Age UK Norwich reveals the East of England’s most hated and loved exercises, as part of national Act Now, Age Better campaign

• Age UK Norwich has uncovered how the East of England truly feels about certain exercises – from the most loved and the most hated, to the most avoided at all costs – with Lifestyle GP and Personal Trainer, Dr Hussain Al-Zubaidi, providing the ultimate solutions
• Alongside this, the national Charity has revealed some of the weirdest and most wonderful ways Brits – including broadcasting legend, Angela Rippon – are choosing to get in their daily dosage of movement around the house instead
• This forms part of Age UK’s Act Now, Age Better campaign, which launched earlier this year and encourages everyone to take action and age in the best way possible – starting with staying active

The importance of regularly moving your body and increasing your heart rate to improve your chances of living a long and healthy life is well-known[i]. Yet, some exercises fill many people with nothing but dread.

Following the launch of Age UK’s Act Now, Age Better campaign, which encourages people to make small, proactive changes that could help improve their physical health and the quality of their later years, Age UK Norwich has revealed[ii] how the East of England truly feels about certain exercises, and it’s official – burpees are the region’s most hated, with over one in three people (1.7 million) feeling this way.

This is closely followed by:

• Punishing push-ups (1.6 million)
• Challenging chin-ups (1.4 million)
• Strenuous squats (1.4 million)
• Crippling crunches (1.3 million)

Burpees are also one of the most hated exercises across the border, over in London, however they are narrowly beaten by push-ups – which are despised by over a quarter of that region’s population (1.9 million).

What about the most loved? Well, it seems, the East of England is a region of squatters and lungers, with 1.1 million being a sucker for a squat and 870,000 loving a lunge.

Age UK Norwich’s polling has also uncovered that many people living in the East of England haven’t ever tried to do some other exercises, with over half of the region’s population (2.7 million) having never done a mountain climber, and similar numbers having never attempted a side plank (2.5 million) or a box jump (2.4 million). Moreover, nearly one in five residents (970,000) don’t know how to do a mountain climber and 770,000 don’t know how to do a box jump.

In response to this, Lifestyle GP and Personal Trainer, Dr Hussain Al-Zubaidi, says: “It’s easy to feel put off by the word, ‘exercise’. When it’s used, we often picture someone at full blast, hot and sweaty, maybe running or lifting what seems like too much weight in an impressive gym setup. But ‘exercise’ is anything that gets us moving and it all counts. That’s why with patients and clients I use the word ‘movement’! Most importantly, it must be something we enjoy and feel benefit from. There are things we can do in our everyday lives to mimic the classic ‘exercises’ and still reap the benefits.

“For example, the dreaded push-up can be done against a wall or sofa rest during movement breaks after time sat down. Eventually, as your upper body gets stronger, you may be able to do them from the floor. Start adding in some jumping jacks in between push-ups and you are also then tackling similar elements to a burpee. To tackle elements of the plank, you can hold your push up variation for as long as you can whilst tensing your core. Bear crawls around the house are a fantastic way to get in some cardiovascular and strength training at the same time.”

And it seems there are lots of different ways people are getting creative at home to squeeze more activity into their busy lives. In fact, when the general population were asked how they are physically active at home, one in five Brits (11 million) say they run up and down the stairs, and one in 10 (5.4 million) use chairs or the sofa for tricep dips or elevated push-ups.

But what about those who really don’t have a minute to spare? Well, it turns out over 8 million people do exercises such as squats or lunges while waiting for the kettle to boil, and nearly 5.5 million balance on one leg while brushing their teeth.

So, it seems multi-tasking could be the way forward, with over 3 million adding that they regularly do a bit of hoover-grooving, others hula hooping while reading (yes, that’s right…) and over 1 million even taking after Coleen Rooney and squatting in the shower[iii]!

In fact, star of the TV screen Angela Rippon, agrees – exclusively telling Age UK: “Our bodies are machines that are full of thousands of moving parts. And like any machine, if we don’t keep those parts oiled and moving, they will seize up and let us down. Dancing is one of the best exercises you can do for the health and wellbeing of your mind as well as your body. So just let yourself go and move to the music on the radio. I often get up and dance to the music of the commercials that come up in my favourite TV programme. 

“Just have fun, and whatever exercise you do, think of it as making an investment in your wellbeing pension plan, so that you can have a long, happy and healthy life.”

However, it’s not just parts of the home that are getting involved in people’s healthy lifestyles. Age UK’s findings also suggest that everyday household items are playing their part, with 6 million Brits saying they have incorporated cans or jars into an at-home exercise routine.

These cupboard staples are closely followed by:

• Water bottles (5.4 million)
• Pillows or cushions (4.9 million)
• Towels (3.8 million)
• And even shopping bags (1.6 million) – giving a whole new meaning to the term, ‘bag for life’!

Other items that Brits say they have used in an at-home workout before include oil drums, firewood logs and even milk bottles filled with pebbles – staying green whilst getting lean!

Finally, over 1 million people have their pets join them in an at-home workout, with one saying they have dance sessions with all four of their dogs, another who holds their pet on their chest as a weight while doing sit-ups and a third whose feline friend loves to climb on their back during yoga!

Dan Skipper, CEO of Age UK Norwich, says: "Here in Norwich, we’re lucky to have parks, riverside walks and beautiful green spaces right on our doorstep - all perfect for keeping active in ways that feel fun and achievable. Whether it’s a gentle stroll through Eaton Park, cycling along Marriott’s Way, or even dancing in your living room on a rainy day, every bit of movement counts. At Age UK Norwich, we see every day how small changes can make a big difference to people’s wellbeing, helping them stay healthy, independent and connected to the community they love."

Age UK’s Act Now, Age Better campaign raises vital awareness of the importance of making small changes to help improve the quality of our later years. For more information, as well as advice and inspiration from Dr Hussain’s informative guide to healthier ageing, please visit: www.ageuk.org.uk/actnow, and do speak to your GP or health practitioner if ever unsure.