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 a minimum of 5k a day and more on weekends. That's it. Go for the occasional swim. Plan to do more over summer. I hate organised exercise but plan to do some weights at home. never get round to it though.

I ride my bike everywhere and take the long way on the school run in reasonable weather, which gives me about 30 - 60 minutes of gentle to moderate exertion most working days. Then I usually 'go out for a cycle' where I ride harder and faster for 60 - 90 minutes at the weekend. I am not particularly fit.

I wouldn't go off these boards, the average person in the UK does no exercise and only gets around 4 to 5k steps a day.

I have tried to up mine this year due to health concerns and now do around 4 x 30 min weight based workouts per week and try to get 8k steps a day.

I do no exercise.

I'm 64. Do 2 spin classes, an hours PT plus 2 x 30 minute weights/ strength before spin. A 45 minute stretch class too and one 5-7 mile walk a week.

I find the most effective exercise is one you build into your day and can actually sustain. I am in London, so I walk everywhere rather than driving or taking the Tube. I can't sustain going to a class or a gym.

I walk the dog about 3 miles a day, longer at weekends.
I run 2-3 times a week (a couple of 5/6/7kms and a longer one of 10-15km) and at the moment I do 2x hone workouts set by my pt with dumbells, which are 30 minutes each.

I used to do more and I was much leaner but also it burned me out. Last year I barely did anything bar slow 5km jogs once a week.

i wfh so I use my ‘commute’ time to exercise.

I do 2 20 min spin classes a week on the peloton

And 1-2 , 15 min hiit classes a week with weights, resistance bands and kettlebells

Thats more than enough for me given I work ft and am a lone Parent to a toddler

Practically zero.
I have a horse that I look after which is some exercise but it has gone down a lot recently as she’s now non ridden.

From September I will be able to do 2 exercise classes a week when DD at school.

We have no help, I work 4 long days a week and have a house renovation and a 4 year old to contend with. Some days I don’t have time to brush my hair!

I have been more active in the past though, it’s hard at the moment because DD won’t walk far or fast enough but too old for buggy. When she was smaller we could walk more but we are a bit in limbo at the moment!

I have just looked at my Fitbit data and I average 11.6km per day which is about 16000 steps. Some of this is running - I run maybe 5 x per week up to 5k, no longer runs than that. I also walk my dogs and do one arms/shoulders weights video per week and one legs/glutes video. I’d like to try a bit harder with the weights aspect and I’d like to run further. I’m 48 and I had a totally unexpected heart attack last year, despite being slim, fit and eating healthily (and a non-smoker) so I try hard to maintain any fitness to ensure I don’t have another!

Run just under 5k 3x a week. Two HIIT sessions- one kettlebell and one dumbbells. Yoga every day except Saturday. But I don’t have kids, it must be really hard to find the time and space if you do.

I walk 5k everyday with my wife and feel good on it. I find that if I can’t be arsed she will motivate me to get moving and visa versa. The net result is we’ve both lost weight, look pretty good for our mid nifties and have learned to row in public too!

FT work and health issues that cause fatigue
I do peloton spin and weight classes but focusing on weights at the min
I aim for 3 times a week but usually manage 2 workouts, more on weekends and when I'm off work
Basically I'm not consistently weekly due to the health issues but I've exercised at least once a week, every week for the past 5 months

Late 30s, 2 primary school aged children, a dog and work full time.

I do 7 or 8 sessions a week (CrossFit). Monday - Saturday usually with Sunday off. My two WFH days I do a double session as a I can afford to get home a bit later. I go at 6am during the week as it means I'm home before the kids are even awake and leaves me free to take them to their clubs in the evenings. DH has the opposite schedule so he's here in the morning (sleeping!) as the kids are too young to be left alone and then he trains after work.

When DH works away I either switch out a session to a lunchtime class or run when kids are at school or else I'll sometimes take them with me in the evening.

I'm a part time working mum to a toddler. I do several walks a week with the pram and plenty running around at the park but opportunities for actual exercise are thin on the ground. I do short (15-20min) online weights classes once or twice a week, but my weights are pretty light - 3kg at the moment. Also try to do yoga once or twice a week. I have one morning to myself a fortnight and in that time I do a longer cardio/weights workout and/or a swim. All of these are dependent on the toddler not being struck down with illness and sleeping a decent stretch at night!

Honestly OP: you need to fit in what you can. When I had little babies most of my exercise was buggy pushing. Sometimes that's how your time gets allocated, do what fits in. I wouldn't have got up at 5am for runs, either.

Am age Mid-late 50s.
I do 1-3 hours every day from mix of walking, swimming, skating, running, cycling & kayaking (summer) and sometimes housework or gardening can count. Chopping, hauling or sawing wood (winter).

I have a sedentary job but don't like sitting still, I'll go for a walk during meeting breaks. I went for a run while DS had an hour footie session. I'll go play Pkmn Go in local area while DS is at rock climbing now. I've had terrible insomina since I started having babies, and a job with flexi hours, so that does give me a lot more hours in the day.

I plan my life to be doing Active Travel so that's most of the walking & cycling. xH looks after the household where teens live so I support what he/the household needs doing, is how this fits with working FT. And what needs doing may be lots of housework. I watch little tv but play Pkmn Go for leisure (more walking). Skating & some countryside leisure walks with the teenagers. Active holidays.

Run around 25k a week. Usually 3 sometimes 4runs. Plus walk to school 3 days. I want to mix it up with gym but can't find the time.

Late 30s, 2 primary school aged children, a dog and work full time

I do 7 or 8 sessions a week (CrossFit)

I just don't understand how people do this. Are you a very high energy person?

I'm 48, work full time, mum of 2 teenagers.
5k run on a Saturday morning
1 hour Pilates class once a week.
Walk when possible, but not easy during the week.
I would really struggle to do any more.

I’ll admit it, I’m 44 and I do nothing…

Walk about 5k 4 times a week
Football for 1 hour twice a week
Gym for 30 mins weights twice a week.
I am not very fit but passable (50 year old) work f/t. 3 kids but they are teens so can be left.
Go after work 3 eves, walk at lunch time and weekends.

I walk at a fast pace for 30/40 mins 5 times a week (lunch hour), I play a sport twice a week 30-60 mins, go to a yoga class once a week, and try to get to the gym 1-2 times a week but only for 30 mins, usually do some weights.

It's taken me years to settle on exercise I don't begrudge, the walk allows me to listen to books, I enjoy the sport, yoga is relaxing, and the weights are a bit of a chore tbh but that's why I don't force myself to do it for very long and if I don't fancy going, like today, I don't force it. Some weeks I'm on fire, some weeks I take a break!

I’m mid fifties with a demanding full time job and kids.

I do a Pilates class every week on one of my non working days ans that’s my non-negotiatable.

I also try to run during the week before work (easier on days I am WFH). In an ideal world I would run three times a week and I do feel better if I manage this but usually I only make it out once (often ends up being the same day as I do my Pilates). This is a bit sad as I only run for half an hour and I’d be showering in the morning anyway so only requires me to get out of bed 40 mins early but if I have an early call scheduled or have been working late the night before or am just tired it doesn’t happen.

I do at least 7 exercise sessions a week too.

Gym at 6 every weekday - HIIT, weights, Spin for 45 min, small group training. So I'm up at 515.

Weekends I run, maybe 45 min - 1 hour, sometimes at a relaxed pace as a recovery run, sometimes faster.

I'm training for a fitness competition so I have a couple of extra sessions each week for this, as there's specific technique needed.

I'm a single parent, work f/t, exercise is vital for my MH, and it's my only time to myself.

I run 5k (sometimes more) at least 2 times a week, sometimes 3. I walk my dog for an hour minimum 5 days out of 7 (dog walker other days). I don't do any HIT, weights or gym. I probably should but there aren't enough hours in the day and I feel adequately fit and healthy. I swim in the sea all year round, in winter this is more of a quick dip in and out but in summer I may swim a good 20-30 mins. I also cycle to university one day a week which is a 20k round trip mostly on the flat.