Be honest, how much exercise do you REALLY do?

[JMAngel1]

I think I need to up my exercise game - I'm 51 and noticing I can feel out of breath climbing four flights of stairs at work whereas I would skip up them a few years ago.
The exercise boards on here are really intimidating with everyone claiming to run followed by a swim or a HIIT class every day then yoga at night! I don't know anyone in real life like this so not sure what "normal" is I suppose.
So if you're a full time working mum like me, how much exercise do you really do each week? And how do you fit it into your days?

I walk 8-15000 steps a day as a combo of my commute, walking to the shops, pub & walking round the park with friends.
I do aqua aerobics most weeks, yoga slightly less often & always have a half hour leisurely swim each week while DS does another class.
I'm not super fit but I don't get out of puff if I have to run for the bus.

*Well, thanks for that.
Why does couch to 5k exist then if loads of people can just do it without building up to it?

I would imagine the ones that don't need to train are fit from another sport?*

Which is what that poster said, that she does quite a bit of other sport.

I wasn't insulting anyone, many people have the basic fitness to jog 5k, and many people don't.

No, she said she walks to the gym and to school as only aerobic exercise.
Mountain walk is also irregular and weights and pilates wouldn't contribute to her being able to run 5k surely.

I do have a pretty decent basic level of fitness and am not overweight, due to the other exercise I do, so I feel like its within my reach to run 5k occasionally.

I used to run 5k every saturday when I was younger and could do it in 28 mins but now I only do it every 3 months or so it takes me about 38 mins. So I'm much slower but can still do it.

Why does couch to 5k exist then if loads of people can just do it without building up to it?
some people have a reasonable VO2 max even when untrained
it took me MONTHS to be able to jog for more than 5 minutes, I have ZERO natural talent, but I'm very enthusiastic & motivated😆

Not a mum, but I go to the gym 5/6 days a week. 2 days are group classes (circuits and weights) the other days I do my own workouts (a mix of cardio and resistance/weights). I go in my lunch break or very early before I start work.

I do also go out on my bike, more so when the weather is better and it's lighter in the evenings (winter is a bit shit) as I can go out after I finish work or after the gym at weekends and not worry about it getting dark.

I enjoy it though so finding time isn't an issue, I notice when I can't go as my mood changes slightly and I feel sluggish.

I think some peoples fitness in certain things tends to stick
I went years without going to a spin class but was absolutely fine to do one (yes I was out of breath and not at full fitness but I managed the whole class!)
Same with sprinting, I competed as a teenager and young adult and can still shift if I need to
Just don't ask me to run 10k

I walk for at least an hour every day, non negotiable as it sorts my head out. Also go swimming once a week (I’d like to go more but the pool is quite a distance away); I find being in water really balances my mental health. Same for my weekly dance class, which is nice and social as well as physical. Also do two weekly sessions of running/fast walking as well, probably for just half an hour at lunchtime. Would like to get going on weights but can’t fathom how to fit it in. Am 59, self employed.

If you get some TRX straps or a few dumbbells 4, 6, 8 kg to start with then you can do loads of body weight and light weight exercises at home. Even 20 min a day on a single muscle group will be so good for maintaining our declining muscle mass and bone density.

But if you aren't exercising regularly then you surely wouldn't have the level of fitness required to run 5km off the bat with no training.

Most people who don't run couldn't just go run 5km unless they were playing football/netball etc every week

Intermittent fasting, calorie deficit and increase muscle mass. Just like trying to lose any body fat.

2 kids (4 and 1) and full time job - been using Fiit app for the past 3 years. Fittest I've ever been :) strength training 3x or 4x a week

Honestly I have a sedentary desk job but have taken fitness a lot more seriously- mainly because I want to build my functional fitness into later life.

My non negotiable dailies:
30 push ups
30 squats
8,000 - 12,000 steps

Each week I do something 6 days a week:
3 x gym for strength training
3 x short 3-5k runs

53- gym 5 x week. That includes 1 PT Session, 1 hour class on Sat and 3 x 30-50 HIIT/Tabata/ Intense strength and conditioning classes.
I used to run 7 miles a day 5 days a week in my 40’s and do classes 3 days but I’ve got arthritis in my knee so only run sprints in the gym now.
i was diagnosed with an underactive thyroid about 10 years ago and looked and felt awful, gained weight etc.
The gym has saved me and seen me through a difficult divorce and stressful work life- plus I’ve got a great network of friends there. COVID and no gyms was torture!
I would say start small , be careful you don’t injure yourself , but you won’t look back :)

I don't do any exercise. At all. Very very occasionally I'll walk up the road to Sainsburys (5 mins?) but I usually find a reason to take the car. I take after my mother - she lived to 99 but I don't expect to get to that. I find exercising/walking very boring.

I don't do any dedicated exercise but I do walk. 10 - 15 miles at weekends now, average 115k steps a week up from about 60k.

Boring ot not, it's important to exercise, and more than just walking. You need to work at finding some options.

I'm 57 and I run 3 times a week - usually 2 lots of 5k and one long run of 10-15 miles which is my "me time". I go to the gym to cross train once a week. I have a short body weight/abs/mobility routine I do at the gym and after my short runs. I try to walk or swim on a non run/gym day.

'm finding that as I get older I am less flexible so have just added in a 15 minute mobility session in the morning - I quite like this one which is easy to do and needs no equipment.

I'm working at other things at the moment but thank you for your concern.

the PE teacher has spoken☝👀
seriously, I only do it because I like it, I doubt I'd stick at it if I found it boring!
I'm pretty lazy in others area's of life😶

PE teacher?? 😅 I've got breast cancer and that's what I'm working on at the moment.

Apologies🙏, I ought to have been clearer, I meant that the poster who appeared to be admonishing you was behaving like a PE teacher
I wish you a full recovery💐

Thank you, I was a bit over sensitive though, wasn't I ?!

The ability to store fat in safer subcutaneous fat depots declines as we age

Is that why my arms are so cold when I swim? Genuine question, and only in the relatively cold pool.

I can swim 1600m in about 45 minutes (lanes, front crawl) so I'm not slow. But my forearms start to get cold, goosebumps, after about 25 minutes. So last 20 minutes involve gritting my teeth sometimes. I literally feel like my arms have got skinnier as I age.

ps edit: I have no idea how people manage open water swimming in temps < 25. My arms ache just thinking about it.

I am genuinely interested in when everyone fits the exercise into their routines - I suspect a lot more people are responding who are the keen exercisers rather than the struggling to fit it in.

I do know how good exercise is for me, but life routine is chaotic so I struggle to fit it in consistently. I’d be super happy if I could do a five mile walk regularly but it’s an occasional treat!

I’m currently doing a 5k run/walk once a week, I do this by arranging to meet a friend once a week at 6.30 (then need to catch up on sleep!) Try to get a 45 minute walk in one lunchtime at work but sometimes other errands take precedence. Also try to do yoga online regularly but it is sporadic.

I had got to the stage where I was running three times a week but other areas of life suffered with the time taken to do that.

I’d love to introduce a weekly cycle to work, once a week swim, and another run. But looking at calendar and the school runs, activities, work and elderly parents and there isn’t much slack in the day.