Watch a good movie while treadmilling, and the time flies by, sort of.
My joints ain’t what they used to be. I run and use resistance bands on alternate days, and look pretty good for a guy in his late fifties.
The article links to this study. It’s quite far from perfect, but they did correct for some confounders. They recruited Greeks over age 45 of both genders without cardiac disease, studied muscle mass in 2011 and ten years later, and looked at who had developed recent cardiovascular disease. The upper third for muscle mass, presumably more active, had up to 81% less cardiovascular morbidity than the lower third. There are plenty of potential quibbles, but that difference is big.
I’m 54 years old. I have not been terribly good about exercise over the years. In 10 days I will have my hip replaced. I had gotten a gym membership and started going regularly to help build some muscle and reduce the fat before the surgery. I had been going, pretty regularly, for about 4- 6 weeks. However, thanks to COVID, gyms have been closed since the end of December.
I hate that I can’t go to the gym right now. I hate exercise at the gym but I also realize that it is the best defence against getting old too soon. I do not want to be the old man who is hunched over and can barely walk. Doing something I hate is the trade off. In fact, once my hip is fully healed, I do envision exercising 5 times a week (a mix of weights, cardio and something like yoga for flexibility). I think that a commitment of 5-7 hours a week is not a lot to ask for, considering the returns.
Mostly because I’m a little girly man who is perfectly content with his body the way it is - all 98 lbs of it. 
The more serious answer is COVID closed the gym in my apartment building for awhile and I don’t quite feel comfortable returning, even though it’s open. Also I’ve become a bit lazy.
I wouldn’t call myself “enthusiastic”, but I’ve actually been into weightlifting and running off and on since high school. There are a lot of benefits in terms of strength and keeping the weight off. And at the time, it didn’t hurt when trying to attract the ladies. 
Now, with two small kids, it’s nice to be able to pick them up and roughhouse with them without getting injured.
I strongly oppose gym idiots who make any environment intimidating. I do believe lifting weights is healthy, irrespective of weight. I would never insult a person for trying to improve themselves. But it isn’t always fun, and even before Covid many had some bad experiences with gyms. Myself as well. (Kicks sand.)
I don’t lift weights because I know I would hate it.
Between the exertion, the boredom, the scheduling, the tedious repetition, the pain, and the fatigue, there’s just nothing there for me not to hate.
And, going to a gym and being around the people who take weightlifting and such really seriously? Oh no, I don’t think so, no.
I have a pull-up bar and do a few simple unweighted isometric exercises. That combined with a few other simple unweighted exercises feels like enough.
How did that go, btw?
They’re heavy.
Seriously, it seems to me to be a boring way to exercise.
No scenery.
Running or biking, I get a chance to explore new neighborhoods and even other towns.
Guess that’s why I prefer biking. I get to see a lot more, and often pedal through different environments. One direction I can take is very industrial, and I’m cutting through loading docks and abandoned factories. And my favorite route takes me to a cute little town in the country, and on the way, I’d swear I was biking Cape Cod (sandy soil… so small bushes, long grasses, wildflowers and scrub pines).
Because it would detract from my time on the couch binge watching Ozark and arguing with faceless adversaries on my phone.
I switched from weights to resistance machines many years ago. Balance and proper technique are critical in lifting weights. You need a spotter to do it safely. I worried about getting injured.
I enjoy working out. Building endurance is more important. I rather do 30 minutes on a low setting than 12 min on a high setting.
I love biking. We’re fortunate to have several paved trails that avoids road traffic.
My answer is basically I do, but I don’t. I lift very light weights at a fairly low volume (for bodybuilding standards) but with regular frequency. Sometimes I have grand ideas about getting more serious and going heavy, BUT:
About 5 years ago, after a nearly two decade sedentary work lifestyle, I took a physical job out of desperation. I pretty much do cardio an average of 50 hours a week, and I’ve come to enjoy it. Especially since it’s almost impossible to gain bodyfat following very basic decent health strategies. And I don’t have a lot of time to eat.
I actually lost too much weight at first and hated how deflated I looked. I’ve never really gone to a gym but from the time I was a teenager and had roommates until now in my 40s (I live in a “starter home”, in my area having a garage and basement/storage area is standard) I’ve always had some weights and equipment and a place to workout. I have pretty good muscle memory from my teenage workouts, it seems. I respond well and fast to getting back at it and slight tweaks to my diet.
Almost all the research I’ve consumed tells me that for my current physique goals at my age, I’m probably best served prioritizing diet and getting adequate protein and fiber. And SOME resistance training. I don’t really expect to make gains as I’m not on TRT and i’m not willing to destroy my digestion and other things. But I would like to get leaner without losing muscle. I’ve given up the idea (perhaps from a little BDD and societal pressure, idk) that I needed to “be big.”
Also, I’ve had some health things - burst appendix, inguinal hernia repair, and I have what I can only describe as CPPS since everything else has been ruled out. For quality of life I need to focus on relaxation, stretching, meditation, easy digestion.
I actually have a lot of people, especially women co-workers, ask me if I “work out all the time.” Honestly, I’m embarrassed to talk about it, because to me I “don’t really work out” and I know part of it is genetics. Other parts are lifestyle choices that can come off a little preachy or too judgmental - I rarely drink, don’t eat junk food, find 99% of fast food repulsive, and I prioritize sleep health and hygiene (which all seem like basics in life to me)- and I’m a live and let live guy. Most of the people I’m around these days are the type to be happy to go home and pass out after drinking a 6 pack or a pizza and Mountain Dew or whatever and watching Netflix.
While COVID has affected people in different ways, for me it has made it EASIER to maintain/improve my body composition. Part of it is just the inconvenience. A lot of fast food places and convenient outlets for junk food are closed when I’m awake and always have huge lines when I’m out (when I’m on the way to work or running essential errands). I’m not willing to wait in long lines for fast food, and I’m also not going to pay restaurant prices plus fees and tips to have junk food delivered. Grocery shelves are bare and usually make it out to a store once a week, I have to get creative and prioritize certain foods. My job never shutdown, so my maintenance calories stayed up.
So far, so good. I have to say that considering everything my body has now been through, the pain isn’t that bad. There is pain and discomfort, and range of motion is limited for now but I can deal with most of those things.
The raised toilet seat that I need to use sucks. I’ve tried 2 so far and have a 3rd coming. They are cold and uncomfortable. Of course it hasn’t really been an issue since the painkillers are slowing my peristalsis to a crawl. Yesterday was unpleasant…
Cyclists, do you find the young speed demons diminish your experience?
Little Rock built the River Trail that connects 23 parks. The main part is a 17 mile loop.
It’s a fantastic resource for hikers and cyclists. A lot of people walk their dogs. But there’s always the speed demons. Whoosing by us like a bat out of hell. Getting run down is always a concern.
I bought a new bike almost 2 years ago. Biking is allowed during covid. Rides great and is comfortable.
I had been avoiding the gym because of COVID (and partially post-COVID inertia). I’m really glad to be back in now.
People talk about how much cardio helps with anxiety and depression, but for the first time I am strongly experiencing the way that exhausting my muscles can help lift my mood, help my sleep, and quiet all the buzzing in my head. I highly recommend it.
Weightlifting helps considerably with sleep, mood, cardiac fitness and health. The science of longevity is replete with dubious claims but even here there may be real benefit.
Of course, exercise in general provides many of these benefits and many find weightlifting dull or difficult for many reasons. “Being big” can be hard on the heart and the joints if approached in the wrong way. Finding an exercise one enjoys and can sustain is perhaps more important than the specific type. But when I read only one in seven men my age even get sufficient moderate exercise, it is clear many could be doing more. These things often start with education. Physical education in my day often emphasized the wrong things - I wonder how much it has improved, or whether it is ever more ignored?
I’d almost gotten used to the Tour de France wannabes zipping by. And I’d get a little competitive (especially when it was a pack of MAMILs*) but then I’d think “Well, no shame in being outclassed by THOSE guys…”
But lately I hear “On your left!” and prepare for some young’un to speed by. But it’s an old lady on her electric bike, barely getting any exercise… flying past me up a big hill at 20mph.
It’s not fair; I’m standing on my pedals, grunting, and she’s humming “Who’s Zoomin’ Who?”
.
*MAMILs = Middle-Aged Men In Lycra