How much are you doing?

33 replies

LaraLei · 12/10/2022 08:22

Just wondering how much exercise everyone is doing. Reason for wondering is I have a feeling I might do too much. I go to the gym in the mornings about 4-5 times a week where I do a mix of cardio and weights, swim 5-7 days a week (2500 metres each time) and also walk and cycle at the weekends. Reason I am asking is that I feel like I am not improving much anymore and wondering if I need more rest. I sit at my desk at work all day and really enjoy working out, but wondering if it’s not efficient what I am doing. Have some belly fat I want to lose. I sleep well and my diet is reasonable good too.

OP posts:

Delatron · 12/10/2022 17:59

I agree with women overdoing the cardio. I do the same - run 5 times a week and weights only twice as that is all I can fit in. If I cared about my belly fat more than running I would switch that around and do far more heavy weights and less cardio. But I’m competitive so have the motivation to run and the weights are second to that.

Also, improvements happen on rest days so if you’re never resting that may be it. At least once rest day is advised unless an elite athlete.

GreyTS · 12/10/2022 17:18

How old are you! I think that the biggest mistake most women make is overdoing the cardio so not seeing much results. Heavy weights, and I mean Barbells are so much more efficient at building muscle and therefore burning fat long term. I used to do huge amounts of running and gym classes and have now replaced it with 2 runs a week and 3/4 weights sessions and I've never been in better shape

devildeepbluesea · 12/10/2022 17:18

Walk the dog 12 times per week (twice a day save for the 2 days the dog walker comes when it’s just once).

Run about 2-3 times per week.

Alternate between combat / body pump for 3-4 days per week.

If I don’t exercise first thing though, I don’t exercise at all.

Original poster

LaraLei · 12/10/2022 17:15

@Stellaris22 , I do tend to stick to the same routines but not progressing much or able to really push myself that much. I love exercising every day, so perhaps that is more important than constant progress for me. Just wondering what everyone else was doing and if anyone else thought they might be overdoing things at all. I don’t know anyone else who work out as much as I do, but I don’t think i am much fitter than people who hit the gym 3 or 4 times a week, so maybe I am really inefficient at it.

OP posts:

emmathedilemma · 12/10/2022 10:47

If you want to improve then you need to train to meet whatever goal you want to improve.....if you want to swim further then you need to build up your distance, or improve your stroke to swim faster, or do speed intervals to help you run faster, lift heavier weights even if it means dropping the number of reps.....

Stellaris22 · 12/10/2022 09:06

Do you have a routine you follow to track progress? You might not be seeing results if you're constantly changing the exercises you're doing.

I only go 2-3 times a week but stick to 2-3 routines for 2-3 months so I can monitor progress and improvement.

Christmaslover2022 · 12/10/2022 08:30

None, I don't get time to myself :-( can't make it happen either as no one else to help with children...
I think yours is alot!

waterlego · 12/10/2022 08:29

You are very active, but I wouldn’t say it’s too much, unless you’re feeling exhausted by it or suffering injuries. You could definitely afford to have more rest days if you want them though.

I do 5 hours a week weights and 5 hours yoga, plus dog walking which I don’t count as exercise. I don’t do enough cardio, which is definitely something I should address but I’m a cardio dodger 😬

If you don’t feel that you’re getting any results, perhaps you have plateaued, in which case, changing the type of exercise you’re doing might help.

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