Good flexibility but poor cardio?

A question about : Good flexibility but poor cardio?

I would welcome some advice please. I am 58 years old and of a slim build. I do both yoga and pilates and walk for an hour once or twice a week. Every month I do a long walk of up to 12 miles in addition.

My concern is that when I go up even a short flight of stairs I get a bit breathless and can feel my heart beating fast. I have never enjoyed the gym or aerobic type activities ( although I walk at a good pace).

Does anyone have any thoughts or suggestions, and do you think this is normal? I have a job where I am sometimes office based, but often out and about too.

I want to continue to be flexible and supple but recognise the need for 'fitness' too!

Best answers:

• Normal, quite possibly, but not healthy.
  How about including some more hills in your walks or just going a bit faster? Or maybe there are some non-gym type activities you might enjoy, like swimming, or tennis or dancing or whatever else is available around your way?
• Do you take any medication that could be to blame.
  Other than that, you sound exactly like me..... go to an aquasize class, once or twice a week. brilliant and no pressure on the joints but getting a cardiac buzz.... ~
• Thanks both. I think the idea of including some hills is a good one! I was also wondering about some daily skipping too as I used to love skipping! I am retiring in July so will also look for a class or two then.
  I don't take any medication other than cod liver oil and vitamin d.
• It might be worth mentioning it to the doc next time you visit. Breathlessness can be a symptom of other things.
• Do you walk fast enough to actually increase your heart rate and breathing? If not, try throwing some faster walks in there, or even just bits of walking fast, mixed with slower speeds to recover.
• Again thanks for the replies. I suppose I knew deep down that a visit to the doctor is in order! For the past couple of years I have suffered with anxiety, and tend to notice my heartbeat when I am in bed or when I am relaxing, never at work, for example.
  I agree about walking a bit faster, as I don't tend to get out of breath, hence I can walk for miles!
• Hopefully it is just a lack of fitness. yoga and pilates while great for toning are not aerobic. I find it strange you can manage a regular 12 mile walk yet are left breathless walking up the stairs. increase the pace even if just for the last couple of miles and get your heart rate up
• Thanks for replies.in 2012 I climbed Snowdon with my brother. The first 500 m were very steep and I honestly thought that I couldn't do it.Once it levelled out a little I was better and was pleased with the achievement. I think what everybody is saying about stepping up the walking speed and doing a bit more like running up and down stairs is the way forward.
• Get yourself checked out by your GP first before you attempt any of our suggestions.
  Once you get the OK, start walking faster and use your arms more. I don't mean waving them like a windmill but just enough to your upper body moving. Get slightly breathless - not so you can't speak !
• Thanks,Eric's Mum, I will do that.
• Just thought I would provide an update! Thank you so much to all the people that suggested going to the GP. I did so last week and lo and behold I have very low iron levels! Apparently many of the unpleasant side-effects I have been experiencing can be due to low iron. In fact breathlessness is a classic symptom.
  So I am taking iron tablets three times a day and trying to eat iron rich foods ( but not liver, yuk!) and hopefully I will be restored to my former glory. Although I am of an anxious disposition, this too is exacerbated by low iron, so am hoping to feel better physically and mentally in the very near future.
  Thanks everyone!
• In an odd sort of way you are probably relieved to discover that it was a physical disorder (rather than a result of anxiety etc). Sounds like it's easily managed with the right meds and healthy diet. Hopefully this will give you more confidence to try some of our suggestions.
  Take care, let us know how you get on.
  EM xx
• Spot on Eric's mum! Now focusing on taking my iron and iron rich foods. When I feel a bit better I will definitely start improving my cardio fitness because I can't blame it all on depleted iron😱