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.

I'm 34 and my kids are 8 and 6 so I have more time for exercise now. I go for a 5k walk every day - I sometimes run it but I don't find I burn that many more calories for the extra effort!
During normal times I go to the gym almost every day before or after work and do a mix of cardio and weights. At the weekend I replace a workout with Pilates.
At the moment I'm on an online fitness group and do 5 classes a week at home, a mix of dancing, HIIT and conditioning.
My eating is a bit erratic, I eat very healthily for about 3 or 4 days a week and the other half I'm not as strict and drink a lot of wine.
I'm about 5 foot 2 and I weigh 9 and a half stone. For all that exercise I'm not that slim really. Some is muscle, but my stomach is definitely not!

I usually run 3 times a week 3-5km each time. I love hiking but dont do much atm because I have young daughters. I walk the dog daily. I cany wait for gyms to open again, I really want to start spinning. I'd love to do more but it just doesn't fit in right now

I’ve just had to have 3 months of exercise, apart from managing an almost daily jog of 30 minutes. It’s really made me sad and I’m now getting more exercise and it seriously makes such a difference to my sleep, well being and makes me happy 😊

I'm 40 and I do 2 x 5mile easy runs
1 x intervals which is normal about 5/6 miles
1 x 10 mile run

So 4 times a week .

I do 20 minutes, five or six times a week of exercise (jogging or YouTube workouts). I was feeling quite proud of myself for doing such a lot, until I read this thread! I suspect the fit and heathy Mumsnetters are more likely to respond to your post than those of us with a slower pace of life though.

I'm mid 30s. Currently doing half an hour - an hour daily. Usually an exercise class.

Usually it would be a minimum of an hour a day (again, exercise class) but that's a bit tricky at the moment.

@JimbosJetSet

I do 20 minutes, five or six times a week of exercise (jogging or YouTube workouts). I was feeling quite proud of myself for doing such a lot, until I read this thread! I suspect the fit and heathy Mumsnetters are more likely to respond to your post than those of us with a slower pace of life though.

20 minutes 5 times a week is great though!

I run 30 miles a week. I dislike running with a passion you cannot imagine, so it does not come easily to me, but I've got a Patterdale terrier who needs as much exercise as I can put in!

I also walk a lot (see:dog) and there's quite a lot of lifting and carrying in the day job.

Am nearly 60 and the weight was beginning to pile on, so I use running to fight it off and enable me to eat cake.

1. 5 hiit sessions a week. I do also try and go out for walks and generally be quite active but WFH has made that harder.

I am overweight though as my diet isn't great. I am quite fit.

Sorry, that should say 36.

I do 20 minutes, five or six times a week of exercise (jogging or YouTube workouts). I was feeling quite proud of myself for doing such a lot, until I read this thread! I suspect the fit and heathy Mumsnetters are more likely to respond to your post than those of us with a slower pace of life though. I was thinking this.

You are all very inspiring. I really need to get myself into a routine and try my best to make it a habit. I start and drop things all the time. It doesn’t help that I’m intimidated by classes etc. We actually have a friend who teaches yoga but I’m not sure if that would make me more self conscious as I have never tried it before (I don’t know her that well). Flexibility is one thing I do have probably more than the average person. I’m not sure if that helps for yoga? But strength, no..and I can feel myself getting less strong as time goes by too.

I usually try to do at least one form of exercise every day whether it's running, HIIT or yoga. From the people I know, I don't think it's unusual to do no exercise - but I personally need to do exercise to stay sane (and thin)

It's harder at the moment because I'm working at least 12 hour days and I'm just too tired in the evening to do much

I think for me the level of activity is important too. Before Lockdown I was walking lots (between home, school, work, dog walks, shops) and I used to ride all over London for meetings too.

So although my formal exercise levels are just the same, for me it was the general levels of activity which decreased in lockdown. i did put on a few pounds and I think it was this rather than the exercise. Now my dd is back at school and my step level has gone back up. I feel much better as a result.

I have multiple issues with exercise - lots and lots of trauma from PE lessons.

I love swimming and am good at it, but I never find time to go. Also yoga but similar problems with finding time. I'd love to do a class but no chance now.

I did really well on couch to 5k a few years ago and I'm trying to get back to it but it's hard because I can only fit it in by getting up early and Im not sleeping that well.

So, to answer your question, not zero but not that much either

I started running as way of helping to lose the baby weight after DC2, I calorie counted too.

Now, I don't calorie count any more, but I still run 2-4 times a week. This means I maintain my 'happy weight' whilst eating a few treats during the week.

I run because I love eating.

In lockdown it's been a bit of a lifesaver, and my runs have not necessarily got faster, but they have got longer.

I also have a pre-schooler who loves his bike, so we head out on a bike ride 2-3 times a week. It's not great exercise as such, but it gets me out in the fresh air, and means I can't eat bad stuff as I'm not in the house!!

Loads... I run near enough every day, do yoga every day, usually go for a walk on my lunch break for 30/45 minutes, try and do some strength training every day but I hate it so it often gets dropped.
Also really enjoying hiking so frequently go for long weekends in the hills

Love how many of you exercise to eat more

Walk average 13k steps per day and some push ups and also some resistance bands

None at all which worries me from a strength and health point of view as I age, nearly 50.
No weight worries (yet) as very small and size 8 - I eat anything I like but not a huge appetite so portions are small.

Concerned about muscle and bone quality, but I truly hate any form of workout and not keen on playing sporty games or even swimming! Walking I enjoy but that's about it and I don't have time to walk miles every day. I bought an exercise machine once but it ended up as a sort of clothes airer

I'm 44 and did loads (pre lockdown) and not enough (in lockdown without the gym open).

When I'm in the gym, I'll go 5 x a week for 1.5 hours a session doing cardio, free weights and a few machines.

At the moment I'm alternating running/walking 5K a day, aiming for 30K a week.

I was stuck in shielding for 12 weeks so had to do daily HIIT videos but am now outside running/walking. I've lost so much muscle though, my arms and shoulders were very defined and I'm hoping to get this back when I'm back in the gym.

I'm tall and slim (10-12) but for me, it's having the strength and muscle when I'm older. I don't want to be in my 60s without any body strength.

Run 25 miles or so a week, sometimes 30, sometimes 20. I weight train for 20 to 30 minutes a day, and also do yoga. If I can't go for a run I do a HIIT workout, sometimes 2 if they leave me unsatisfied. I used to do less, but since lockdown, it's the only thing keeping me sane. Sometimes while cooking dinner I do body weight exercises such as push ups, pull ups, jumping squats and jumping lunges.

I’m early 30s and I go through phases with exercise. I have the FIIT app so some weeks I’ll do 3-4 HIIT classes and maybe 1 yoga or Pilates class too. Plus I’ll do around 8000-12000 steps per day walking.
Other weeks I’ll do absolutely nothing. I’ll sit at my desk all day and then just lie on the sofa watching TV after. I wish I could be more consistent but I find certain times of my monthly cycle make me feel like crap and I struggle to motivate myself

I’m fairly active I think compared to a lot of my similar aged friends. 38/2 children.
I hate the gym!
I run 3x a week between 5-8k depending on how much time I have.
I do 2x group exercise classes a week (currently online) for the social side of exercise
I then do some weight based training and stretching on an ad hoc basis at home (when I remember)
Maybe an online HIIT session once a week to mix things up
Walk the dog every day for half an hour/min steps 15k per day

I hate sitting about. I have to do something everyday. It makes me really grump if I don’t.

The positive side is I get to eat fairly relaxed and not gain any weight (BMI 22.5)

I didn’t start exercising until my early forties. I hated it before then. Now I exercise at least 30 minutes a day, Jillian Michaels shred is great if you are short on time. Ten years later I am now able to do plyometric pushups (those are the ones where you push off the ground into the air!) and jog for more than a few minutes. I’m glad I did take up exercise, it’s never too late to start. Your body is capable of amazing things at any age.

I suffer with arthritis and exercise has really helped control the pain and symptoms so it has additional benefits other than weight control.

I walk the dog for between up to about 2.5 hours, but not every day as DH sometimes takes her (or we go with the children who walk very slowly or play around en route).

The occasional bike ride for about an hour, with some hills.

Before lockdown I cycled to work a couple of days a week (am part-time), but only 5 miles round trip. I also used to do an hour's swimming at least once a week. I'm really missing that at the moment. I've been outdoor swimming a couple of times.

I hate running. I walk for over an hour most days, but it's all the flat which isn't enough of a challenge. I used to do aerobics years ago. I like swimming but hate the chlorine in public pools. I love yoga but have yet to find a good class where I live. I really need to do weights or resistance work but I just can't motivate myself. I enjoy cycling too when in the mood. Ballet is amazing. I found a great class which I loved but we moved away and I can't believe I can find such a good class again. I need to lose a lot of weight and that puts me off doing more, sadly.