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?

@HurdyGurdy19 what do you mean by wobble board?

Well I go fast (for me) and im massively out of breath by the latter half - which I take as Im pushing myself?

I think I’ve wandered onto the wrong part of mumsnet, my goodness you are all so busy and fit, its super inspiring.

Im an ex- weightlifter trained 4-5 times a week competitively, then I had a bad run of health, its 5 years since the injuries and surgeries for other things and to date I’ve managed to get back to walking daily I aim for 10k steps, and I have a new mission to gym 3 times a week not back to that level but to feel like I can rejoin the human race again!

well yeah I do lweight as part of my class, but I wouldn't go as heavy as some people I know just because I don't want to it makes me hungry

Not sure what class, but most 'weightlifting' classes are rather cardio with weights. Unless it's a proper heavy lifting class, I would still recommend traditional lifting at the gym as well. And it's quite amazing what it does to your mindset - instead of worrying that it makes you hungry, you will start thinking how to properly fuel your body for best muscle growth.

How does he know we are overtraining? 🙄

I’ll take my own PT’s advice about what I need to do thanks.

I do know that since I started strength training my arthritic knees, the ones that used to struggle to get me up and down Stairs, now allow me to jump, squat, lunge, run and run up and down stairs. All things I never dreamed were possible before I started strength training.

Loads. About four hours structured exercise, then gardening, walking, cleaning on top.

The reason is mostly that I enjoy it and it forms almost all my social life, and I am semi retired so I have the time.

Today, I ran with a friend early for an hour, have been to a yoga class for an hour, will swim for an hour at 4pm and go to running club for an hour this evening. In between I will have walked to and from the leisure centre twice (3 miles round trip) and spent the afternoon gardening.

My Dad keeps telling me it's too much....

And over 50s do need weight training, is he very young? I get you’re not, but is he, or does he not keep himself fully educated?

He’s not covering himself in glory and acting like over 50s need to be in the pool for gentle all over exercise, there is no way to debunk the fact strength training is critical as we age.

Or did he do his training a really long time ago? It's odd that his training should be so different to every other PT.

Um what now, do you maybe not know what sarcopenia is? It’s just gradual age related muscle loss, everyone has it unless they strength train.

Eh? I'm a PT, Pilates teacher and a physiotherapist. This is incorrect.

Also if you need the best exercise, IMO professional opinion, it's the rowing machine and squats.

https://peakfit.studio/how-often-should-you-work-out-after-50/

I am not over 50, or even at 50, so no skin in the game here for me but this site does suggest that many in this age group overtrain, explains what that means and the reasons and implications.

There are more sites stating similar, so would consider doing a comparison of all available information so informed decisions can be made or discussed with PTs where relevant.

I didn't know this info so very interesting to learn!

Yeah, he did removals
He's in his 70s now and he would've kept working, but he's got all these muscle issues probably still healthier than most though

Yup thats what he said. Rest days are VITAL for over 50s. Hes 45 and specialises in the over 40s. And strength training should be minimal due to risk of over working. He said many PTs won't tell you that because they want your business, but its true.

Dont shoot messenger - just what he told me.

He never said gentle - really going for it and being out of breath. Pushing yourself for at least 30min swim. thats what he said. He said it makes your entire body stronger. I hope its true cos Im weak as piss.

Your partner is a terrible PT. It’s very important for older people to strength train as you start to lose muscle and bone density.

Sounds more and more like he just said it to please you

someone asked about the heavy weights and being hungry, yeah I get hungry with that and swimming. I just seem to eat all day after I've done those things.

But I'm quite happy with my body pump and other weight by based classes so that's fine I don't want to get into all sets and repetitions and stuff.

About 5-6 hours running per week

I train almost every day but 5 x a week minimum

a mixture of strength training, swimming, running & walking
never any longer than an hour

i do it to keep slim & keep strong, I like wearing a size 8

Rest doesn't mean do nothing. I wouldn't run or lift every day, but I do at least one form of exercise everyday, resting from running by going swimming, resting from lifting by going running etc

This article is a little misleading.

First their aim is to sell their specific training program that takes place 2-3 times per week, so not like they are exactly neutral and unbiased. And the studies they quote are not saying what they claim. The Effects of Resistance Training Frequency on Measures of Muscle Hypertrophy: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis study talks about 2 training sessions per muscle group and not that you should not train more than twice per week.

The Dose–Response Relationships of Resistance Training in Healthy Old Adults: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis also did not say that 2 sessions is optimal and better than 3 or 4 - they simply tested 2 sessions and found that was an effective frequency.

A minority of women of any age meet the recommended levels of muscle strengthening activity, and this percentage drops with age. So vast majority of women should be encouraged to train more and they don't need to worry about overtraining.

And strength training should be minimal due to risk of over working.

What does he mean by minimal?

None. I live rurally and have no self motivation to do any kind of routine at home. I walk and run a farm but I’m under no illusions that its its nothing compared to the daily exercise classes and hard physical job I did when I was young.

I’d like to try reformer pilates but can’t get to a class - and I’d rather stick pins in my eyes than do weightlifting.

He genuinely believes strength training should be minimal but is still taking money off people to tell them otherwise?

Fair enough. I did state that it was one of many sites that say similar things and I don't think they were all out to sell something but I'm not going to put vast amounts of personal time into the research as it doesn't apply to me...yet!

Edited to add: they did cite sources e.g. "A separate meta-analysis in the Journal of Human Kinetics found that older adults who trained 2 to 3 days per week showed significant improvements in muscle mass, functional strength, and metabolic markers over 12 to 16 weeks, with results comparable to those from higher-frequency programs in younger cohorts."

The article is fairly extensive so I still think it's worth reading (and not relying on others to tell us what it says from this site) and then making a call from there to include other sources and guidance from an individuals personal trainer in the event they have one...not everyone does!