How many hours of exercise do you do each week?

[iknowwheretheothersockgoes]

I'm starting to think I need to get myself into shape, but I can't work out if it will be enough. How much do you do per week?

Here's my plan :

Monday - 1 hour Pilates 1 hour swim
Tuesday - 1 hour gym (cycling, cross trainer, rowing)
Wednesday - 1 hour swim
Thursday - 1 hour gym (as above) or swim
Friday - 1 hour pilates

Is that enough to get me feeling physically fit? It's only 6 hours, which doesn't seem like a lot.

You'd be doing a lot more than me so your schedule is good. But I'd suggest for more impact to swap the x2 gym.sessions for x2 taught HIIT type classes. You'll probably push yourself more in a 40 min class than just on your own in the gym.

Currently about 15 hours, 7 of those are walking fast with the intention of being out of breath, 3 are lunchtime walks (in the office 2 days and I rarely manage it). The other 5 hours are made up of 2 spin classes a week and 3 gym sessions.
Walking fits into my life so easily, and then my youngest has a few classes at the gym so I can slot a few workouts in then too.
I’m not mad on exercise as a whole but my back is dodgy and movement proves to be a good regulator for it. I like walking because I listen to a podcast and can totally switch off and zone out, it’s a bit of escapism.

10-12 hours of ashtanga yoga per week
active job but i'm PT so that's approx 3 hours per day
general walking, including a country walk with family at weekends
no housework, I outsource

I think there's a risk that threads like this set an unrealistic expectation of what it takes to be fit. OP consistency is key, so can the schedule you've outlined be realistically fulfilled week after week? No point starting something you can't stick with. If you are starting from scratch then start doing something you can stick to x2 or 3 a week. Layer in more if/when possible. I do x2 HIIT classes a week and in a good week perhaps one more home exercise session. Plus modest dog walking and ocassional longer weekend walks. For me that is achievable and thanks to the HIIT keeps me quite strong/in shape.

12 hours - combination of strenuous hot yoga, HIIT, and walking. Consistency is important.

One class each of yoga and pilates.
One swim of 40 lengths, one gym session - half hour weights, half hour machines.
One session in sauna and steam. Badminton and table tennis alternate weeks. Plus daily dog walks.

@Courgeon YouTube - Workout with Roxanne

I started with the 15 minute beginner full body, then moved into the 20 minute full body, and now mix that up with the 20 minute intermediate full body. I plan on just using her routines and increasing weight / intensity and difficulty as I improve. Keeps it simple

@howaboutchocolate yes! Me too! Amazing what a difference consistent home strength training makes

I don't disbelief posters, why would you bother lying on an anonymous forum about how much exercise you do, but it will definitely pull along the more extreme posters. I do ultra runs and feel inadequate next to some in here! There's a lady at my gym who does 17 classes a week, she's single and retired, she absolutely loves the social she gets from the gym. Not sure why some people have to come on here just to accuse others of lying just because they can't imagine it.

I thought I was doing ok but wow some people are doing really well!
I walk about 90 minutes each day, two dogs, throwing ball, bit of running round in play with them.
Strength training (Caroline Girvan, thanks mumsnetters for recommendations) of 30 mins dumbbells 6 days a week
I am 62
Every day I say I am going to start running again but it never happens…..

what do you do outside the structural exercise listed?
that also counts.

I cycle or walk (moderately raising heart rate, getting warm but not sweaty) every day for at least 45 minutes. most as part of my commute or to run errands (no car).
in addition I do a couple of runs a week and a couple of strength sessions.

I absolutely agree

And if they are telling the truth, what a total waste of time. I do 45-60 mins weights 4-5 times a week plus walk the dog and that’s plenty. Hours and hours of cardio will not get people the body they usually want.

@iknowwheretheothersockgoes i really think your plan is too much, trying to exercise 1-2 hours every day is just not achievable for most people

You need to try and make your life quite active as well. Half an hour class is no good if you're sedentary all day. I used to have a very sedentary job, now I have a role that involves much more movement and have naturally toned up a bit despite actually doing less formal exercise! For instance walk up to the third floor to my office rather than take the lift.

I know people that spend 2 hours in the gym every day but that's their life, work, gym, eat sleep. If I've got a 10 hour day at work with a 40 minute commute either side it's pretty difficult to fit a class in .. And I'm not getting up any earlier than I have to!

Yep hours of cardio is pretty pointless on a physical level in terms of changing your physique, but for some it does have a psychological benefit. It also increases the production of stress hormones and can be ageing.

Totally. But usually on these threads people say they want to “tone up” and that actually means build muscle and lose fat. Doing 30 min cardio workouts especially like davina’s dvd won’t help with that as much as strength training and weights will

@Pureradio I don't think people are lying but I don't think these levels are realistic for most people as beginners

@caramac04 make sure you rest to allow your muscle to build. It won't repair and grow doing strength training on the same muscles every day.

I aim for at least 16,000 steps a day and usually go over this - I walk DD to school and pick her up, sometimes a walk at lunchtime if I can.
Spin classes on a Friday and Saturday morning, sometimes on a Monday although it usually feels too early! Sometimes on a Wednesday evening too.
Tuesday evening gym session, usually weights with a little cardio.
Couple of mornings a week I'll do a 5k run and am aiming to build this back up.
I just fit in what I can, when I can, around part time jobs and DD's activities. I go by the saying that anything is better than nothing!

I doubt people are lying - I'm not anyway - but this thread is always going to attract people who are very active. It's probably not representive of the general population as its self selecting.

I never post on the how much do you eat threads because I'm overweight and eat too much! Similarly I don't post on threads about housework cos I hate doing it and would feel embarrassed posting about my sluttish housekeeping skills.

I think people should probably aim to meet the who guidelines but anything over that is simply people choosing to do something they enjoy.

Six hours a week sounds fine. Is this all out of the house? I do something at home every day, but try to have one day without high impact exercise so do just 20 minutes of yoga (I do yoga daily if possible). I also occasional parkruns.

I do a mix of home exercise and classes. I've never added up the hours other than those recorded by my Fitbit and I use that as a guide. I'll try now. I won't include daily yoga - approx 20 minutes. I also do a bit of ballet at home (we have a barre for DC).

Monday - in person adult ballet class 1hr

Tuesday - running - around 1.5 hours or less depending on the route.

Wednesday - ballet and pointe class 1.5 hours

Thursday- Pilates (at home) and small weights workout

Friday- running

Saturday- At home Pilates or a workout class at the gym or parkrun. 30 mins-1hr depending

Sun - rest day if I haven't switched my run to this day. So just a bit of yoga or a leisurely walk.

Oh and I agree with those saying being generally active in your daily life is important - I'm actually really bad at that. I wfh and spend all day sitting down. No little kids to run after any more either. Without my running, my average daily step count wod be awful.

Totally agree, but a page or so back two posters claiming it was all lies.

4 x strength weight sessions (2 upper and 2 lower) in the gym. Usually takes about 50mins or less each morning
And 5 x 35mins of cardio.

Have done this for past 18months religiously.

3 kids and full time job. Do get up stupidly early to get it done before kids get up

Oh yes, I saw. I think these threads just attract people with an interest in exercise

Definitely