At Physio Ed, we are committed to providing you with trusted and reliable content on health and wellness topics. Our content creation and editing process is rigorous and transparent, and here is how it works:
We value your feedback and questions, and we are always happy to hear from you. You can reach us at info@physioed.com. Thank you for choosing Physio Ed. as your trusted source of health and wellness information.
Have you been feeling more tired lately? Do you run out of breath while walking up the stairs or doing other simple tasks?
After the COVID-19 quarantine, many people have found that they are less in shape than they used to be. In the last year, I have had an influx of patients reporting that they don’t feel as fit or physically capable as before the pandemic.
If this sounds like you, you’re not alone! Many older adults are still working their way back to their previous fitness levels.
Let’s explore what it means to be “out of shape” and discuss how to assess your current fitness level properly. Understanding where to start is the first step in creating a safe, balanced approach to regaining your fitness.
Being “out of shape” might mean something different for everyone. For some, it means feeling weak or less able to do the things they love. For others, it might mean struggling with simple daily tasks like carrying groceries.
The pandemic led to a sedentary lifestyle for many older adults, resulting in muscle atrophy, loneliness, and a general sense of well-being decline.1
Being out of shape can manifest in different ways, including:
For most people, being out of shape likely feels like a combination of any of these. Other symptoms you may experience when feeling out of shape include fatigue, shortness of breath, joint pain, or poor posture.
When you’re out of shape, your body isn’t as efficient at using oxygen to procure energy. This can make simple tasks, like walking up a flight of stairs or carrying groceries, feel much more challenging than they should be.
Your heart and lungs have to work harder to deliver oxygen to your muscles, which can cause you to feel short of breath and tired.
A Fitness Coach on Your Wrist
There’s nothing quite like a fitness tracker to keep you motivated. “Getting in my steps” has become a familiar phrase to everyone. We like the FitBit Inspire 3 Fitness Tracker for its simplicity and bonus health tracking features. A narrow, basic screen keeps it simple by showing you what you want to know while exercising. It also does cool things like measuring your oxygen levels and tracking high, low or irregular heart rates.
Our recommendations are the same items we trust and prescribe to patients. When you buy through links like this on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission to support new content.
Additionally, when you’re out of shape, your muscles aren’t as strong as they should be. Even basic movements, like standing up from a chair or lifting a small object, can require unusual effort. Over time, this can lead to fatigue and weakness, further limiting your ability to do what you enjoy.
A sedentary lifestyle limits flexibility and mobility since your joints are not used as fully and often as needed to function correctly. Limited ability to use your body can lead to decreased movement or an increased risk for falls or other injuries.
Not only does being out of shape impact how you feel during your daily activities, but it can also increase the risk of chronic diseases, such as diabetes, heart disease, or osteoporosis. Increasing your activity level to improve your fitness level is one way to combat these serious health risks.2
As always, we encourage you to schedule regular checkups with your doctor to make sure you are making progress in your journey to get back in shape. Your doctor can provide a comprehensive and safe set of tools to ensure you take the right steps to meet your goals.
If you’re experiencing any of these symptoms, it’s important to remember that it’s not your fault; your body is simply telling you that it needs some extra help to get back into shape. With the right exercise program and support, you can regain your strength and energy to feel like yourself again.
Depending on your goals, interests, and abilities, there are various ways to assess your fitness level.
Objective measurements like weight or body fat measurements compare you to age-matched norms among your peers.
Subjective measures are based on what you’ve noticed about your abilities compared to your own history and perception of how you feel.
Some observational cues that indicate that you are out of shape include
As a PT, I often use the five times sit-to-stand test to assess the physical fitness level of my older adult patients with mobility impairments. Since this test is simple and easy to complete at home, you can follow these instructions and compare your results to your age group below.
To perform the test:
Tests like this one have established norms for age group and gender, so you can compare your results to your peers to see how you rank. Alternatively, you can test yourself at the beginning of your journey and then at different intervals to track your progress.
The norms for the five times sit-to-stand test vary by age and gender. They can serve as a helpful reference point for evaluating an individual’s performance:
It is important to note that while the Five Times Sit-to-Stand test is a valuable tool for assessing leg strength and functional capacity, it should not be used alone to determine an individual’s fitness level.
We recommend scheduling a consultation with a physical therapist or another medical professional to comprehensively assess your abilities, especially if you have concerns about your health.
Frailty is characterized by an excessive and dangerous vulnerability to environmental stress, often leading to injury or preventable illness.9
Older adults who were more active before the lockdown experienced a smaller decline in physical activity and less increase in body weight than those who were more frail.3
If you are frail or have pre-existing health conditions, pain, or specific limitations, it’s important to consult your doctor before starting an exercise program. Your doctor can help identify risks or precautions, recommend appropriate modifications, or provide referrals.
Other barriers to success in a fitness program include poor social support and environmental factors such as weather or lack of access to facilities. Attempting to address these before beginning a program is ideal. It can help you to get back on track sooner and more consistently.4
Joining a walking club or a local seniors fitness group is a great way to be social and stay in shape. If you can access a gym or fitness club, consider attending senior-friendly classes like step aerobics or tai chi.
It may also be appropriate to seek assistance from senior-oriented personal trainers or physical therapists in your area.
Maintaining a regular exercise routine alongside a healthy diet is pivotal in your journey to getting back in shape.
While exercising regularly and eating right have health benefits, they can greatly impact your well-being, staving off cardiovascular disease, lowering blood pressure, and improving your quality of life.
Poor cardiovascular health has been linked to a variety of preventable diseases. Combined with the Standard American Diet (SAD) — high in processed oils, fats, and sugar — a lack of regular exercise can lead to illness and early death.
Exercise science shows that eating healthy and cultivating a daily fitness routine can increase the resilience of your heart and blood vessels while also improving your mood, confidence, and strength.
We are big supporters of NOT dieting at Physio Ed. The result of every dieting plan nearly always results in WEIGHT GAIN over a three-year period. Not only that, but it makes us feel terrible about ourselves when we don’t succeed reaching our goals. The diet industry is filled with empty promises.
Intuitive eating is the guidebook we recommend at all our nutrition workshops. It teaches why diets never work, how to read your own cues for hunger, identify challenges, and make small, permanent changes that add up over time. We couldn’t recommend this book more.
Don’t know where to get started? Here are some general guidelines to help you start exercising safely and effectively:
Starting with a high level of intensity can lead to burnout or even injury. It’s important to be compassionate with yourself as you get started so that you can build healthy and effective exercise habits that last.
A gradual and consistent approach can prevent injury, reduce soreness, and improve motivation and confidence. Try to increase your exercise volume by, at most, 10% per week.
Simply put, that would mean adding an extra tenth of a mile to your daily walking distance, or eleven instead of ten pushups!
Cardiovascular exercises like walking, cycling, or swimming can improve your heart and lung function, increase endurance and boost your mood.
Strength training exercises, like lifting weights, doing bodyweight exercises, or using resistance bands, can build muscle, increase bone density, and enhance metabolism. Balance exercises can improve physical function and reduce the risk of falls.5
Exercise doesn’t have to be boring or painful. I recommend that my patients find activities that they enjoy and that fit into their lifestyles. This will help you to stay consistent and motivated.
For example, dancing, hiking, or yoga are fun and engaging activities many seniors enjoy.6
You can also vary your workouts to avoid boredom and challenge your body in different ways.
Having a specific plan in mind can be helpful, such as training for a 5K, doing ten push-ups, or walking for 30 minutes straight.
However, ensure your goal is realistic and achievable, given your fitness level, time commitment, and other factors.5
You can also track your progress using a fitness app or journal or plan a workout in a group setting. These can help you stay accountable, motivated, and proud of your accomplishments.7
Exercise is essential, but so is rest! Your body needs time to recover and repair after exercise, especially if you are new to it or are doing more intense workouts.
Ensure you sleep well, eat a balanced diet, and take breaks between workouts. You can also use active recovery techniques like stretching, foam rolling, or yoga to help your muscles recover and improve flexibility.
Resistance bands are one of the best ways to get back into shape. Not only are they inexpensive compared to other exercise equipment, but they take up less space, travel well, and can be used in just about any setting. You can dial them in based on your level as well, which makes them perfect for building up your endurance and strength over time. It has everything you need and more to continue your fitness journey.
This kit is one that we particularly like. It comes with many extras at no additional cost compared to other kits. You’ll also find plenty of free classes in our fitness library that use these items, so now’s the time to get started!
Our recommendations are the same items we trust and prescribe to patients. When you buy through links like this on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission to support new content.
In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, many of us have noticed a decline in our physical fitness, confronting challenges such as diminished endurance, strength, and flexibility. This article delves into the nuanced reality of being “out of shape” and offers a compassionate guide to assessing one’s fitness level and embarking on a journey towards regaining physical health. Highlighting the importance of a balanced approach that includes diet, exercise, and the joy of movement, it provides practical advice and encouragement for older adults striving to reclaim their vitality. From understanding the symptoms and risks associated with decreased physical activity to embracing a gradual, enjoyable, and holistic exercise regimen, this guide is a beacon for anyone looking to improve their well-being in a post-pandemic world.
Being out of shape often manifests through increased fatigue during routine activities, shortness of breath with minimal exertion, persistent joint pain, and difficulty maintaining good posture. Observing changes in physical performance, such as a heightened effort required for tasks previously completed easily, or changes in body composition, can also indicate a decrease in fitness levels. Objective measures like body weight or fat percentage, alongside these subjective experiences and observational cues, provide a comprehensive understanding of your current fitness state.
Remaining out of shape extends beyond immediate discomfort, posing long-term health risks including heightened susceptibility to chronic diseases such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and osteoporosis. The decline in physical capability can also negatively impact daily life, making simple tasks increasingly challenging and diminishing overall quality of life.
To assess your fitness level at home, simple and accessible tests like the Five Times Sit-to-Stand Test offer valuable insights into your physical condition, specifically evaluating leg strength and endurance. This test requires you to stand from a seated position five times as quickly as possible without using your arms, with performance times compared to normative age and gender data. Such assessments, combined with monitoring daily physical experiences and capabilities, can effectively gauge your fitness level.
Several factors can hinder progress towards regaining fitness, including pre-existing health conditions, frailty, environmental constraints, and social or psychological barriers such as limited support or motivation. Addressing these challenges early on by consulting healthcare professionals and seeking supportive networks can facilitate a more effective and enjoyable return to fitness.
Initiating a fitness regimen should be a gradual process, starting with activities well within your current capability and progressively increasing intensity and duration to avoid injury and encourage sustainable habit formation. Incorporating a diverse range of activities — including cardiovascular exercises, strength training, and balance-focused exercises — enhances overall fitness and prevents monotony. Selecting enjoyable activities and setting achievable, meaningful goals can significantly enhance motivation and adherence to your fitness plan.
A balanced and nutritious diet plays a crucial role in supporting your fitness journey, providing the necessary energy for physical activity and aiding in recovery and muscle repair. Healthy dietary choices can complement your exercise efforts, improving cardiovascular health, aiding in weight management, and enhancing your overall well-being. Integrating regular physical activity with a thoughtful dietary approach is fundamental to achieving and maintaining optimal fitness levels.
Keep in mind that we may receive commissions when you click our links and make purchases. However, this does not impact our reviews or recommendations. We prescribe the same equipment to our patients in the clinic. We always try our best to keep things fair and balanced, in order to help you make the best choice for you.
