym is meeting other pensioners for a chat. In fact there are many activities, Bowls, golf and so on that combine social with physical aspects. Exercise as a bye-product of and enjoyable activity is perhaps a better option.

I mean this genuinely, and really hope that it doesn’t come across as patronising, but this is really impressive. Gyms are for everybody and it’s great to see older people keeping fit and even pumping iron!

If you don’t mind me asking, have you always been been active throughout your life? I wonder if it’s more of a challenge for an older person to be active if it’s not something they’ve ever really done before.

[Dohnut]

I have an old relative who lives alone and is overweight. They will retire soon and i think they could become a bit of a hermit, the weight could pile on as they adopt the pensioners diet of cake and biscuits.

How do i get them fit? Have tried a fitness watch/ step counter to little effect.

It is very commendable to look out for a pensioner relative. I wish you well in that respect. But to suggest a pensioners diet of cake and biscuits is perhaps not right in so many cases. In fact it may be driven by loneliness rather than laziness.

We are not all the same. I’m a member of puregym. At 75 not the oldest, just one of many pensioners who pump iron regularly and whose physique is something to admire, not mine I may add. My personal streak (weeks without a break) currently stands at 50. Perhaps one aspect of going to a gym is meeting other pensioners for a chat. In fact there are many activities, Bowls, golf and so on that combine social with physical aspects. Exercise as a bye-product of and enjoyable activity is perhaps a better option.

I mean this genuinely, and really hope that it doesn’t come across as patronising, but this is really impressive. Gyms are for everybody and it’s great to see older people keeping fit and even pumping iron!

If you don’t mind me asking, have you always been been active throughout your life? I wonder if it’s more of a challenge for an older person to be active if it’s not something they’ve ever really done before.

Like many I go through phases of regular exercise followed by even longer periods of doing naff all. Regular? Not new to it all for sure, exercised all my life on and off. Have an array of home equipment and a daughter who was a personal trainer. So I do have a massive advantage for sure. But the key is not all that but the motivation. Thats the big issue. Gyms, equipment, help. Counts for zero if you can’t get off your arse and do something. That is the real hard part. Harder than the exercise. Crack that and it’s fine.

But after many months of going through and surviving prostate cancer, during which my motivation for exercise diminished, last January I got the all clear, hence the 50 week streak to get back into shape. My flirtation with Cancer has reminded me of the value of life and living it to the full whilst I can. And I want to for a long time yet. I don’t take anything for granted any more. Thats my motivation to get down the gym.

What really works for me is keeping track of, for example, weights used. It is amazingly motivating to see improvement. What I can manage now was impossible 12 months ago. It adds to the motivation of going. Nowhere near the young, fit people. But for me? It works.

[Real Al]

I was just thinking earlier today "I wonder what happened to Dohhhy".

Anyway, surely the answer is just to tell her "Yer arse looks big in that...".

[Dohnut]

I have an old relative who lives alone and is overweight. They will retire soon and i think they could become a bit of a hermit, the weight could pile on as they adopt the pensioners diet of cake and biscuits.

How do i get them fit? Have tried a fitness watch/ step counter to little effect.

It is very commendable to look out for a pensioner relative. I wish you well in that respect. But to suggest a pensioners diet of cake and biscuits is perhaps not right in so many cases. In fact it may be driven by loneliness rather than laziness.

We are not all the same. I’m a member of puregym. At 75 not the oldest, just one of many pensioners who pump iron regularly and whose physique is something to admire, not mine I may add. My personal streak (weeks without a break) currently stands at 50. Perhaps one aspect of going to a gym is meeting other pensioners for a chat. In fact there are many activities, Bowls, golf and so on that combine social with physical aspects. Exercise as a bye-product of and enjoyable activity is perhaps a better option.

I mean this genuinely, and really hope that it doesn’t come across as patronising, but this is really impressive. Gyms are for everybody and it’s great to see older people keeping fit and even pumping iron!

If you don’t mind me asking, have you always been been active throughout your life? I wonder if it’s more of a challenge for an older person to be active if it’s not something they’ve ever really done before.

Would add based on my experience. The gyms I’ve been to all have inductions and staff on hand to help new people, young and old. In my experience gym staff are a very helpful bunch and there is no problem in not knowing how to use the equipment. We all started knowing nothing. They will explain. They are there to help and keep you safe. Gyms have classes too. But some are for the fit and best avoided, I do. Spinning classes are good and you work as hard as you can manage and given you set your own difficulty, you don’t appear any different to the seasoned spinner. And there are fun.

In a gym age don’t matter. People are not judgmental. Every person has their limits, they just differ person to person. Get on and do your thing. It’s not a place where you feel self conscious , or need to.

And there are gyms , like Puregym, where membership is monthly, no annual agreement. So if it don’t work, hasn’t cost a lot.

[theballmagnet]

Have they got a parkrun near them? They will meet new friends and can do moderate walking in a safe environment.
I am ED at one in Loughton and they would be more than welcome however they are all over the country....They can bring their dog too!

https://blog.parkrun.com/uk/2022/09/14/ ... t-parkrun/