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.

Depends on time, what else you have to do in life, and your current fitness levels. I've been doing 3 x gym a week for an hour a time, mixture of weights and cardio and three hours a week of burning say 500 cals a time would probably be a good start if you are unfit, and also trying to build as much walking in as possible. I was already doing yoga 2 x a week plus walking (I have a dog) and wasn't unfit, but adding on the gym sessions for the last three months has made a big difference to my cardio fitness and I ran a 5k without stopping yesterday. Next month I'll be doing more stuff like gardening as well.

It's better to do slightly under what you can manage than push it too much and make yourself ill. I know doing the level of exercise I'm doing now just wouldn't have been possible at other times of my life when I was more stressed and doing lots of cardio and weights just wasn't a good idea as it just made me get every cold under the sun. I wasn't sleeping very well and while exercise can help with that, it doesn't always and if you exercise heavily and then don't sleep properly you will just be absolutely knackered and ill. My body was under too much strain from the stress. I stuck to restorative yoga and walking then. Gentle, regular exercise is really good for you and yoga is a whole way of life not just exercise. Exercise doesn't have to be in a gym or class.

Don't start a restrictive diet at the same time. It's worth using something like Nutracheck app as a food diary to make sure you are getting a good balance of nutrients. Your body will need good food and nutrtion to support the additional demands on it from exercise.

Above all, make sure you enjoy exercise and make it about kindness to your body and enjoyment not masochism and punishment.

I'm obsessed with exercise and love dance. It's been really good for my health, mental and physical. I did less when my children were younger.

I saw a great post on insta the other day which was all about adding movement into your day - eg putting your shoes on while standing up, squatting while brushing your teeth, cleaning the floor while squatting/moving rather than using a mop... just little changes to do alongside regular exercise..

Cardio seems to be out of fashion at the moment in favour of weights. I personally think there is a lot to be said for it (as well as strength training). The clue is in the name, heart health is so important and elevating your heart rate regularly. Just do what you enjoy though, is the main thing. If you hate the gym, don't go to the gym.

@ShirleyPhallus
Agree re weights! I only do 3-4 very heavy weights (for me) sessions per week, often less, so lots of time for my DC and full time working.

I don’t bother with any cardio as such but walk/play sports/swim with the DC and agree that housework definitely counts! It’s definitely easier now they are not little mind, I did fuck all when they were tiny.

For some people that's impossible though. My job is sedentary and I can't change anything at work. So I do vigorous exercise outside of those times
Unless I change my job, I can't be more active in my work hours

What's your definition of 'fit' OP? Being able to run for a bus without dying? Being able to complete an Ironman Challenge?
Your plan seems like a lot if going from a standing start rather than building on an existing regime. It is worth looking at how you can get the most bang for your buck by using interval training or other techniques. For example, swimming a variety of strokes using different drills and intensities but with short rests between the drills is much better than plugging away up and down the pool nonstop for an hour, and a spin class will give better results than just sitting on a bike in the gym and pedalling for an hour.
You also need to work out what will keep you going. I'm terrible at getting myself to the gym or a lane swim as there is too much choice of timings and no accountability. Classes and group training works better for me as it removes all the dithering over exactly when to go, and I feel like my absence will be noticed.

FWIW I have a very active job (involving a lot of manual handling, climbing ladders etc), do around 11k steps a day, and have swim training 3 times a week (total of 2.5hrs). I'm not super fit, but a lot fitter than average in my social circle.

The key to exercise is building it into your routine and trying really hard not to deviate.

I do 3-4 runs a week, including one long one of 9+ miles.
2 hours of heavy weights.
Make sure I get min 10k steps a day.

Usually three half hour swims and a couple of 45 min spin classes, plus daily dog walks.

I go to a yoga class once a week and try and do a couple of yoga videos on YouTube in between. I also do cardio and weights sessions with Grow with Jo, the Body Project or FitbyMik 3-4 times a week. When I can be bothered I’ll do some exercise bike in front of the TV and when weather is ok I go out on my bike. Sometimes do a Parkrun or charity 5k. I like to do a variety of things as it keeps me motivated.

Do people have partners who use the same number of hours on exercise or another hobby?

I'm 47 and fairly fit. I used to run but I've got out of the habit. Most of my excessive fits around my life rather than me "doing" exercise per see.

I used to be a total gym bunny in my 20s and early 30s before DC.

Everyday - 40 mins - 1 hour yoga. This is part of my life now and makes the biggest difference. I do yoga with Adrienne on you tube (it's free) and I'm doing Move and Center 30 days together at the moment. I basically repeat these every 30 days.

Every day - 2 hours dog waking. Today is 3 hours already but I was scoping out bridleways

3 x a week - ride for an hour, mix of hacking and schooling plus yard duties, which take me another couple of hours
2 x a week long reining or carriage driving for about and hour each. Long reining is harder work than the carriage.

Oh and now summer is coming up I'll do daily/every other day 10-15ins lifting hand weights.

I don't like exercise classes unless it's Pilates or yoga. All the shouting and 'encouragement' from the trainer makes me just want to walk out. I'm good at self motivation when I'm in the gym (just need to actually get there and do the work)

I spend 10–15 hours at the gym each week and also walk and cycle a lot. I do a mixture of things like swimming, bodypump, weights and cardio.
I think it’s easy to find the time if it’s something you enjoy and prioritise.

The pilates will help your core but I don't think will make you 'feel fitter'. But an hour cardio three times a week plus strengthening exercises should do it. Make sure you are pushing yourself and not just going through the motions. I find swimming in particular can be hard to keep pushing - so easy to let your mind wander and just ease off.

6 hours seems quite a lot to me! Though I have two young children and a demanding job so there is a limit to what I can fit in. I run for 2.5-3 hrs per week across 3-4 runs, couple of short (say 20 min) strength training sessions at home, and one 45 min dance class. I'm upping the running slightly as have decided to train for a half marathon in July. I find I need the rest days though, I did 6 miles at a steady pace this morning and I'm tired now!

Some of these are a bit excessive! Your body needs a bit of rest. 7 hours CrossFit plus ) hours gym a week plus runs? Not healthy. Your body needs time to recover and build muscle.

I aim for 2 outdoor HIIT (or one HIIT plus one run) and three lifting sessions in the gym. Plus Pilates/yoga if I can manage it. Also walk 10k plus steps every day.

I'm happy to mix up the sessions and "do more" once I've got embedded into a routine. The idea of doing HIIT classes now makes me feel like I want to crawl under my duvet.

I have no idea how fit I am now or how fit I want to be. I can easily walk a flat 10 miles without feeling challenged, but if it's hilly it's challenging. I'd like to be able to feel good walking hills at the weekend again (I did before) I think I'd also to have more strength and endurance (which im hoping to increase through the gym work). And improve my stability, my core strength is pathetic. I'm not overweight, so I'm happy with how I look on the outside.

Diet etc is fine, well balanced no concerns there.

I quite like reading other people's routines. Especially those that I have no interest in doing

Should say, my job is sendantry, no way of changing that but I rarely sit down in the evening. Running DC to and from clubs and then constant house work sadly prevents a lazy evening.

I'm 66. I do very little compared to most of you up thread.

I do two 1 hour zumba classes per week and stretches and weights every morning for about 20 minutes. Walking for about a hour 3 or 4 times a week. If I don't do the stretching and weights I really notice the difference, particularly in my knee joints.

Given what you said here and the post above about having motivation “once you’re at the gym” then I really think you’re setting yourself up to fail by saying you’ll work out every single night during the week

I know we are all different but I’d rather commit to 4 sessions of 45-60 mins across the week plus my 10,000 steps a day; then achieve that and feel amazing, and feel even better if I can add in another something. If I set up a target of 5 workouts a week then only managed 4 then subconsciously I’d feel like I failed a bit, even though the outcome is the same

id pick just a few of those sessions, the ones you know you’ll love, and try those out. Maybe commit to doing 3 a week for 6 weeks then once you’re in the habit then increase

based on what you’ve said about hill walking and core strength I’d be doing weights and Pilates. Drop the swimming for now

I aim to do:

Monday - 30 minute swim
Tuesday - 60 minute yoga class
Wednesday - 30 minute swim
Thursday - 45 minute pilates class
Friday - 30 minute swim
Saturday - 60 minute walk
Sunday - 60 minute walk

Sometimes I don't manage all of these due to to work or family commitments.

I'm not amazingly fit and I am slightly overweight, but I figure I'm fitter than I would be if I didn't exercise.

My DH has one of those outing manly hobbies.

he spends about 16 hours (including travel time) every second weekend (circa 8 both days). Throughout the entire year. Then he has (annually) two week long hobby events - 8 hours for 6 days.

In some ways my comparatively paltry 2 hours 45 minutes a week seems tame.

I used to have, and it was a case of "this is just what I do so that's that".
The git has ALL the time in the world now.
I (like most) prioritise my children and so I had many years of having to squeeze my love of running when I could.