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?

Yeah, deffo a thread like this will attract more responses from ppl who like exercise. Just like a fashion thread attracts more responses from people who like fashion, a baking thread gets more responses from keen bakers, etc.

I do a lot of active travel, Country, and I don't (can't) sleep much so that literally gives me back hours in the day. When I had small children most my exercise was buggy pushing. I said all that before.

I don't have older parent caring duties & I do have a very flexi-hours job.

I also watch little tv.

I think weights help you to run. I didn't run for years, I was a powerlifter. Decided to get back into running, ran a 5k in 29 minutes, not fast but OK considering I was only doing weights.

I'm 59 and have been going to the gym 3 times a week for a year now. I work full time and have a teenager so it's not easy. I go at 7am before work the days I work at home and after work on office days. I don't love it but just grit my teeth and do it.

My golden era of exercise was the first lockdown. Me and DH would go out running about 4 times a week.

Now, life and its many routines gets in the way.

Although another major change is that we now have a dog so a daily 3-4 km walk is one of my "jobs".

We recently bought a treadmill which I love using but we've only had it for a month....

Oh wow. I didn't realise that, with weights not being cardio.

I'm 48 - youngest child is 3. I get up early and do 1.5 hrs of exercise mix of weights and then get in around 20,000 steps from living on a smallholding.

My daughter is a member of the swimming club so instead of sitting around chatting to other mum, l joined the gym - she trains 4 or 5 times a week so l just use the gym then or go to a class plus the odd swim.

I’m 55, I do two types of aqua aerobics each week and go on one long walk (around 12000 steps). The other days I do around 6000 steps.

Completely understandable, you have a lot on your mind!

I'm not sure what to say about that! You would think that as it's the upper body muscles that are doing a lot of the work they would generate heat and your arms would feel warmer?!

I meant that the poster who appeared to be admonishing you was behaving like a PE teacher

Nice. Not admonishing, just addressing the point that poster made, without the later clarification of her health condition.

@Lifestooshort71 I'm sorry to hear of your illness, I wish you a good recovery. 💐

with weights not being cardio.

Weight-bearing exercise is so important. (It can be weights, but body weight exercises also work).

If you are only doing cardio, you'll eventually plateau, or limit the increase in your fitness.

Building strength through weights will improve your stamina for running either long-distance or faster.

You're probably right. Those of us who exercise a lot just make it happen as it's really important to us or makes us feel better.

My life is incredibly busy, I doubt many people honestly are busier. My day starts at 515 (when I get up to exercise) and doesn't stop at all until 10 pm or later. But I need the exercise, not always healthily, if I'm honest, so I fit it in.

I've a lot of stress & worries - exercise allows me escape them, briefly.

I’m mid 40s, work full time & have 2 children. I’m lucky that I WFH 3 x week so can easily get out and exercise in my lunch break. I run 3 x week - 2 shorter runs (4-5k) and a longer one at the weekend (8-10k).

I also use Apple Fitness+ and try and fit in 4 x 20 mins strength/pilates work outs during the week.

My running is pretty ploddy but so good for keeping my mental health ticking over.

@EarringsandLipstick it's brilliant that your dc get themselves up. Whenever I've tried and gone to an early morning yoga class, they all just sleep through their alarms. It's such a pain as I love to do those classes.

To the OP, i'm 53 with secondary age children (a SP). I do yoga classes 3-4 (or 5) times a week in the mornings, I do Caroline Girvan weights straight after work before sitting down. I walk around 16,000 steps a day - often with my dogs. I always walk rather than get public transport if possible. If not, I try to go places on my bike instead. Now the weather's improving, I'm more likely to ride my bike to work meetings than get public transport.

I used to run (which I loved) but my knees are too fucked now. I ran in the morning before the kids got up and loved it.

When I worked in an office full time, I used to cycle there and back. I would also go to yoga classes on my weekend or go for a long bike walk.

In the past, I was a member of a gym near work and used to go there in my lunch hours. (That's when I was running outside too I think).

I think it's important that you can fit exercise into your schedule - I've always done that, whether it was running at 6am, going to the gym at lunchtime. I've never been good at going out to a class or the gym after work as I'm too tired, but I can fit in a weights session while listening to PM on Radio 4 after work .

it's brilliant that your dc get themselves up. Whenever I've tried and gone to an early morning yoga class, they all just sleep through their alarms. It's such a pain as I love to do those classes

I know, it's good they do. I think it's because every evening is taken up with their sports, and both days of the weekend. As a single parent, I don't do anything else bar work (don't even have time for TV) so they do know that my 1 hour a day in the gym is my only time for 'me'.

That said, I'm always nervous about rows breaking out & things falling apart.

Walk the dog most days - usually about 2 miles (DH does the other days). Go to the gym about twice a week - trying to go 3 times a week but challenging at the moment as working longer hours.