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?

OP the out of breath thing - have you had a blood test recently? I had awful anaemia in peri meno due to very heavy periods - was getting out of breath so easily because of that. I took tranexamic acid for the last couple of years before my periods stopped aged 55 plus iron supplements every now and again. Maybe check your iron levels?

re: exercise - I’m nearly 56 and do a quick stretch/yoga routine for 10 mins each morning, swim and cycle about 3 times a week, Pilates/weights 2 or 3 times a week (on line video)

55 by the way and in a sedentary job!

I do a "boot camp" once a week and I run at least 3 times a week (for at least half an hour). Planning on adding in pilates after the Easter holidays and dc1 wants to us to start doing Parkrun.

Age 46.

I was really good making sure I did at least 4 sessions of running, walking or workouts a week, adding up to at least 10 miles a week.

I went back to work full time and it has all fallen off a cliff, I have found it impossible to manage my workload and family life as well as exercise with the dark mornings and evenings. It's totally pointless joining a gym because they are all in the wrong direction from work and daily life so haven't got time for the commute. I am determined now the days are getting longer to do more though. I always have more energy in the summer.

I agree with this, which is why I think more working from home can be harmful to our fitness. Yes, for some people it has freed up more time for them to do structured exercise, but the best exercise that you will keep doing is part of your life, walking to work or to the bus/train, etc.

Me neither.

I have had CFS/ME for a very long time. The post-exertional fatigue means my life has to be carefully planned and energy saved. I had a good spell last year where I was climbing stairs a few times a day to help my bone health, but two lots of illness over the winter have just floored me. I am very slim with no muscles!

I suspect a lot of Long Covid sufferers will struggle with exercise. Btw my fatigue came after Glandular Fever, long before Covid.

Daily walk 1-2 hrs that’s all

Wow. Did the doctors give you any reason why you had a heart attack so young?

After about 10 years of not going anywhere near any proper cardio exercise, I've started doing 20-30 mins 3 times a week and I feel so much better for it (and much fitter).

I add 10 mins of light weights once or twice a week and always do 10 mins of yoga or stretching after as well.

I also walk as part of my daily routine.

I have a bit of a walk to work to and from the bus stop, plus I have quite a physical job. So that's my exercise.

I'm 56 do a 10minute quick weight routine as I get up in my bedroom. Do reformer pilates for an hour, walking netball again for an hour and try to walk for 30+ minutes every day
Definitely no gym!

I agree with this, which is why I think more working from home can be harmful to our fitness. Yes, for some people it has freed up more time for them to do structured exercise, but the best exercise that you will keep doing is part of your life, walking to work or to the bus/train, etc.

And how do you "build in exercise" if your commute has to be by car or train and you're in an office all day. I work hybrid, and it is much easier for me, mentally and in terms of time, to do exercise on home days, my office days are complete write offs in terms of exercise. Not all my jobs have been like that, but this one absolutely is, you can't generalise, WFH has been life changing for my fitness.

I am 41. I work 4 days but from home with a degree of flexibility. I have a 5 year old.

Last week I did:

Mon - weights session at gym & 5km run
Tuesday - decent walk (so over 10,000 steps with hills)
Weds - Gym weights session & decent walk
Thursday - Pilates
Friday - gym weights session
Saturday - nothing
Sunday - I am going to run this afternoon

I would normally do slightly more cardio (running or cycling) but have a slight injury at the moment

I walk lots - over the last month my average steps are 14000 a day

I am size 10/12 (5”7 tall) so slim-ish but not skinny. I eat what I want within reason (try to avoid UPFs and don’t drink much alcohol though)

Nothing - nothing at all. I know i should but just can't working full time and autistic son. I'm just too tired. I probably reach about 4000 steps a day if that

Am 43 with 4 kids. Try to play football/chasing with the kids twice a week, dog gets two half hour walks a day plus I play with him daily and I try to get a walk around the 1k pitch next to the kids’ school (without dog) when I pick them up.

I’m 48 and have just joined a gym after 3 years of being a complete couch potato

i’m not disciplined at all in the gym but am loving the classes. spin, boxercise, boot camps, kettle bells, medicine ball etc. the variety is good and the trainers are all lovely.

I’m only a month in but am looking forward to getting into my summer clothes this year rather than having to go up a size!

If you're a single parent who is looking after children at 6am when you're on the gym?

I know not everyone will agree with this but my eldest is 16 (youngest 12) & they get up themselves & are at breakfast / making lunch stage when I get back at 7.

I started this when the eldest was 14; before that I exercised in the evening while they had sports training. I found that v hard after a day at work & then was wrecked when they needed being put to bed etc.

The early mornings are amazing for me. The kids now prefer me not being there first thing. They are always less cooperative on the odd day I'm in the house.

I run 5-15 miles a week and plank every day. Walk everywhere. I'm 34 and busy with 2 young kids.

Ps used to run but my knees are fecked and doctor told me to up general walking/swimming cycling and possibly ease up on running or I was on the way to knee replacements (I have the startings of arthritis). I don’t enjoy running enough to keep it going but am going to start back swimming lessons

I do need to up my game!
I currently average 7K steps per day and do a 15 pilates YT video with weights Mon- Fri mornings at 6.30am.
Then four nights a week I do a 15 minute cardio style YT video to kind of wake me up so that I can do all my evening chores after work.

I could not routinely get up before 7am without serious exhaustion

Yes, it's very much personal preference. I love it but it's not for everyone.

For me the big plus is a time I can consistently exercise without having to tie myself in knots about organising kids. Now they are teens they play sport at quite a high level so we have training / matches every day of the week, there are always clashing events.

None at all. I managed 10 mins on the exercise bike the other day and couldn’t go any further.

I work full time and have a young child and struggle to fit it in, but it’s more the mindset for me. My family never exercised and PE at school was something to avoid like the plague. In fact I still find the fact that people “go for a run” to be a baffling concept for some reason. I’m trying really hard to get my head around it because I realise it’s ridiculous.

I am to do 3 1 mile swims a week and go to 2 spin classes and walk 5 miles every day.
More often than not it’s 2 swims and 1 spin but the daily walks always happen.

I do 3-4 gym sessions with weights each week (go at 7 to be done before work). Walk a minimum of 3 miles after work with older dog but between 5-13 every Saturday and Sunday with younger dog (leaving older one at home as it’s too far for him!).
Just started C25K (again) but might have to drop a gym visit a week in order to do 3 runs.