How to get dad to exercise more?

[Ellis456]

My dad is 60 years old, my height 5.11 and weighs 15 or so stone, it all seems to be in the spare tyre as he looks ok elsewhere, but I know 15 stone isnt healthy for his weight and also the spare tyre is a health risk.




He does eat healthy but it's the lack of exercise that's keeping the weight on.




I currently go for countryside walks with him a few times a week but thats only when I can with him other then that he drives everywhere.




He has a bike and I keep asking for us to go and get it in the car and go cycling together but he seems to forget about it.




He has arthritis and high blood pressure, I know it's gonna be difficult with the arthritis but he can lower his blood pressure with more exercise. ive tried to explain that to lose the belly you'll need to work at at, like what I do sit ups etc.




I really care about my dad's health ever since my mum died of cancer, I dont wanna lose my dad this soon, so any advice or is it his decision at the end of the day and ive got to acccept it?.

 

[Furkz]

my dad seems exactly the same as yours, he wont go out and do anything thought we also go for walks but not regularly, he talks about swimming but never happens, invited him to the gym and he didnt go. i think its their choice end of the day. i was thinking of buying my dad a nice bike that way he would feel guilty enough to come out for a ride. Must get him a hipster fixie lol

 

[ColinJ]

If he can walk with you, then he ought to be able to cycle as long as he uses low enough gears and his bike fits him properly.

My hips are on the way out but I'm okay on the bike as long as I'm careful getting on and off it and don't climb steep hills in high gears.

I don't blame you for wanting to sort your dad's health and fitness out. My dad suffered 25 years of increasing immobility and ill health because he didn't tackle his problems in his late 50s and early 60s.

Why not just tell him that you are bringing your bike over and you want to ride with him? Tell him that it means a lot to you. I reckon once he has done it a few times, he'll catch the cycling bug like the rest of us.

Good luck!

 

[slowmotion]

My two pennies....

If you want to get your father to start cycling again, you have to make it FUN, not just healthy or worthy. Pick a pub a mile away and go for lunch on a sunny day. Next weekend, go to one two miles away.......

Good luck.

 

[fossyant]

What slowmotion said, but don't get carried away at the pub - I would !

Think you are not going to get far with this. Both my parents and my wife's parent's didn't exercise - that was the thing - Dad did rugby till mid 20's, then nothing. Think MIL and FIL used to cycle a little, but that was in their teens/early 20's. Family/work came along, and exercise stopped.

We couldn't change any of them, and didn't try to. If they are not interested, then that's it really.

I think you need to be 'into' exercising for fun as well as health. Many folk do erercise till their mid 20's but unless you are into a sport, it all drops off. Most of my 'mates' don't exercise at all.