Congratulations to Les, Peanutz, and other members who are doing something about getting / keeping fit !
Exercise is more than a hobby. It's the main factor, together with not over eating, in preventing obesity. The choice is stark - stay overweight, and increase the risk of high blood pressure, diabetes, several cancers, osteoarthritis, heart disease, strokes, and generally worse quality of life with reduced life expectancy - or do something about it .
The UK Health Service can't cope with the current level of obesity. Perhaps more surprising is that the Philippines also has a major problem - obesity contributes to the top three killers ( heart disease, stroke, and cancer ) as in the UK.
There's good evidence that half an hour's exercise a day is beneficial. Excessive exercise brings its own problems. It's not good enough to claim insufficient time, or even to reminisce about what you used to do - it's what you're doing NOW which counts .
It also matters little what exercise you choose or where you do it - that depends on age, fitness, where you live ( very different climates in our two countries ), and what you enjoy doing . Clearly if you already have health problems you should not attempt too vigorous exercise without a medical check up.
Don't be too hung up on measurements such as BMI ( Body Mass Index ) - -they're not relevant to everyone. "Fad" diets are, by definition, also doomed to failure and are mostly a waste of money. Feeling and looking better will soon become obvious with even a moderate amount of exercise .
Today ( not 20 years ago ) I had half an hour's swim, and an hour's walk on the beach. That can't compete with 5 hours' surfing yesterday by my son, but I want to maximise my chances of living a healthy happy life - surely what every member would also wish to do .