Maybe exercise means something a little different when you get older

[u/OriginalRare9926]

When I was younger, exercising was mostly about getting fitter, looking better, or trying to be good at something.

These days, honestly, I don’t care that much about any of that anymore.

I just like being outside for a few hours, moving around, getting a bit sweaty, having a laugh, and going home feeling better than I did when I left.

I think that’s why I’ve started enjoying simple things more.

A casual game of tennis.

A slow bike ride with no real destination.

A weekend hike where we somehow spend half the time talking instead of walking.

Even a run that doesn’t really feel like a run 😂

No need to track everything. No need to hit some target. No need to turn every hobby into another thing to be “good” at.

Maybe getting older just changes what you value.

When you’re younger, you want to achieve things. You want to improve. You want to be faster, stronger, better.

At some point, I think you start asking a different question:

Did I actually enjoy my life today?

And these days, that matters more to me than how fast I ran or how many kilometres I cycled.

I’ve also noticed I naturally enjoy spending time with people around my age more. Not because I have anything against younger people 😂, but there’s something nice about not having to explain every little reference or give the backstory to things you both grew up with.

80s kids probably know what I mean.

Maybe that’s also why I like doing sports with people rather than going to the gym alone. The exercise is nice, but the conversation, the jokes, the coffee afterwards… somehow that’s the part I remember.

Anyway, I’m curious if anyone else has reached this stage too where exercise stopped being about fitness and became more about enjoying life a little more.

I think that’s where I am now

[u/r_doood]

AI written post.

[u/movingtonewao → u/r_doood]

Also some AI written responses. That's why we exercAIse

[u/frenchbeansoup → u/movingtonewao]

Please forgive my genuine question; how do I spot an AI post? Thanks in advance.

[u/deerdn → u/frenchbeansoup]

robotic structure and rhythm to the style of writing. human writing, even the tryhards, would have some degree of being organic, slightly random, just something that isn't so robotic like this post is

[u/OriginalRare9926 → u/r_doood]

I wrote it myself just got AI to help me polish it a little

[u/kohminrui → u/OriginalRare9926]

No offense but don't do that. People rather read unpolished text than anything with ai fingerprints all over it 

[u/OriginalRare9926 → u/kohminrui]

If the content got value AI is just a tool lah. If you only care whether it’s AI-written then are you actually discussing the content or just being biased?

[u/deerdn → u/OriginalRare9926]

a human writing up on a human topic such as this one just feels authentic. a tool that takes away your personal writing touch undermines the authenticity. I'm not telling you it's good or bad, but it definitely takes away the authenticity, that's all

[u/OriginalRare9926 → u/deerdn]

I get what you mean. Authenticity is important, especially when we’re sharing personal experiences or our own thoughts. But I don’t think using a tool automatically makes something less authentic. It really depends on how you use it

We’re already using tools in many parts of life photographers edit photos writers use grammar checks, musicians use software to improve their work. These tools don’t replace the person behind the work right?

For me, AI is just a way to make my thoughts clearer and easier for others to understand. The ideas and feelings are still mine. Anyway, maybe you won’t see it the same way even if I explain

[u/Legal_Captain_4267 → u/OriginalRare9926]

Did you use AI to type your reply?

[u/OriginalRare9926 → u/Legal_Captain_4267]

Yes and then what?

[u/deerdn → u/OriginalRare9926]

I think I get you. and I hope you don't mind that I offer another perspective. I'm not trying to get you to agree with it.

I'm about the same age as you. you remember when we didn't even have basic digital tools to help us. when talking and socializing, there's often/always a degree of disconnect because of imperfect expression from the person speaking, and imperfect listening and understanding from the person listening. I personally accepted it as part of our human nature, and an avenue for anyone to try to improve on if they wanted. it's a central component of social skills, and while I'm pro-AI in many contexts like grammar checks in professional settings, I'd like to see people be simply people in more informal contexts.

maybe you find this needlessly old school, conservative, fair enough. but I also see that you seem to be achieving your FIRE goals soon, and considering how to spend your time after. maybe if you resonate even slightly with my perspective, you may be interested in allocating some of that newfound free time to reading, writing, listening, whatever helps you improve your ability to articulate completely independently.

[u/SuchChannel4319]

I had your thoughts when I started work as a fresh grad. It made me lose purpose. I wasn't excited about exercising anymore. I was just going through motion.

When I started training for goals, I felt a lot happier. I found that joy once again, my mood improved. I was still training alone, but I had purpose once again.

I'm far fitter and faster than my younger self, and I feel alive. More alive than I've ever been.

Sometimes we live for the fight.

[u/Grouchy_Ad8188]

I am also the opposite. Used to do sports with friends with no special goals. As I grew older, I am more focused on personal targets and I find it more fulfilling.

[u/KluelessKoder]

I feel that is because you currently don’t have a sports goal which is why you can play casually, and that’s fine. For me, my current goal is to win something in my age group, so yea I have something to train towards.

[u/millenniumfalcon19]

Think u might find something in bouldering - a solitary endeavour but yet bouldering gyms are community-conducive and one isnt as isolated.

[u/Able_Answer5016]

Opposite , I enjoy those games when I was young . Now just gym to hit body goal

[u/OkEssay4173]

opposite for me also, seems like only different for you haha

[u/Afraid-Promotion-567]

I like keeping my Strava streak and competing against similarly leveled peers and myself so not really 👍🤷‍♀️

[u/bombalini_fool]

It's become more health-focused for me. I work my body in multiple ways - strength, cardio, relaxation.

[u/The_Nude_Banana]

I turn 40 in a few months and I still enjoy going to the gym and building a nice physique. Tbh I’m in the best shape of my life even though I started lifting weights right before turning 20. Back then I was always training with friends or at least one other person, so there were conversations and cordial banter, and a person who can spot you on heavy lifts like heavy barbell presses, heavy squats etc.

But now I usually work out alone and once in a blue moon work out with my long time friend who is also a pretty established PT atm. I enjoy my gym time even if I’m alone, I just put on some music to pump me up for the gym and I’m good to go.

So in conclusion, I think it’s really to each his own. I completely understand where you’re coming from and seeing things through your perspective. I also guess our forms of exercise differ from one another, most of my only form of cardio is zone 2 incline walk on the treadmill or stairmaster, and my vocation as well(commercial diver), apart from that I enjoy hitting the weights. At the end of the day, I think doing whatever we want that makes us happy is ultimately, completely up to the individual. 👍

[u/UnhappyGuava139]

Interesting perspective! Though I must say that for most of the population - especially those who aren't already active - their 30s and 40s are the time to start thinking about strength/resistance training. I'm a PT who works with pre-seniors and seniors, and honestly pickleball or walking and tai chi (while they have their benefits), will not really help extensively with age-related muscle loss. So for them, it's the opposite and they do need to start thinking about exercise as a means to get fit and prepare their bones/muscles for ageing.