Is exercise 4x a week excessive?

Ideally we’d all do at least 60 minutes of being active daily, so I don’t know where your friend is getting her ideas from.

If you have the time and the energy go for it! It's not excessive. I do several gym sessions and classes a week because I enjoy it and it's good for me and my MH.

There’s a right glut of so called ‘friends’ on MN at the moment. Assuming that these sessions are about an hour, then no it’s not excessive. Someone running 4 hours a day 6 days a week might spark a concern for me but it would depend on other things too.

Enjoy your exercise and ignore her- very much a her problem not a you one.

I go to the gym 3 times a week (only do cardio for an hour), 5k Parkrun on a Saturday, then I usually end up running Junior Parkrun with our DC on the Sunday and then swimming afterwards.

I don’t think that’s excessive!

She sounds far too invested in your routine and what you are doing. Her concern would be justified if you were exercising multiple hours each day and obsessing over your appearance. However, by your description, you are doing what feels good and makes you happy which is well balanced.

Her concerns over your shoulders physique are also uneducated

I do cardio 7-8 times a week plus some light weight training whenever the mood strikes.

I do 3-5 sessions a week. It's not excessive unless it's impacting other aspects of your life

That's like the basic minimum or below. I'd add in a couple of hours of running or cycling or swimming to get it up to a healthy amount

Unless you’re pushing yourself to injury or are massively neglecting other important things in your life, I don’t think it matters how much you do.

I'm jealous and so is your friend

"Toned arms" are already muscley. You can't have toned muscle if you don't already have muscle. And anyway, what's wrong with having muscles and broad shoulders?

Gonna go out on a limb and say, women who make money from pole dancing do more than an hour three times a week, and many of them do not resemble men. Which is clearly what your friend is threatening you with.

Not excessive at all. Nearly 68, I do 30 mins or so of stretching/weights exercise every day and Zumba twice a week. I'd seize up if I did less😉.

Nope not excessive. Pre-child I used to work out 5 days a week for 1-1.5hrs each time - sometimes longer if I was doing a particularly long run. It was a mixture of running, bootcamp and strength training. Now, I only wish I could fit all that in with a 2 year old! But I still do 3-4 times a week for 30-45 mins at a time, usually 2 runs and 2 strength sessions, plus I walk every day on top of that to make sure I hit my step goals. If you have the time and you enjoy it, then go for it!

Not if you have the time.

Ignore your friend. It’s not excessive at all; in fact, it’s what everyone should be doing.

Absolutely not excessive. I imagine most sessions are 1 hour or less - not like each one is 2 hours.
I do 4x per week, two x weights and two x cardio/hiit.I am toned but not what you would call muscular. It keeps me happy and healthy. Your mate could be concerned - but she might also feel she has to keep up and doesn’t want to do 4 per week herself! Go for it.

God no, not excessive and if it helps your mental health, as it does me, you do what you need to do. I do Zumba class, pilates class and gym 3-4 times a week. You know your body

I don’t think MNs is the best place to ask tbh!

How long is each session? Do you have time to do other stuff? Would you miss out on things and never miss a session? O

As long as you aren't overtraining any one area, eating well and getting rest days, I can't see any problem with that schedule -

Badminton - aerobic, weightbearing, cardio, element of core strength, social
Yoga - core strength, flexibility, cardio
Pilates - core strength, flexibility, cardio
Pole - functional, strength, core strength, upper body strength, bodyweight, cardio, social

The only difference I'd choose if I were still physically able to do all of that is chuck in swimming as a recovery and non weightbearing exercise in preference to yoga if I were already doing Pilates - but that's personal choice.

That's absolutely not excessive - and muscly broad shoulders are great!!

Well so what if it did anyway

OP what concern of hers is it what type of arms you have?

I try to exercise every day. I am allergic to exercise and I try to walk for an hour each evening. Even though I do no where near the activity levels probably recommended for most people.

let me guess

this friend does…. bugger all exercise

Your ‘friend’ sounds like a twat.

You clearly love exercise and fitness and you do exercises that you find fun. Four or five exercise sessions a week isn’t excessive, for a start. And she can fuck right off with her ‘muscly arms’ comment. She’s talking bollocks because sculpted arms and shoulders are fabulous, obviously. But even if she wasn’t, it’s absolutely none of her bloody business.

I suspect your friend, either consciously or subconsciously, has an agenda of her own here. She’s definitely got issues - she’s either jealous, or competitive, or just one of those awful people who takes it upon themselves to ‘manage’ everyone.

Not at all, I do some form of training at least 6 times a week. Just don’t overdo it and if you need to slow down listen to your body.