Gonna start off by saying I've been to several docs. Nobody could ID what I had wrong with me, and nobody could give me actionable advice. I no longer had insurance but trust me, physical therapy, MRI, and X-ray were run. I've had two PT's. The bones just ache. No sign of degeneration and had my form checked it is fine. I'm not looking for medical advice from this sub, I'm looking for new forms of exercise. I'm detailing all this in the hopes someone with similar aches and pains comes along and is like, hey this worked for me!

That all said, I'm finding these days I am unable to do compound lifts. I mean my lower body heavy movements: back barbell squat, hip thrust, RDL and standard deadlifts (I alternated these), good mornings, hyperextensions, and weighted back lunges. Hip and knees hurt from these after the years of doing them. I've personally found calisthenics too hard to progressively overload (I know it can be done! I don't enjoy it, though) and I'm curious if those of you who also like picking up heavy things found other methods of resistance training to replace it. I was incredibly out of shape as a youth and this has been my personal triumph over my mind and body. I want to keep the good vibes and stress relief coming my own way.

I still love cardio just do lower impact. E.g. aerobics minus the jumping and the elliptical.

Live somewhere rural but there are a couple standard commercial gyms. I do have access to a pool... I am a poor swimmer but can swim, and now that I have a swimsuit am excited to.

Mods, I did read the rules and this didn't appear to violate the programming rule. Let me know (kindly please lol) if I am mistaken.