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Original poster

How many hours of exercise do you do each week?

179 replies

iknowwheretheothersockgoes · 17/02/2023 22:02

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.

OP posts:
Original poster
iknowwheretheothersockgoes · 18/02/2023 21:14

Twattergy · 18/02/2023 18:59

OP you say this
"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." Would you consider say x10 personal training sessions that focus on weights/resistance? I think PT sessions are a real investment in to learning new skills and routines. For me it massively improved the outcomes of my time spent in the gym (using my new skills and confidence) and also opened up a whole new type of exercise that even included HIIT which, like you, I'd previously thought was not at all for me. Don't start with Hiit but don't rule it out down the line.

Yes, I would. Definitely something to think about

OP posts:
mummyava · 18/02/2023 21:17

hoardod · 18/02/2023 20:15

I know of lots of people who are obsessed by exercise and they do something daily,

I'm not sure it's good to be obsessed with anything...

True. Enthusiasts might have been a more appropriate word!

Original poster
iknowwheretheothersockgoes · 18/02/2023 23:03

That's interesting @TheOrigRights. I can't run at all. I wish I could, I'm very envious of joggers. How do you define declining performance, is it distance or speed?

OP posts:

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Exercise & fitness Fitness
FrangipaniBlue · 19/02/2023 00:07

I just don't understand how people fit in work, dc, family, friends, partner etc when doing that much exercise.

People just have different lifestyles. In my case I wfh so have no commute. I only have one (teenage) DS who like me, prefers being outdoors or doing physical activity over anything else.

I work 4 days a week but train every morning before work and 2 days at lunchtime too. Because I wfh I log on 8/8.30am and log off 4.30-5.30.

On my day off I do long training while DS & DH are at school/work.

So between Monday and Friday alone I fit in around 13hrs of training but still spend EVERY EVENING with my family.

At weekends I train around 6hrs across the 2 days but I do it around family plans. I might train at 6am meaning I’m done before anyone else gets up.

We also do physical activities together as a family such as walking the dog every night, mountain biking and fell walking at weekends. Exercise and family time all rolled into one.

HeartInDrive · 19/02/2023 01:20

I just don't understand how people fit in work, dc, family, friends, partner etc when doing that much exercise.

I said I do between 5 and 10 hours a week. I don’t work. My kids are teens, one an adult. Some of my exercise is with my friends/partner/kids. We have lots of gym equipment at home so I have loads of time to fit everything in.

Other people will just prioritise it, get up earlier, do it at lunchtime, go to the gym after work. Or maybe they don’t have kids or a partner or maybe they exercise with them or friends.

For me, exercise and sport is a priority. It’s social and it keeps my mental health good.

I could say ‘I don’t understand’ how more people don’t make time for it. But I don’t say that as I understand people have different lives to me.

Scarydinosaurs · 19/02/2023 06:21

I can only fit in what I do by working out at home. I moved to at home workouts in the pandemic and now can’t see a return to the gym until my children are older (three 11 and under).

I fit it in by making it a family focus. We do stuff together and it’s just habit now. I wouldn’t say I was a highly motivated person - it’s what I do because it’s what I’ve always done and anything else doesn’t feel normal.

rest days are important too - at least one proper one a week and on that day I’ll just walk.

hoardod · 19/02/2023 06:35

"I just don't understand how people fit in work, dc, family, friends, partner etc when doing that much exercise."

"I said I do between 5 and 10 hours a week. I don’t work. My kids are teens, one an adult"

I don't think any posters are confused how someone with older dc & who doesn't work fits exercise in!

namechangeforthisbleep · 19/02/2023 07:03

I do ALOT less than most are saying they do on here (I don't believe them all as fuck me what else do you even do?? )and I'm really fit. 3 days of 45 min classes. No need to over do it

namechangeforthisbleep · 19/02/2023 07:10

mackerelskymackerelsky · 18/02/2023 08:46

This is why mumsnet makes me laugh, if everyone here is telling the truth I'll eat my hat.
I bet its the same group that swarm the diet threads to tell everyone they manage on one wafer thin cracker and half a leek for the day. And earn 200k a year. And are 25.

😂😂😂

HeartInDrive · 19/02/2023 07:10

hoardod · 19/02/2023 06:35

"I just don't understand how people fit in work, dc, family, friends, partner etc when doing that much exercise."

"I said I do between 5 and 10 hours a week. I don’t work. My kids are teens, one an adult"

I don't think any posters are confused how someone with older dc & who doesn't work fits exercise in!

🙄 I did say others may fit it all in by getting up early, doing it on a lunch break, after work, seeing friend and their partner while they exercised. They prioritise it.
And many of the posters didn’t specify they had young kids or work when they said they do lots of exercise. So maybe they’re not having to ‘fit it all in’.

hoardod · 19/02/2023 07:13

But that particular question was about fitting it in? I go to zumba with my friend but we don't catch up during class, we talk afterwards.

hoardod · 19/02/2023 07:17

I don't understand how someone does 15 hours plus & works ft & has young dc & has a partner that spends the same time on their hobby. I'm sure it can be done by prioritising "it" but I can't see how you can also fit in family, partner, extended family & friends. Of course it's fine if those things are less of priority for you but when people compare they tend to look at their own lives & think well where do I fit this in.

lifter · 19/02/2023 07:19

Interesting thread!

I do absolutely loads too, including weights twice a week, cardio and spinning most days and a high daily step count.

I don't have kids though which probably makes a difference and it is my main form of fun, I absolutely love it. I built up to it too very slowly.

Honestly I don't think posters are lying, they're just different from you. Also some of them like me will be autistic or have ADHD. My theory is that a lot of neurodiverse women flock to mumsnet because an online community is easier and safer than real life.

Then we get more obsessive than most when we do get into something (such as exercise), perhaps are more solitary (so have more time for exercise) and are prone to eating disorders and orthorexia too (even more motivation for excessive exercise).

I could be wildly wrong on all this but it makes sense to me at least Grin

HeartInDrive · 19/02/2023 07:25

It said, I don’t understand how people fit in so much exercise with kids, friends work..... etc.

My answer was maybe they don’t have to fit in as much, because maybe they don’t work or have young kids or ....

Or maybe they do it around those things and prioritise it.

When my kids were younger, the only thing I didn’t do from what I do now was a gym class a week. I fitted in everything else. I got up early and did runs/weights before anyone else was awake, and my sport was 3 hours over 2 evenings or weekend days. My partner looked after the kids for those hours, sometimes they came and watched.

HeartInDrive · 19/02/2023 07:25

that was to @hoardod

SpangoDweller · 19/02/2023 07:27

That looks pretty good to start with. I do about 2 hours a week now 😣 (not including walking to work etc) but when I was very fit a couple of years ago I was doing minimum 90 mins per day, up to 3-4 hours at weekends if at the peak of marathon training. Something like

Monday: 1 hour spin class
Tuesday: 45 mins weightlifting, 30 min run (sprints)
Wednesday: 1-1.5 hour run
Thursday: 45 mins weightlifting, 1 hour run
Friday: rest or yoga
Saturday: 1-1.5 hour run, 1 hour weightlifting
Sunday: 1-3 hour run, sometimes yoga

but that was particularly hardcore, I had no responsibilities and not really any other hobbies or any distractions. I now have a child and a busy job and have put on weight, so I do much less. My ideal for the moment would be more than I do now but less than the plan above (until I do another marathon).

hoardod · 19/02/2023 07:30

As I said I think people are fully aware that those without dc aren't going be struggling to fit it in the same way as those with younger dc. We will just have to agree to disagree,

@HeartInDrive did your partner spend the same amount of time on hobbies as you when your dc were young?

itsgettingweird · 19/02/2023 07:36

I think it depends on your overall lifestyle.

I walk when my ds swims.

So

Monday 5.5k walk (x2)
Tuesday 5.5k walk (x2)
Wednesdays rest
Thursday 5.5k walk
Friday 5.5k walk (x2)
Saturday (sometimes I walk 4-5k)
Sundays rest.

Some weekends I'll do some walking if he's competing as I walk whilst he's warming up or between races.

Generally I'm quite sedentary during weekends. My job can be very busy or sedentary due to its nature and some days at work I can do 8000 steps and others about 2000!

But I've also combined this with eating well. Monday to Friday I eat really healthily and the right foods for moving lots and curbing hunger. I allow myself to eat what I want at weekends but I'm generally eating less shit because I don't want it due to lifestyle changes.

I've heard weights are really good for weight loss and swimming is a great all over form of exercise.

Im thinking of adding some Pilates or something as I need to stretch.

Adrelaxzz · 19/02/2023 07:37

I have a group of friends who are very mixed. One does 2 hours a day (and works full time). She fits it in by getting up v early and going v late to gym. She has a gorgeously fit body, not necessarily slim but so toned and strong. She is where I want to be.
Lots of my other friends do literally nothing more than walk about 8k of steps a day. Sometimes less. They are not fit at all. And as we all hit menopause they are piling on weight and untoned. I fall into the second camp, though have always done some football, and lots of walking. I felt really flabby and unfit so decided to join the gym. I only go twice a week (and play football for 3 hours, and walk about an hour a day). At the gym I do weights and rowing machine. The difference is noticeable. I am stronger, have some stomach muscles (under the flab) and can see muscles on my arms. I am really happy and feel better. I'm in it for the long haul as I realised I was going to be one of those older people who could pull themselves up.

itsgettingweird · 19/02/2023 07:38

Should add I'm also a LP so I use the time he's at training to walk as he's a swimmer.

itsgettingweird · 19/02/2023 07:41

mackerelskymackerelsky · 18/02/2023 08:46

This is why mumsnet makes me laugh, if everyone here is telling the truth I'll eat my hat.
I bet its the same group that swarm the diet threads to tell everyone they manage on one wafer thin cracker and half a leek for the day. And earn 200k a year. And are 25.

Why?

Mines the truth and I work FT, raise a disabled child alone and definitely do not earn more than FT minimum wage equivalent (I do shorter hours (32) and work education)

HeartInDrive · 19/02/2023 07:51

hoardod · 19/02/2023 07:30

As I said I think people are fully aware that those without dc aren't going be struggling to fit it in the same way as those with younger dc. We will just have to agree to disagree,

@HeartInDrive did your partner spend the same amount of time on hobbies as you when your dc were young?

He did similar, up to 10 hours a week on exercise/hobbies.

He’d do weights before work a few days, at home. Gym or run at lunchtime three times a week. Neither of those things affected time with family or friends.
He also had a season ticket for the football team he supports at that time, if you call that a hobby, so that was a few hours but maybe every other week. That was with a group that included his brother and friends. And he liked, still does like, gaming. That was after the kids were in bed for a few hours once or twice a week. So, yes up to 10 hours a week each.

We still spent most of our weekday evenings and weekends together with our children. We’d mainly see family/friends at each others houses, with occasional nights out.

HeartInDrive · 19/02/2023 07:55

And once our son got a bit older, he also got a season ticket for the football so spent time with his dad and uncle there and me and my daughter would go off and do something she liked for a few hours.

Chesneyhawkes1 · 19/02/2023 07:56

Last week 7 hours 42 mins of running, over 6 days.

1 hour of weights with PT

Dog walk every day 45mins to hour.

This week is the same but the running will be a bit higher as I'm off to do my long run shortly.

Marathon training so a little more volume than usual.

Floofydawg · 19/02/2023 07:57

There's another thread basically accusing us all of lieing or having an exercise addiction which is a risk to health 🙄