How much exercise do you do?

[PerfectionistProcrastinator]

I am soon to be 37 and do no exercise. I’m a few lbs overweight and go through phases with exercise but in general, normal for me is none. My job is physical but not in an exercise replacement sort of way.

For me any exercise I do goes hand in hand with trying to eat better etc, so quite stop start. DP on the other hand always takes regular exercise, and so do his circle of friends.

It got me wondering how common it is at my age for people to do no exercise outside of normal day to day life such as running around after children and walking into town etc.

[Bilzo]

A lot of my friends (40s) are very dedicated and regular exercisers many of them taking it up in their late 30s once the kids were bigger.

I am not a natural exerciser so I never really pursued it although I feel now I wish I was doing more.

I’m quite outdoorsy and do a lot of walking, tending to animals, lifting and practical stuff around the house and garden but i don’t do official exercise as such like going for a run or cycling or an exercise class.

I think if you can you should. It’s good for you.

[IHaveBrilloHair]

None at all.

[Franticbutterfly]

Shit loads! Today and hour on the cross trainer and a total of 2.5 hours on the treadmill.

[Yester]

I don't do enough. Mid 40s, about 2 hours of aerobic exercise a week and an hour to 2 hours walk with the dog and a bit of cycling. Wish I did more as Ive seen my unfit friends get more and more health problems as they age.

[Yester]

Sorry thats a 1 to 2 hour walk with the dog a day.

[IdblowJonSnow]

Lots of walking. Dabble with cycling and running occasionally. Went to the gym before lockdown for a year.
Try zumba for fun and weights for results. I've never done the latter but it seems to have made a brilliant difference to some people I know.

[VetOnCall]

I do quite a lot - usual is 4-5 Crossfit classes per week, 2 long runs and one hill/sprints session per week, about 2 hours of dog walking every day and 20 minutes of Pilates before bed 5 times a week. I squeeze in a session on our Peloton bike when I can as well - I use it a lot more in the winter as a substitute for running outdoors. In the summer I hike or trail run with the dogs in the mountains most weekends/days off (we're in Alberta about an hour from the Rockies). It's a huge part of my life, I like feeling and looking fit and strong.

[Mixitupalot]

I’ve always been a runner but more recently me & DH have taken up even more. We do 5k every evening & 10k on a Saturday morning. I also do a workout every morning like a HITT on YouTube. We cycle once a week and DH also does weights.

That’s about all we can fit in or we would do more. Kids are teens so it’s much easier now.

[Aquamarine1029]

I walk at least 5 miles a day. Yesterday, my husband and I went on a 12 mile hike. I just might skip a day because I was ridiculously tired.

[stayathomer]

I used to walk a lot and never thought about exercising, it was just about being out. I think when you start aiming to exercise you weirdly get less active, as you figure in eg running, doing exercises and then flop around the place. The healthiest people I know are those that go hiking, cycling, swimming, do gardening etc and dont actively force exercise in (as I do)

[stayathomer]

(When I say as I do I run now or do an online class but feel I've gotten less active!)

[Rebelwithallthecause]

None at the moment which I blame on breastfeeding g a 5 week old

I used to exercise when young but never really enjoyed it

When I have the time and energy again I will get back to hiking at the weekend but that’s as much as I like to do

[Puds11]

Try to do some every day. Just gone back to work full time with a baby though so it has taken a bit of a hit, but my job is quite physical.

[Foreverlexicon]

I ride my horse 5/6 days a week and try to run 5-10k twice a week and do strength training dvds twice a week for 30/40 min each.

[weareyoung]

I run 25k a week. I also have an active job so my Fitbit regularly tells me I've hit 27,000 steps a day.

But I enjoy a balanced lifestyle so tonight I will be eating a baked Camembert with DP and knocking back several massive gins.

[Jemenfouscompletement]

I'm 54, I trail run every morning for around 1.5 hours and if I have time cycle and swim too. I love sport and being outside so it isn't an effort. I like to eat more than I would be able to normally without getting fat. My kids are teens too so it is easier to find time.

[Aebj]

Pre children I was a gym junky and thought nothing of a 10km run. Would eat and drink what I liked and was a size 10-12
Then I had kids and did nothing. Went to a size 14-16
4 years ago I started going back to the gym. Initially twice a week for about an hour and now I go 5-7 times a week for 30-45 minutes. I also try and walk most days . However my weight is just keeps increasing and now a size 16 but this could be because my thyroids are shit at the moment and undergoing treatment for this.
I go to the gym because I’ve made friends and love the social aspect of it. I know I’ll never be an Olympics sport type person.

[PerfectionistProcrastinator]

Wish I did more as Ive seen my unfit friends get more and more health problems as they age. this is what I worry about. It seems to be a case of use it or lose it where exercise is concerned.

I don’t enjoy exercise. I don’t like gyms. I do enjoy swimming which is obviously not possible at the moment. I’m wondering if looking for quirky independent classes locally is worth a try. I’ve heard a lot about the benefits of strength training.

Does anyone here do any any unusual classes? Such as exercise classes on those small 1 person trampolines. Not that I’m looking for that sort of thing but it’s an example of something outside of the norm!

[boredboredboredboredbored]

I exercise most days. Mainly running or HIIT classes at home. I am no skinny athlete but exercise has become so ingrained in my day over the past 15 years since I took up running it’s become a habit.

[joystir59]

I have a Jack Russell terrier. Nuff said

[vanillandhoney]

I'm a dog walker so a fair bit! I noticed a huge difference during lockdown as I wasn't working and the weight creeped on

Now back at work and easily did 13k across two walks yesterday so starting to get back to normal - that was about six miles according to my iPhone tracker.

I also do targeted back, abs and thigh workouts 3-4 times a week - mainly as I have chronic pain in my back and regular exercise and workouts seem to help keep it at bay.

[parentofteen]

I'm a bit younger than you. I'm a bit all or nothing with food and exercise. For the last two years I've been on repetitive cycles of either doing no exercise and eating what I want (IE eating crap constantly) or doing HIIT/weight training 5 days a week and eating well.

The difference in my energy, mood and self confidence when I'm in the latter cycle is remarkable but I seem to have no longevity. Once I have a tiny bit of sugar, it all goes wrong and I end up lazy and binging again.

[supercalifragilistic123]

I do a mixture of hiit. Weights and yoga at least 4 times a week. I also have a very active job and always walk the school run which is a couple of miles up hill. My kids are only 5 and 2, I plan on doing much more when the youngest is in preschool.
I love the way it makes me feel and always prioritise a workout over

[supercalifragilistic123]

... other things such as housework