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What do you do for your weekly exercise?

131 replies

OrderFor · 30/10/2025 10:15

I go to yoga classes. My DS does kickboxing for cardio and he wants to loose weight. My DD just uses her uni gym. What do you do?

OP posts:
AlisonLittle · 02/11/2025 08:08

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EmpressaurusKitty · 02/11/2025 08:17

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That blog seems to be full of advertising links for expensive kit which makes me wonder if that was the author’s main reason for writing it.

Also doesn’t make sense that she recommends buying white sleeves for £50 instead of just getting a bright top in the first place.

OrderFor · 02/11/2025 08:49

EmpressaurusKitty · 02/11/2025 08:17

That blog seems to be full of advertising links for expensive kit which makes me wonder if that was the author’s main reason for writing it.

Also doesn’t make sense that she recommends buying white sleeves for £50 instead of just getting a bright top in the first place.

Are you scared to go running at night? I am a bit wary in general but then why would anyone hurt me? I'm just me.

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OrderFor · 02/11/2025 08:49

I don't want to have mobility issues later on, have my knees wither away and need a wheel chair.

OP posts:
EmpressaurusKitty · 02/11/2025 08:56

OrderFor · 02/11/2025 08:49

Are you scared to go running at night? I am a bit wary in general but then why would anyone hurt me? I'm just me.

I prefer exercising in the early morning, I’ve got more energy then, but that wasn’t my point. I was criticising the blog.

Girlintheframe · 02/11/2025 09:16

Run 3xs a week. Used to do weights 3xs a week too and really want to get back to that but there just doesn’t seem to be enough hours in the day!

Shayisgreat · 02/11/2025 09:24

2/3 weight training sessions, 2/3 sessions of tennis, pilates, yoga, walking, cycling.

My diet and stress levels are bad so I'm a bit overweight despite the exercise.

MarmaladeSandwich7 · 02/11/2025 09:38

Ashamed to say that I don’t currently do anything. I had a few years of ill health with a lot of pain so it was all I could do to even walk. I quit drinking, lost 4 & a half stone & feel a million times better but haven’t taken up exercising again. Hoping to return to Pilates as it was great for my shoulder issues particularly. I live in Cornwall & have stunning walks on my doorstep so there’s no excuse for not getting back out there!

OrderFor · 02/11/2025 09:45

I don't drink or smoke. I'm vegetarian. What I'm scared of the most is heart arteries getting clogged

OP posts:
towhoknowswhere · 02/11/2025 09:46

MarmaladeSandwich7 · 02/11/2025 09:38

Ashamed to say that I don’t currently do anything. I had a few years of ill health with a lot of pain so it was all I could do to even walk. I quit drinking, lost 4 & a half stone & feel a million times better but haven’t taken up exercising again. Hoping to return to Pilates as it was great for my shoulder issues particularly. I live in Cornwall & have stunning walks on my doorstep so there’s no excuse for not getting back out there!

I was too ashamed to come and say I do absolutely nothing 🤦🏻‍♀️ I realise you’re saying you used to exercise but as you’re saying you currently don’t I thought I’d comment!

I’ve never been to the gym or an exercise class etc I’ve never lifted weights or ran, literally nothing.
The only exercise I’ve ever done is walking but a career change means I’m now rarely do enough steps!

Do any of you clearly knowledgable people have any suggestions?
I’m 54 and clueless!

For context, I’m very slim and surprisingly flexible. I’m healthy (well clearly not because I don’t exercise!) but generally full of energy and rarely get ill.
For years I’ve been thinking exercise was something I’d do ‘one day’ but I realise it’s crucial I build strength & look after my bones now I’m older!

Waitingfordoggo · 02/11/2025 09:53

@MarmaladeSandwich7 It sounds as though you have already made a series of positive changes in cutting out alcohol and losing weight. It’s ok to make big life changes in stages- trying to do them all at once often leads to failure so you’ve done well to get to where you are and now exercise can perhaps be the next thing to tackle.

Waitingfordoggo · 02/11/2025 10:04

@towhoknowswhere As you are someone who isn’t used to exercise and is coming to it completely new, probably the best start is to identify what you might be able to derive some enjoyment from! Some folks get a kick out of loud music, flashing lights and pumping adrenaline in a Spin class; some like a quiet hike in the countryside; some enjoy the camaraderie and competitiveness of a game of tennis or golf; lots of middle aged and menopausal women have found huge benefits (physical and mental) from swimming in the sea, a lake or an outdoor lido. And then there’s weightlifting, running, dance classes, Tai Chi, yoga…. So much to choose from!

If increasing strength and protecting your bones are your primary goals, then some sort of work with weights would be really beneficial. You can start this at home with just a couple of sets of fairly light dumbbells and some YouTube videos. If you like it and find you’re getting stronger, you might eventually need access to a lot more weights including some very heavy ones. This might not be practical at home as weights aren’t cheap, and you obviously need space to store everything, so if you want to progress your lifting, you might need to go to a gym- I would consider using a PT if you can afford it- even if only for a few sessions just to get you started.

If weightlifting really doesn’t appeal, then you can derive some strength benefits from things like yoga and Pilates, though the effects may be more subtle than what can be achieved through lifting weights. But both yoga and Pilates have huge benefits for flexibility too, and can be great for mental health (as can all exercise really).

Hope you find something you love. Good luck!

EmpressaurusKitty · 02/11/2025 10:06

towhoknowswhere · 02/11/2025 09:46

I was too ashamed to come and say I do absolutely nothing 🤦🏻‍♀️ I realise you’re saying you used to exercise but as you’re saying you currently don’t I thought I’d comment!

I’ve never been to the gym or an exercise class etc I’ve never lifted weights or ran, literally nothing.
The only exercise I’ve ever done is walking but a career change means I’m now rarely do enough steps!

Do any of you clearly knowledgable people have any suggestions?
I’m 54 and clueless!

For context, I’m very slim and surprisingly flexible. I’m healthy (well clearly not because I don’t exercise!) but generally full of energy and rarely get ill.
For years I’ve been thinking exercise was something I’d do ‘one day’ but I realise it’s crucial I build strength & look after my bones now I’m older!

I only started strength training at 50, you’re definitely not too late!

Go to your local gym, book a session with a personal trainer & tell them what you need. They’ll create an exercise plan for you.

I couldn’t afford weekly sessions so before my PT moved away, I worked through the plan myself & we had check-in sessions about every 6 weeks.

towhoknowswhere · 02/11/2025 10:33

Thank-you for those really (kind!) and helpful replies! I think a couple of sessions with a pt might work for me, I’m so embarrassed to be so clueless at my age but they're professionals so presumably won’t laugh at me!
I work full time and have a busy social life so my issue is time BUT I know this is not a good enough excuse.
Thanks again 😊

EmpressaurusKitty · 02/11/2025 10:37

towhoknowswhere · 02/11/2025 10:33

Thank-you for those really (kind!) and helpful replies! I think a couple of sessions with a pt might work for me, I’m so embarrassed to be so clueless at my age but they're professionals so presumably won’t laugh at me!
I work full time and have a busy social life so my issue is time BUT I know this is not a good enough excuse.
Thanks again 😊

Good luck!

Waitingfordoggo · 02/11/2025 10:53

Don’t be embarrassed @towhoknowswhere. PTs are well used to working with all sorts of people. If everyone knew what they were doing with exercise, then PTs would go out of business! They will absolutely be used to working with people who have no exercise experience. They are providing a service and usually charge a fair whack for it- so tell them exactly what you want to achieve. Their job is to help you make that happen!

Waitingfordoggo · 02/11/2025 10:56

When planning a strategy for you, they should take into account your previous experience (or lack of), your age, sex, current fitness levels and importantly- your enjoyment. My PT learnt not to get me to run because I hate it. He also learnt not to get me to skip with a rope because I’m too worried about my weak pelvic floor potentially failing 😂 That was an embarrassing conversation to have with a very fit man young enough to be my son, but he totally understood and adapted my regime accordingly!

EmpressaurusKitty · 02/11/2025 10:58

I found a female PT my own age - I suspect they might be gold dust but she was brilliant.

We had exactly the same conversation about skipping ropes & pelvic floors 🤣

towhoknowswhere · 02/11/2025 12:38

Waitingfordoggo · 02/11/2025 10:56

When planning a strategy for you, they should take into account your previous experience (or lack of), your age, sex, current fitness levels and importantly- your enjoyment. My PT learnt not to get me to run because I hate it. He also learnt not to get me to skip with a rope because I’m too worried about my weak pelvic floor potentially failing 😂 That was an embarrassing conversation to have with a very fit man young enough to be my son, but he totally understood and adapted my regime accordingly!

All these messages are so reassuring/encouraging, there’s no way I could skip without having a little wee 😂

EmpressaurusKitty · 02/11/2025 15:51

towhoknowswhere · 02/11/2025 12:38

All these messages are so reassuring/encouraging, there’s no way I could skip without having a little wee 😂

My other piece of advice is to record your progress! Whether that means weights lifted, length of time you can plank for, running times, whatever. Be able to look back at how far you’ve come.

TheLivelyRose · 02/11/2025 15:55

Gym 2-3 tiems a week and sometimes parkrun

OnlyHereForTheChristmasBoard · 02/11/2025 17:45

Gym classes - mornings or evenings depending on shifts at work. Mixture of pilates, rowing, step, barre, conditioning, spin. I don't drive so walk 15 mins each way to and from gym. I walk for 30 mins first thing on weekday mornings. Meet You At The Barre online classes, try to fit in a couple of these each week. I need to build in regular weight training as I only do a little now and then. Considering starting to run.

OnlyHereForTheChristmasBoard · 02/11/2025 17:49

...I should add that I am very lucky to be able to do 6-12 classes p.w. This is only possible because I WFH and DH does the weekday cooking and we don't have small children. When I was communting to the office and DS was smaller I had no time for any of this.

CaviarForTea · 02/11/2025 17:49

Runs and gym classes (mainly spin and a few weights classes). Maybe a few yoga/pilates classes each month.

aintnospringchicken · 02/11/2025 18:05

Pilates class 3 times a week
Dance aerobics class once a week
Weights workout(dumbbells and resistance machines) once or twice a week
Do lots of walking

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