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 like 'movement snacks'. Haven't heard the term before!

I do three 5-ish k runs a week, swim a bit and have a dog. That's about it.

5 year old and a part time job (which isn't exactly what was asked, but I'm a single parent and time isn't always on my side)
I walk as much as possible, about six miles a day.
Swim for an hour once a week.
Jog 15 minutes in the park every day I can, and if I can't then I do 80s exercise videos from YouTube in the evening, because I like them more than the modern ones.
I'm still fat though

If yours were in a crèche and you were exercising I’m guessing you weren’t working at that time?

That specific moment? No. But I was working. I was also completely alone, with 3 DC aged 2, 4 & 6, and trying to survive an abusive marriage. Hence exercise being essential.

And in the rest of my post I detailed the (possibly a bit crazy!) things I did to get exercise, while with my DC.

I'm not recommending my approach. Not least because mine wasn't always healthy (I'd run instead of eating, for example, or exercise when exhausted). However, it was my lifeline (then & now).

My point was not: do what I did / do. It was: exercise is possible, even when you think it isn't. It's important to find a way to do some meaningful exercise, if you can - and yes, I agree, it'll look different for each person.

I also prefer the 1980s exercise videos. My mum had the classic Lizzie Webb and Rosemary Conley ones. They are so much better than the ones nowadays.

I'm a 44 year old mum who works full time and I do 4x 1.5 hour strength training sessions in the gym per week plus a yoga and/or Pilates class. I often only manage to have a lunch break once a week, so rarely get out walking nowadays. I miss the fresh air but if I prefer to prioritise the gym.

Yes I do the same, exercise when DD (too young to be left alone) is at a club but a lot of people then have another younger child to look after and so couldn't go off for a run.

I appreciate that working from home and having one child makes it doable for me, but still not easy and it's even complicated for others.

That specific moment? No. But I was working

How could you be exercising at the same time as you were working? Sorry, I’m not following you. (I’m genuinely not having a go, I’m just curious)

I do loads (strength training and boxing currently) and got really into at at your age. I'm now 57.

I agree with pp about the low-hanging fruit. There are some great ideas on here for things to try but really, rather than focus on what others do, I would make sure whatever you do you hit the NHS recommendations as a baseline.

https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/exercise/physical-activity-guidelines-for-adults-aged-19-to-64/

So, for example five brisk walks and two good Pilates classes would tick those boxes. Get those foundations in place, and then you can play around with doing different types of cardio and strength.

No organised exercise but I don't drive, so I walk everywhere and have a semi-physical job.

I also have two dogs who I walk for an hour a day.

@RunSlowTalkFast

I've 3 DC, I was that mum too. That was one example. I'm a single parent.

If someone wants to exercise, it's doable.

Not everyone would be comfortable with the choices I made / make. That's fine. But it's possible to exercise, if someone wants to.

I was a working single parent. Not in that particular hour, obviously. I was still juggling a massive amount.

My point was - it's possible. It's hard. It's up to each individual what works for them. As I said, it's not that I'm saying my way is right or better - I'm responding to your point that those of us replying are not in similar positions to OP.

I powerlift 3 x a week and run twice a week. I do 90% full time hours but condensed and I study outside of work too. Oh and I walk my 2 dogs.

I'm 52 and had worked part time for years, so I had time for exercise. Started a very full-on ft job 2 years ago and stopped doing anything. I'm really feeling so unfit and have put on weight. I'm also feeling the lack of fresh air. I'm a teacher and am stuck at work from 3:30 to 5:30, as dh picks me up then after he finishes work. Normally I get lots of work done then, but I've decided I'm going that instead I'm going to walk (fast!) to his office most days, which will take me about 50 minutes. I'm done with running, unfortunately- it messes with my joints these days.

Floored by long term anaemia, not working while I support ill parents. Dc are teens.

I used to exercise almost daily (running and/or yoga), but anaemia has made me so wary of exertion and I prefer to reserve my energy for when I’m spending time with dc.

What I’m trying to do is focus on movement rather than exercise. I’m doing an 30-60 minutes of stretching a day - once in morning and once before bed. I’m finding it really useful. I also like to walk. Would ideally do 90 min a day, but am trying to stick to 30 at the moment.

I am really hoping I can do more. I have the time , but real physical symptoms combined with my negative thoughts around my capacity make it hard.

52 and work FT but compressed 5 days into 4. I do a spin, step or weights class at the gym (or online) 2-3 times a week in the evening or weekend. (either evening or weekend). I run 5k (slowly) once a week at the weekend. 2DC but one at uni and one mid teens - so I have more free time these days.

I’d genuinely love to be able to make time for exercise at the moment but until my horse is dead it’s not happening. The time people on here use for exercise I’m already up at the crack of dawn and mucking out. The rest of it we are renovating or working.
I only get 6hrs sleep as it is, I couldn’t function on less.

When DD starts school I will have some time on Monday’s and when she is a bit older it will be different as house will be done.

When the weather is better I will be adding a 30 min walk on my WFH days too.

I used to be very active and will be again, it’s not permanently shit but it is at the moment. I can’t afford a gym at the moment but the nearest is a 25 min drive away so 50 mins just in travel time. I don’t have a spare 2hrs without work or child in which to do that.

I’m not allowed to do high impact exercise due to a knee injury, so running is out which is a shame as it’s the one thing I could do at home!

37, full time teacher, 2 children 6 and 3, husband is a shift worker.

I do barely any. Whenever anything increases, such as workload then it goes, as I end up prioritising that over my own time.

I’m not denying that it’s possible to fit some exercise into f/t working but as I said in my pp, it’s very difficult. For example, if you used a crèche that means you had access to one and I presume you were using it on a day you weren’t working? What I’m trying to say - badly! - is that reading through this thread, most of the posts are not comparable to the OP’s circumstances.

@Comedycook so much better!! I love the Lycra and hair too. Jazzercise is my new favourite.

None. I'm 43, two kids, work FT in a stressful job and I could carve out time if I wanted to but I'd rather do other things with my down time/free time. I hate exercise and find it boring, even walking. I've had phases before where I've done it for awhile but always stopped and now I've just accepted I'll never do any even though I do acknowledge it's good for physical health (had had never any positive impact on my mental health).

3 days a week: 2 x 30 mins walk (to work)
1 day a week: swim & pilates class
1 day a week: walk 1-1.5 hours
1 day a week: cycle for an hour
1 day a week: 25 mins strength training (youtube)

Something every day in other words. I should probably add another strength training session to increase the weight-bearing

@SirChenjins

I've explained as best I can, and it doesn't seem like you are taking on board my replies.

I disagree with you. I don't, obviously, know all the detail of OP's life, but I'm prepared to bet that those years when I was on my knees financially and emotionally, with no support, exhausted & bringing up 3 young DC, were about as hard as it gets, in the context of doing exercise.

Exercise was my lifeline, so I had to make it work, and I did. The crèche was one example (I worked those days, but later), but did you miss where I ran with the youngest in a buggy, or exercised with them in a field?!

Even now, I get up at 515, and literally do not stop till 10 pm - my DC have multiple training for sports every night. I have a very busy job. I do not get to bed as early as I'd like. That may not be the healthiest choice - but it's one I make as I value exercise, for me. I'm pretty certain if I can do this, anyone (who wants to) can. And that was what I was responding to, your suggestion that those of us posting who exercise, do not have as busy / challenging lives as OP.

Am I saying everyone should do as I do? Absolutely not (see my other posts for more on this!).

The question was, how much do you really exercise? With a further question of how anyone does exercise 7 or 8 times a week, and I answered both those questions. That's all.

I work part time, mum of 2 and a dog. Because I'm part time, the dog walking falls to me and he needs 90 minutes of exercise per day.

I walk 13-14k steps a day. I run between 1 to 3 x 5ks a week and do a yoga class. Sometimes I incorporate a run into the dog walk, sometimes it's on top of. I'm quite active with the kids and do bike riding or climbing at the weekend.

I think that's more than most. It certainly feels more than most of my friendship group.

I started last year always wanted to try it

I just can't mentally to find the motivation to do something I hate and find very boring when using up precious free time/downtime. Like a lot of people a lot of my life is spent working/doing housework/child rearing so I resent having to spend my free time engaging with something I hate instead of other things I enjoy. It's that mental blocker I can't get past.