How often do you exercise?

I haven’t read the full thread BUT six months ago I did no exercise. None. I did walk the dog everyday and I am generally active. I’m 45 and quite suddenly started to feel unfit - breathless, slow, walking up stairs was an effort etc.
So I bought 6 personal training sessions to kick start my fitness before joining a park gym. Now I go twice a week (without fail). It’s only 45 mins so short enough not to interfere with my day and it’s only a 10 minute walk from the house. It means I exercise outside in all weathers and over time I’ve got to know the people in the group who are fun and friendly (I’m quite shy and meeting new people locally has been a big unexpected benefit)
I would absolutely recommend that kind of exercise. I’ve also found that every few weeks at the beginning I made little step changes that made things easier so I could really feel the progress I was making. Now, instead of feeling exhausted after a session I feel energised.

I dropped a dress size when I iced away from London and got a dog. I wasn’t very active at the time and the combination of going from that to two brisk walks a day - and having no easy access to Starbucks - made me lose weight very efficiently indeed. Walking can definitely count as exercise.

This is a thread mainly of people who exercise a lot.

I used to do basically nothing, I would walk and cycle round the place at the weekend and if off work, but everything else was sedentary.

I changed jobs so I have more time now, and I now walk or cycle everywhere, so between about 4-8 miles a day, and then swim 1-2x per week, swimming between 40--140 lengths a session.

The NHS would say a genuinely brisk walk is exercise and it has health benefits even in 10 minutes doses. If we had lifestyles that allowed us to be active, walking all the time, gardening etc etc the need for condensed high impact activity would be much lower. I don't think saying it doesn't count as exercise really helps anyone, because it's clearly better than driving to school or work.

Pilates once a week, cycle speed training race once a week, endurance cycle 100km once a week and usually a mix of either hills cycle or leisurely cycle once week. I'm 56

Everyday. I do a mixture of cardio, weights and flexibility though.

47. I run 2 or 3 times a week - 5 - 8 km each time. I go in the morning with a couple of friends. I also walk the dog for at least 45 mins twice a day. On running mornings, he runs with me I used to do a lot of spinning and want to get back into that

I'm 45. I walk the dog daily for at least an hour, run 4 x per week- 3 x 5 or 6 km and 1 long run of 15- 18km. I also do hiit 3 days a week and yoga weekly.

I'm 59 arthritis in all joints feet the worst, the stiffness is bad.Great believer in exercise but increasingly difficult. Really want to get rid of the menopausal spare tyre so watching what I eat and trying to stretch daily and walk as much as feet allow. It's very frustrating plus exercise tends to wipe me out and if overdo it I pay for it next day by wanting to do nothing more than sleep. It sucks !

@AutumnRose1 I spent 2 years really building up to a good strength level for Olympic lifting and worried 2 months would bring me right back but I was 100% when I went back!

@soleilviolet not entirely sure, I was told lifting heavy can reduce fertility. There are a few research articles online about it. I'm talking about Olympic lifting though... maybe the research is different for it than your typical dumbbell workout etc? I'm no expert. I could be talking rubbish! But was also told by my GP to lay off my one rep max in any weight lifting I was doing because it would potentially affect ovulation 🤔

Running agree

I rack up lots of steps taking my elderly mum out for a walk and helping in her house - she has stairs. That’s not exercise IMHO. it is in the normal daily life sense, but it’s not a workout.

I'm 27 with a 4 month old baby so limited to what I can do, I try to do 20 minutes on the exercise bike and lots of walking with the pram everyday

What's striking to me about this thread is people's different definitions of exercise. It wouldn't occur to me to think of the school run, shopping, etc as "exercise" - even though obviously it burns calories, and if you're carrying heavy stuff then it's hard work, surely for most people that's just everyday moving around?

IMO fitness trackers don't help in that regard. On rest days, when I don't run and all I do is get to work and back on my bike, and do the school run etc, it tells me I've racked up hundreds of "exercise" calories when all I'm doing is basically mooching about. If I ate those calories extra then I'd be significantly overweight (and as someone who used to be overweight, and who used to kid myself my walk to work was exercise, I know how tempting it can be).

Late 30s.

I try to do:

• one outdoor cycle (at the weekend while DH looks after DC)

• 3x indoor cycling sessions per week (at home, after DC in bed). (In summer evenings replace one with outdoor cycling if DH home)

• 1 hour long hilly hike - I work from home 2 days per week and try to do this one lunchtime, work permitting

But it doesn’t always work out - I have DC and work so life gets in the way. Eg This weekend I haven’t done anything yet as I used my child free time allocation to meet old friends for a long lunch.

Exercise 6/7 days but on my rest day will still do 12K steps. Do a mixture of yoga, spinning, running, barre core, stationary bike, yoga with weights. In my 50s.

I’ve exercised all my life apart from a brief period when I lived with someone who was into drink & drugs. In my mid-late 20s I was super fit & exercises twice a day lots of days. Have dogs so walk with them.

I'm 50 and I exercise daily. I power walk approx 50 miles a week and do strength training and yoga. It's for my mental health more than anything. I feel shit if I miss it.

However I've been told by a few people to lay off the heavy weights when TTC

Erm why?

If a pregnant woman can go for a jog, then why can't a woman ttc lift weights?

I'm 27 and get out the house every day for casual exercise. Shopping, school pick up/drop offs etc, carrying a heavy 4 year old for 1/2 mile and cleaning the house nearly every day.

I'm not slim, but I have energy and stamina.

31

I walk a minimum of 10km a day, I do a weights class twice a week, hot yoga twice a week and the odd swim / run

I'm 30.

Daily - I'm a sahm and forever marching up a hill with the buggy and other similar activities!

57 and have two one hour sessions with personal trainer (hate them but needs must) and a pilates class and yoga class a week. In the summer I try and swim two- three times a week as well.
When I worked full time I walked three miles either to or from work then did a workout video four times a week in the evening.

47
Exercise three times a week
2 x 3 hours at gym mix of weights cardio and mat work
1 long run per week
One gym session after work
One weekend morning and one on non working day
It's my hobby so I find the time

🤽‍♀️ Twice a week (water polo). My daughter joins me for one session. 🏊‍♀️ Once a week. Daughter joins me for this too. 🚴‍♀️ Spin bike once a week. And a couple of 1 mile runs. Work full time as well but manage to fit it in.

I'm 34 and do about 30-40 minutes hiit workout 5 times per week. I get up just before 5am to do it before dc get up. I find this easier as I work full time and normally can't be bothered in the evening.

I'm 39. I didn't exercise at all until last October. Now I do two or three Rocket Yoga classes a week and one power class (circuits of dumbell/kettlebell/body weight exercises) I despise anything cardio (running, spinning etc.) Or anything too slow and boring. I need to be in a class otherwise I stop and put the kettle on as soon as I break a sweat. I'm a bit addicted to Rocket now and can do a few funky arm balances and a headstand, which makes me feel like Wonder Woman Three of my classes are straight after the school run, have me home by 10.30 ready for work (I work at home, self-employed) and then I either do one lunch hour class or a Sunday evening one.