Gaining weight and restoring reasonable muscle mass at 60+

Sue, do you go to a class for the senior yoga and weight exercises? It's so hard getting older and losing muscle so quickly....we have to do alot to fight it..

I’ve been doing treadmill, stairstepper and elliptical. Then, strength training equipment. I walk on the outdoor track a couple of days a week as well. At home, I do floor work consisting of bridges, kicks and other various floor work.

Weights are on my own, using a routine developed for me by my PT. Yoga is a group (we take turns leading the class) of anywhere from 8-16 people. Routine is similar, but changes based on leader. Many of us do our own version of each exercise based on ability. When home, I do a Yoga outine or do a cardio stretch with my husband (we find on YouTube). I'm easily bored, so mixing things up keeps me going.

If you are playing tennis you are getting great aerobic exercise. I too have gained weight in later years of life not losing it and trying to lose it not gain it.

I had to stop playing tennis a decade ago due to complications it was causing with my ICD/Pacemaker wires which reduced my calorie outgo drastically. I have since started doing Sprint Triathlons and train for them. But I am not 77 years old and this old body has trouble doing all that training and the wear and tear of doing the races.

I take my time and do moderate paces but I notice very few other participants in my age group. My PCP wants me to do more strength exercises saying my body had adapted to my exrercise routine (mostly aerobic) and need to add muscle mass.

I mix it up. 3 days a week I do a "Silver Sneakers" class which is comprised of aerobics and weights. 2 days a week I do water aerobics in an junior olympic size outdoor pool. This gives me a great blend of activity and is quite fun. I used to play pickle ball but it proved to be too hard on my knees. Water aerobics is much more forgiving. I am 74 years young!

I have a torn meniscus in left knee, so have to be careful. I picked up to a slow jog on the treadmill lately and my knee didn’t like it. So, I’m doing some strength training for it. It’s better. My primary gave me that suggestion.

Does pickle ball increase muscle? It looks good, but may not be for me if hard on the knees. My tennis elbow is finally healing.

Water aerobics is not in the cards right now, as I wear an insulin pump and cgm. It’ll take some planning and arrangements.

Celia, I have bad knees, I'm 72, and have found that the recumbent bike works out well in strengthening my leg muscles...good luck !

I appreciate that tip. I have tried a couple of different bikes at the gym and at PT, but each time they caused knee pain. Not sure what I’m doing wrong. Perhaps, I’ll give it another shot since I’m strengthening my knees now. Oh, it’s my right knee that has torn meniscus. I misstated that upthread.

The Cubi helped pre and post tkr and it is still part of my exercise routine along with bands and wall planking

How often do you do each exercise?