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?

I go to the gym 5 times a week and lift heavy weights. Also do spin class once a week and try to run once a week. If I don't do something most days, my mental health tanks within a week

This must be the least representative thread ever of the average mumsnetter...

I really struggle to see how people fit in all this exercise . If you work and have or have not a family where is the extra time exercising coming from .

Far too much. I do a weights class most days, run 4x per week (mix of long run, shorter runs of 5-6 miles and speed or hill work, 3-4 bike rides per week of usually 30-50 miles. Mix of road and gravel. I never miss do one thing a day. Usually 2-3. I have a serious, degenerative health condition and shouldn’t really be able to walk, so I am grateful every day that I can. It’s not healthy the amount I di - I have issues 🤣

per week
3 x aqua fit assuming no appointment clashes
5 x table tennis
1 x zumba
2 x gym sessions
2/3 x arm weights workout at home
forgot to add why- for fun and to maintain stamina and flexibility.

I have a brisk 25 minute walk to the gym 5 days a week. When I'm at the gym, I excuse for around 45 minutes - weights 3 days and cardio plus an an ab workout on 2 days. I also go cold water swimming a couple of times a week, but I don't swim fast enough for that to really count as exercise - it's time spent moving outside in nature, but very slowly. I do the swimming because it's fun and the gym because whenever I stop, I feel terrible.

weights 6-7 days per week plus a few classes and runs. well walking etc of course, I have dogs.
I do it because I want to be healthy and independent as long as possible and look like I could easily fight bears in the forest.

A lot of people find it easier when their children are older. Although luckily for me, I was able to do quite a lot even when my kids were small as I have a DH who was usually around in the evenings. It’s definitely more difficult for people with long working hours/young children/single parents.

None whatsoever. I have ME/CFS and Fibro. I miss it though!

I wfh and am able to clock out to go to a morning exercise class, or go over lunch. Or I run/ walk or do my own session in the gym before work. My work are pretty flexible like that, so each week I plan when I can fit in being active around my meetings. I work full time and have kids ( had them late). I decided to prioritize getting active as I am in my 50s so it’s now or never. I knew my fitness had declined massively, that I was inactive, that mentally and physically I felt awful. So I had to prioritize being more active really.

Running 5k takes me 30 mins, I do it usually just before I cook tea. When I wfh I get up from laptop and go for run. DC are teens now so that’s why makes it easier. Weights I do from home too, so lunch break or just after work.

I work 35 hours a week, 2 dc, single/co-parent. At weekends it’s easy, the walks are part of family life.

I don’t find sitting still easy though!

I play as much racket sports as my body will allow. That is probably 2-3x tennis and 2-3x pickleball per week. I took up pickleball because my shoulder, knees and elbow can’t take playing tennis 2 days in a row.

I go to the gym to do weights 2-3 times a week because I feel I should and I want to make my body stronger so I can play more racket sports without pain.

Oh I forgot to say why. I absolutely love playing racket sports. So satisfying and so much fun with a bit of frustration too

None due to fatigue & caring responsibilities but I do spend most of the day on my feet.

Yes, this really. I do it in evenings and when DH is around generally. So if he finishes at 5, I might go for a run while he makes dinner, or after kids are in bed, or for an hour or two at the weekend while he takes them somewhere or is just at home with them. Or in my lunch break, can fit a 5k, shower and food in!

Also sometimes I take kids out on bikes/scooters and I run alongside!

go for a one hour walk every evening, no other exercise

Dog walk x 2 a day 30-40 minutes each time. 4 x Pilates, 3 x Yoga, 3 x plyo weightlifting and 1 x stretch/mobility.

I'm late 50s and I do it to maintain my mobility, flexibility and independence as I age, and because I don't want osteoporosis.

I’m 60. My kids are adults. I do 2 x 6-7k runs/week. A couple of walks/week and try and get a longer hike at weekends about 10-15km.
I work 4 days/week and have night time meetings and conferences away also. I also try to catch up with my friends and family every week. I have no idea how ye fit in so much exercise especially with young children.
I thought I was doing well 😲🤯🤯

God I was feeling really smug that I do my swimming (started 3 months ago) - now reading all this I feel my efforts are a bit pathetic. 4 x 30min swim each week. Im 52 and I started because Ive got a fucked up frozen shoulder and I could barely move the thing. I find if I slack off it starts seizing up again, but I do the swimming and it just gets looser and stronger. Im also quite lazy usually - shit diet, drink too much, but Im thinnish so Ive never really cared that much. Now Im getting older im panicking a lot about being feeble and weak. I can feel my age now - the classic aches and pains, and the moaning as I get up out of a chair. I feel old!!! the swimming has made me feel like i might be able to fight it a bit.

I’m very variable with exercise but whilst on mat leave I’ve walked most days either with the carrier or the pram and run about twice a week. I’ve done sporadic strength work outs and swims too. I’d like to exercise more as it’s so good for my mental and physical health but it’s hard to keep it up when working. Recently I’ve also started to do a few squats and press ups before bed before I do my stretches.

Normally 4-5 gym sessions a week 1-2hrs each, mix of cardio, weight training and functional and normally 15-20k steps. This week 5 miles walk to work 5 miles home three times is my main exercise!! (About 28k steps!)

Walk mad dog in total 2hrs a day 5 days a week because she’s my responsibility and I love it
1x Zumba class because it’s fun escapism
2x Pilates classes because my back goes if I skip it
4x 30 min weights because I’m told I should
1x swim to recover from Zumba. This is more floating than swimming

edited to add somehow am still tubby, because I choose wine and Haribo for too many dinners, proving you can’t out exercise a crap diet. Am bendy and strong even though I could lose some timber.

I’m 53 and although I do about 7 gym things a week (combined, not 7 days - I might do a 5km run plus yoga one day, a 5km run plus spinning another, a pt session before or after a class…), I do far less than when I had young children. Then, I used to be able to drop them off at school and go straight to the gym, plus weekend sessions and the odd evening one.

My sister is recently retired and she does so much more than I do. But I do work ft (much of it from home).

I have an hour with a PT, and then I do 3 further sessions at the gym a week. Also try to walk 10K steps a day - usually with an evening walk, but I have to sacrifice a lot to find the time!

I walk about 16-20k steps a day because I’m a dog walker and that’s what I get paid for 😂