Gym - how many times a week do you go

[RosiePeel]

I try and aim for x3 classes a week, usually x2 bodypump and a cardio or core class. I can’t seem to find the energy/time to go any more than that. We have a dog so I do lots of walking, but I feel like I should be going more. I have two primary aged DCs and work four days a week from home.

To fit it in there are 6am classes but it shatters me for the whole day. Help me - how do I motivate myself to do 4-5 times a week? Or am I doing enough? Others at the gym seem to go daily and they all have DCs!

I never really got on with the gym, so have been working out at home for many years, usually 6 days a week. 4 days weights/dumbbells (Caroline Girvan) and 2 days HIIT (Growingannanas). Plus planks, abs and push-ups every day. One (ideally active) rest day a week. I find it much more enjoyable and time efficient than going to the gym.

Me too
I attend a boxing class once a week but prefer to work out at home
I do a half hour Insanity work out five days a week
I also walk a lot
Op, you seem to be doing enough exercise to me tbh

How's your sleep and hitting your protein goals OP? I always notice that I struggle with the energy if they're both not being met.

Typically I aim for 4 times a week with a body weight workout at home too. Mind you, I weight lift rather than do cardio so that could be a difference on energy levels.

Does sound like you are already pretty active daily too with the walking etc.

I sim for 5 and average 4, go to bespoke gym where is like group PT sessions and program changes every 8 weeks.

can you go to bed earlier if it’s shatters you?

I do 4 a week, one of which is a swim club session where I aim to do 100 lengths.

I would love to go more but I struggle to fit it in.

5 times a week, one hour strength training at 7am. I used to feel tired, but soon adjusted and am now in great health which is not only for me but also the whole family.

Exhausting yourself is not a good idea. 3 sessions a week and hitting your steps is perfectly good.

Maybe start with what your goals are OP, then work back from there with the steps to get to them, and use it to find out if you need to fit in more gym sessions or is it something else.

For example, if your aim is weight loss, exercise is massively overrated. Focus on protein, calories, sleep and daily movement instead.

Is it muscle growth? Some (decent sized, not 1kg!) home weights will make a difference. Or daily push ups and squats into your routine at home.

Is it fitness? How about adding a fast 1 mile run to a couple of days? Aim to increase the speed. Should only take ten minutes and can do it from home.

Thanks these comments are helpful. I’m slim so I’m trying to gain muscle and strength or just tone up (but I realise how ridiculous I sound because I am utterly clueless). Reading this I’m concluding I probably don’t eat the right things at the right times to progress that much. I find working out at home impossible - I just don’t get motivated enough

Ok, a couple of things that have helped me at home with muscle gain (I say this both as a 30-something who wants to gain muscle and a Personal Trainer)…

Firstly, I started doing push ups whenever I can. The aim was to get to 100 per day. Easy to you as you just drop to the floor when you have a spare 30 seconds. I started out being able to do single ones at a time on my knees. I can now do full push ups in sets of 15 before I need a break. My arms look way better, and I like that the improvement is so measurable.

Secondly, get a single decent weight kettlebell or dumbbell (7.5kg - 15kg), and do sets of lunges every day. It will really help legs and bum muscle.

Finally, ‘toning up’ is both gaining muscle and losing fat. Definitely more lean protein and veg (so boring I know!).

I'm pleased if I go 3 times, minimum 2, this consists of 1-2 classes a week, and a quick 30 min workout when DC is in swimming classes. If I am feeling especially motivated I will go a 4th time with my teen to do weights.

I've learned I need to not put too much pressure on myself and if I really don't want to, I don't, because otherwise I make it this big "thing" and I avoid it for weeks. I also don't put too much pressure on myself in terms of the volume I do. I set a low bar that anything is better than nothing but usually surprise myself once I get there. The only exception to this is one particular class I go to because I know I enjoy it when I am there, so force myself however I feel!

Being gentler on myself has enabled me to have the longest successive run of gym visits in my life!

I also walk for 30 mins 5 times a week, so it's not my only form of exercise.

Just to add 2 kids (primary and secondary school age) and I work full time, but from home mostly.

2-3 times a week. I also run 2-3 times a week so have 1-2 rest days a week depending on the schedule.

I prioritised it at the start of this year alongside some other goals and I'm ending the year far fitter, and healthier - both physically and mentally - than I started it.

4 times a week and I bloody love it. I'd go every day if I could but rest days are really important as I lift heavy. Going every day would be unsustainable for me, it depends what you do and what your goals are but every day isn't necessary or even a great idea in many cases.

4 here, I HATE the gym, but I LOVE classes. 2x Spin (my favourite) 1x Core/Squats etc, 1x dance.

Generally 3 or 4 spin sessions and 2 or 3 weights/Tone classes.

2 or 3 6am sessions and 2 or 3 evening sessions.

First few weeks were hard but now it's just a routine I follow. Classes are only 30 to 40 min and I live no more then 10 min away.

If you have kids it must be hard
I am by my own and go pretty much every day I love classes and do as many as I can

I do a Pilates, boxing, circuits and a bootcamp class each week, and try to get 10,000 steps in. I should probably do some more weights a couple of days a week.

2 or 3 times a week. I try and walk on other days and I do a weekly Pilates class that isn’t at the gym.

I think that you can do what you can do and trying to ‘force’ extra sessions into your life will just make your life more difficult. What’s the point of that?

Coming to terms with an ‘imperfect action’ mindset is tricky if you’re used to being totally in control of all factors.

Also I know myself and my habits and getting up early to exercise in the morning would ruin my day. So I don’t do it!

I work out at home, permanently tired due to chronic conditions!
Usually 3 or 4 spin classes a week of 20/30/45 mins plus stretch class of 5-10 mins after
I do need to fit more weights classes back in so starting that again this week

I generally do 5 days a week and always do classes. I am very lazy so need to be told what to do for 45 minutes rather than just aimlessly wandering around the gym. My gym also has a strike system so you get banned from booking if you cancel last minute which definitely motivates me!

My schedule looks like -
Monday - Pilates followed by body pump
Wednesday - Pilates followed by body pump
Friday - Body Pump
Saturday - Body Pump followed by a cardio class
Sunday - Some sort of cardio class

I’ll be honest, my main motivation is the fact I bloody love good food and being toned. If I could do that without working out I wouldn’t step foot in the gym!

I train at home 4x a week - used to do the same at the gym but me and DH are both big into lifting weights so invested in a decent home gym.

If you’re slim and trying to tone up, I’d highly recommend as pp suggest - invest in a couple of heavy/adjustable dumbbells and use them for home workouts (or just do some weight training at the gym).

Also look at your protein intake - it will be difficult to build muscle without eating the right amount of protein (around 2g per kg of body weight per day is ideal - E.g. if you weigh 60kg, you’d want to eat around 120g protein per day).

We aim for 3 days.

Ha ha yes I think you hit the nail on the head there! I am quote an "all or nothing" personality so not going hard makes me think what is the point.

I am in awe at some of you for how often you go. I guess when my kids are older I can up my game too.