fitness tips/plan for a 'not very mobile' bloke ?

Have you tried pilates?

Swimming?

One to one pilates, then classes/home Pilates once you get the hang of it. Great for balance, stability, mobility and coordination.

+1 swimming. Maybe Zwift too.

I used an old Wii Fit with a balance board thingand played Yoga games for a few months. That was more for my stability on my bad ankle but it also improved my core strength.

Plus Point
Easy
Quick to start and stop
Free if you have/can borrow a Wii Fit
All happens in the privacy of your own house

Minus Points
Not free if you don't have/can't borrow a Wii Fit
You don't get to wear a spandex body sock in front of all the yummy mummies at the local Pilates class

I'd go with yoga (or I guess Pilates?). I'm 3 weeks in to a training program that is 6 days a week with 10-15 minutes of yoga-based stretching at the end of each session. I always thought of myself as relatively flexible but day 1 showed me how wrong I was, particularly my hips. Now 3 weeks in and there is a visible difference in how far I can move various parts of my body.

You don’t get to wear a spandex body sock in front of all the yummy mummies at the local Pilates class

Live stream on his Only Fans page?

+1 for pilates/yoga

YouTube search, there's millions of videos, find a few that are the length you want, talk about the body parts or strength you think you need to work on (e.g. "easy beginners 15 minute core workout"), with (and this is the difficult bit) a presentation style that you don't find too annoying.

Do them regularly. Ideally daily. Find a time when you'll do them. For me that's first thing, and if I don't do it then, I know I won't do it, even if I say to myself "I'll do it when I get in from work" or whenever.

and this is the difficult bit) a presentation style that you don’t find too annoying.

Good point - i try and do Kassandra's 30 minute beginners routine a couple of times a week, but squeaky North American accents aren’t my favourite

Stretch regularly and add some resistance training. At our age it's highly advisable.

Swimming

I really enjoy trying to learn to swim better and it uses most muscles. Loads of outdoor swimming options available mow if you dont fancy the pool

Or indoor rowing

Yoga with Adrian on YouTube she has videos for backs,core ect.

Or indoor rowing

But get someone to show you how to row properly.

Or if that's not an option just do the opposite to what everyone else does.

I was going to suggest indoor rowing as it's a really good all-round exercise and, like swimming, no impact. For mobility though, I'd have to go for a good yoga or pilates class. The first few are surprisingly exhausting.

Disclaimer: I hate rowing and, to some extent, swimming, but they are very good exercise.

But get someone to show you how to row properly.

Or if that’s not an option just do the opposite to what everyone else does.

😂

But so true. One of the hardest things to watch in the gym

Have you tried pilates?

no, but i do have a book with beginners to advanced in. i think this is the kind of thing i can do.
also a few classes local so think i will give one a try.

we go swimming with the grandkids, but i end up being a jumping/climbing frame for them, rather than swimming lengths.

yoga looks ok too, but i am far too inflexible for that.
i have the mobility of Frankensteins monster.

Diamond Dallas Yoga, it's not your mamas yoga!

Free videos on YouTube, if you prefer the 'american wrestler' personality over squeaky American ladies voices. I'd forgotten how cringy he is 😂 but it's a good workout

A few famous transformational videos out there.

The main thing is finding something/someone you can put up with and so keeping up. That's the issue I'm having 😂

There was a bloke on here that used to offer training plans; iDave maybe?

Not sure if they were any good though.

tony - pilates and yoga can be very similar, depending on the teacher, so I wouldn't rule one out over the other.  I'd definitely suggest you go a local class where the teacher can keep an eye on you and amend the routines that you do to suit.  I have been doing a weekly yoga class for past year or so and it makes a real difference to core stability and aches and pains, and I'm nearly as old as you .. 🙂

Similarly with swimming, why not book a couple of sessions with a local coach, who can work on a technique that suits you .  I swim a few times a week, used to be rubbish at it, went for 121 coaching on Alexander Technique/Total Immersion swimming and now it's a breeze - have a look on my Strava.

i have the mobility of Frankensteins monster.

Planks./planking Movement a negative with planking. Great for core strength.

With resistance stuff it's going to depend on how compromised your mobility is and the specifics of your limitations. Bear in mind you don't need to do high reps for strength. Do you have a good local gym?

Yoga/mobility exercises might help with your flexibility. If you don't try to extend what you have, it'll simply remain the same or deteriorate.

There was a bloke on here that used to offer training plans; iDave maybe?

Purely cycling orientated I think. Proper coach. Very effective.

Ton - When I started the Wii Fit yoga I could not stand still without having to shuffle my feet about for balance, bending forward to touch my knees was a challenge and turning my next was about 15 degrees. This was the result of 6 months in bed while the Drs debated if and where to chop my leg off.

After 6 weeks of 2-3 time a week at 15-20 minutes a time I could stand reasonably stably, touch most of the way down my shins and turn my head enough to see the passenger wing mirror in the car without having to move my body in the seat.

Basically I went from Frankenstein's monster when he was still in the box to Frankenstein's monster after a few lighting strikes.

I wasnt the most mobile.  Its taken 12 months for me to lose some weight and put on some muscle.  Knee issue meant i couldnt even do a squat when i started and when i got into free weights i had to do loads of exercises just to get any resemblance of flexibility in my squats.

Anyhow the biggest helps were, as noted above planks.  They are an easy way of quickly building strength in the core.  I got great results out of trx straps for both improving my flexibility (Supporting the squat) and shoulders, core etc (IYT's).  A simple pull up bar can be used for hangs and then develop into knee raises etc.  A little cheat i did when i was struggling for hand grip at my heaviest was to use wrist straps.  It let me focus on lifting my legs (Working the core) without losing my grip.

yoga looks ok too, but i am far too inflexible for that.
i have the mobility of Frankensteins monster.

Depending on the style qigong/chi Kung can get you stretching, and everyone who can stand up can do qigong!

Again depending on the style yoga can be far more gentle than you might imagine. I do hatha yoga and following injury I just do the stances and moves within my current limitations.

I would strongly recommend face to face classes, not books or online.

Thanks for all the suggestions.

This could take me forever

Just spent 40 minutes doing the 5 beginners exercises in the book.

I now feel nauseous and a bit lightheaded.  🙃

Never tried Pilates from a book, but been doing weekly classes for a decade, starting at fifty. My motivation was to maintain what mobility I have and anything else is a bonus. I'd say it has been a success as I have, by and large, avoided picking up niggling injuries and been able to enjoy more saddle time as a result. Many Pilates teachers are also physios which puts them in a good place to judge what will and won't work for you. Being in front of a live teacher has the benefit that they will observe when the exercise isn't being done quite as intended. Many of the exercises are targetted at the less used muscles and there is a tendency for me to subvert the intent of the exercise and rely on the larger muscle groups instead. Often it is just a tiny adjustement of technique that is required to get back on track. Another advantage of live classes is that they will regularly use equipment to guide the exercises. This adds variety to the classes, but can also guide and improve technique. I find the classes a very supportive and encouraging environment and there are always inspiring people around. I wish you luck and hope you discover something that will work for you and you can enjoy for years to come.

swimming (if you can)

when i get to teh point i can swim 1k front crawl it does absolute wonders for my biking. really helps core stability and flexibility. i really notice it riding. less upper body fatigue and more control. great for aerobic too.

get some lessons. sounds stupid but it really helps. you go from thrashing about and being knackered after 20m to gliding and doing lap after lap at a decent speed.

it is really REALLY ****ing boring though! (unless you are in a river/sea in which case its just a bit boring and quite unpleasent thinking about turds).

TRX.

I'm finding it to be a game changer. Lots of videos,

or maybe get a lesson or two 👍

Another vote for Pilates - but as suggested above try and get some lessons in a proper live class with a qualified teacher who will help you with getting the moves right and explain some of the key principles  e.g. imprint, neutral spine etc.. It is great for flexibility and core muscles particularly in the abdomen and lower back. Also swimming will help improve your fitness without impact - front crawl is preferable to breaststroke if you have dodgy knees.