How much exercise do you do each week, and why?

[Blissybop]

Bit of a debate with a friend about how much the average person exercises so I was wondering if you were being totally honest how much do you excercise? Not just the gym but any sport, class, hiking etc.

And also why? As in why do you/don’t you?

Walk the elderly dog for 35 mins 5-6 times a week. Do 4 x 25 mins of you tube weight workouts on a standard week. I am quite disciplined about it.

Drink too much wine and eat too much chocolate for balance.

My goal is 60 to 70 minutes a day, split between walking outside, time on the stationary bike, and some weightlifting.

I also have a 5-10 minute stretching routine that I do before exercising.

I do it as I'm in my 60s and want to avoid bone density and muscle loss.

I do a dog walk every day and cycle to work (ebike, around 20 minutes each way). I am trying to introduce a bit more exercise as I feel pretty unfit. My aim is to do either a short run (Couch25k) or an online yoga video (Adriene) every day.

3 90 minute t’ai chi classes a week, half and hour t’ai chi practice at home the other days, 2 30 minute swims a week plus walking.

I do it because I love it and it makes me feel fantastic.

I run twice a week and do powerlifting 4 times a week. I also walk the dogs every day and do a long walk most weekends.

Almost 65% of England adults thought to meet or exceed CMO guidlines to get 150 minutes of physical activity each week. I personally get a bit more exercise than that.

I’m 43 and do 2 hour long heavy weights / strength classes with a PT a week, 2 x 45 min more bootcamp style, and then usually an extra hour cardio/weight mix and a 1 or 2 hour Calisthenics class. It sounds loads but I do a wfh desk job so if I’m not doing actual exercise I’m barely moving! I would almost certainly be better off skipping a class and adding more steps to my daily routine but it’s so hard with my job and kids and I love the non negotiable classes I’m committed to. I feel great at the moment for it.

2 weights classes, one PT session and two planned gym sessions most weeks.

I don’t do any specific exercise except walking. I will say though that I am fairly limited by health issues - lupus, Addisons, asthma etc. I try and go for at least a half hour brisk walk every day. I have no interest in exercising. When I was younger (I’m 45 now) I did a lot of dance and cardio but I just stopped enjoying it as I got older.

Across a week:
2 reformer Pilates classes
2 1km lake swims
2 cardio/gym sessions
1 padel game
as much walking as I can fit in, usually at least an hour every day.

As for why, my dad almost died of a stroke in his 40’s due to an unhealthy lifestyle and I knew I didn’t want that for myself. Plus I do generally love feeling strong and lean with a (tiny bit!) of muscle definition. And all with a side benefit that I do some of the above with people so it’s an element of positive healthy socialising too.

I have 3 horses.
I ride anywhere between 1 - 3 hours a day virtually every day. Lots of physical activities with their care and maintenance of the land etc.

I walk the dogs a couple of times a week (OH does other days).

No formal exercise but it keeps me surprisingly fit. Used to have to do a fitness test annually for work and I passed it with no issues without any specific training.

I feel like I ought to do some more specific exercise to get my heart rate up more but not enough hours in the day on top of what I do already plus full time work!

I usually walk briskly for about an hour daily to get my heart rate up or exercise at home with weights and run up and downstairs if it’s raining. Nothing else.

I weight train 4 times a week. I do it because I’m 49 and it’s very important to be strong when you’re older. I do around 30 mins cardio after it as well but I’m not too fussed if I can’t fit that in. Strength is far more important

Around 2.5 hours a week, sometimes more sometimes less. Mix of strength training and sport.

walking would be a lot more as we have dogs, I usually get my 10k steps in a day, often more.

I run 2-3 times a week total of about 15k. Walk most days and yoga daily 2 classes and other days at home.

I aim for around 21 hours every week. Sometimes it’s more and sometimes it’s less. Mental health.

My goal is 3x runs (in the final weeks of couch to 5k. Will be starting to build up to 10k) and 3x strength training at the gym each week. In reality it's quite rare for me to achieve this but I usually manage at least 2 of each and quite often manage the 3rd for one or the other.

Because I want to be fitter, stronger and healthier and I get to disconnect my brain and listen to an audiobook for 45 minutes while my muscles do their thing.

0, I’m on my feet all day at work, long hours and I just can’t face exercise after, my feet ache

(Almost) 63 and lift weights/work out three times a week and box to expert level on my VR helmet for 10-30 minutes daily. Plus look after my horses (which isn't as much exercise as it used to be before they retired).

Run 3-4 times a week for a total mileage of 30-40k a week currently but often more like 20k
also some strengthening and stretching but running is my “thing” (no I’m not fast)

A good, brisk 30-45 min walk most days.

30-45 minute yoga session most mornings (prob 6 days a week).

Do both because I enjoy the time to myself and it helps with middle aged aches and pains!

45 minute free weights session 3 x a week. Do it for strength and bone health. Don’t look forward to it, but always feel great afterwards.

Once a week dance class. Fun and a bit of cardio to get the blood pumping,

I do 4-5 times a week workout - HIIT, Hyrox, weights or something similar.
I play sport once per week but think I may retire from that as I seem to be damaging myself more and more. I do coach that sport as well, generally 3-5 times per week and my tracker often considers that I've done a workout myself.

I'm 48. I like feeling fit, strong and healthy. It helps my mental health and means I enjoy what I eat.

Daily dog walk. Two big blocky headed dogs, so I always come back quite tired!

Four spinning classes at home. We have all the proper gear and apps so it's like being at the gym. This is the real killer. It's very physically demanding. I've just always enjoyed spin. This is the one which gives me defined leg muscles and just makes me feel like what I'm doing is working.

Running for an hour twice a week. Really clears my head.

Run 3-4 times a week, about 30-40km over that time, sometimes more depending on what’s going on, if I’m training for a race, etc. I try to do a couple of hours of biking too. Two or three strength sessions. I usually get 15-18k steps on average a day.

For the why:

I like the way it feels to be fit and strong. I like to be the parent who can keep up with their kids, who can run and jump and climb with them. I like to be able to take part in physical activities without worrying that I am not fit enough.

I like the endorphins.

I like running on trails with beautiful scenery and listening to music and podcasts.

I like that it means I can be pretty relaxed about food intake as I burn a lot of calories. I eat a lot of cake and I couldn’t get away with that if I was sedentary.

2/3 years ago, I did one exercise class, the odd bike road and the odd walk up our local hill (which I admit is challenging), and literally walked anywhere within 3 miles unless bad weather/time didn't permit.

Found out I was pre-diabetic two years ago, so started Clubbercise x2 weekly (which I really enjoy, so glad I gave it a go), increased my bike rides and hill walk doing both a couple of times a month. So I increased my exercise for my health (as well as a few dietary changes, trying to relax and sleep better). All worth while as my level is down to 36, better than I hoped.