A new member today but scrolling down all the photographs every body looks so young! Are there any other wrinklies out there? I would especially like help on exercise, obviously sit ups, crunches or any thing excessive isn't safe, walking and cycling are my favourite but I feel that I need a plan.

Hello Gail - if you look under "Groups" to the right of "Home" I think you'll find a group for 50+. Don't let that worry you - we are all young in spirit and there are a few older regulars on here who I'm sure don't even think about the age thing.

There are quite a few topics on walking and cycling - if you join Ab Fab U Less group, you'll see that we're doing an Exercise in August challenge - everyone at different levels depending on ability and motivation.

Welcome Gail - don't worry, we've just chosen our photos carefully I'm 59 next month, and I know there are several others in their 50s and 60s. Check in on "50 plus" (http://www.timeshealth.co.uk/groups.php?groupdir= 50plus) or Ab Fab (http://www.timeshealth.co.uk/groups.php?groupdir= 4stone2go) and you will soon come across a number of us, including Jeannie who is in her 60s and as bright as the rest of us.

Can't give much advice on exercise other than walking. Apart from walking my dog twice a day, I go out hill walking couple of times a week. But so far I've found fast walking on level surface the most effective - 4+mph for an hour gets my metabolism going and gives me a real high.

Ron and Jackie M. cycle. Jeannie and Jaki (on holiday) swim.

Alternatively, check "Exercise and training tips" (http://www.timeshealth.co.uk/7_0.html). Note some of these forums you have to become a member first before you can view - all you have to do is to click on "Click here to join" to the left of the list of topics. No application forms, no screening - just click and become a member. You can always leave if you don't like it!

Hello Gail - I'm the Jeannie Jackie was mentioning! (Thank you Jackie!)
I have lost two stones since I joined mid-March and am managing to keep it off O.K. through healthy eating, walking everywhere and logging on to THC! Please do join Abfab - it must be the greatest motivational tool out! You will get great support and a good laugh along the way - all the best x

Not only fat but stupid too!thankyou to all that have replied but I am struggling with manging the site ie: after joining a group how do you "chat" and send, also how to introduce your self.

I'm not quite clear on what you are asking, Gail, as you are already posting on this site and have introduced yourself on the 50+ now. Are you asking about how to message people personally rather than use the forums and threads?

Thankyou Barbara

No not personal messages but when you open 50+ for instance how do you know if there are any replies, I didn't even know that I had introduced myself?? What are "threads" I will master it all eventually but being 68 I haven't been born to computers and it always takes me ages to understand a new site and the language. Thanks for your help

Gail, when you look at the 50+ group (or forum) you see the photos or blobbies for the latest members who joined and then below that you see a section called Group Discussion Boards and then a section called Posts in Forum. In the Posts in Forum section you see the 'threads' or the messages that people have left. These 'threads' are topics that people have opted to talk about and next to the thread you see how many people have left a message on this thread 'Replies' and how many people have looked at the thread without leaving a reply 'Views' - at least this is how I interpret it! Then you see the name of the member who started this thread 'Author' and next to it the name of the member who last left a message on it 'Latest Reply'. The last time I looked at 50+ my name was showing on the far right because I was the last person to leave a message there. If someone else leaves a message after me, their name will be showing. When I looked at the Senior Citizens thread just now, I saw your name and the time you left the message, so I knew you had replied to my question.
Am I wrong in thinking that you had posted a message on the Welcome to the 50plus group - why not introduce yourself? Sorry, if I confused you with this.

Barbara thankyou so much for trying to sort me out, will try again, however must concentrate on weight loss rather than sitting at the computer wasting time! Although could say it stops me eating!

Gail, you're absolutely right! When you're on here "chatting" then you're not in at the fridge grazing! I think you've probably mastered everything there is to work out.

When you post a message, you'll see a box near the bottom that you can tick if you want to receive an email that tells you whenever someone else posts another message after you. It's probably a bad idea on some of these topics as people are posting messages every 5 minutes! However, if you ask something and are maybe looking for a specific response, it would save you having to keep checking the topic for replies.

Hope I haven't confused you even more!

So keep checking in, and finding out more about this website. Don't worry about asking questions - there will always be someone willing to tell you how things work. Many of us have been logging on to Times Health Club for seven months now, and we all took time to find our way around. In fact, I still have to ask. But the tracking tools are very good, and we all find the chat helps to keep us motivated - stops us grazing in the kitchen, gives us a boost when we achieve a goal, and encourages us when we feel we are straying from our question to lead more healthy lives.