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 walk 10000 steps most day ( usually 3 miles after dinner) I do 2 strength training sessions and 2/3 yoga classes. Hike a few times a month weather permitting. I do it because o like to feel fit and strong especially now at 54.

Thank you for all the answers this has been a really interesting read!

I go to yoga class pretty much every day because it has worked wonders for my mental health. I also go to the gym but I don’t enjoy this as much and see this more of a thing I have to do.

I was discussing with my friend and she seemed to be under the impression that most people don’t do any excercise and those that do don’t enjoy it, they only do it to be thin. I was trying to tell her that there are so many reasons people chose to exercise, but she wasn’t having it. She said yoga is different because us yogis are all woo and it doesn’t count 😂 I think she just hasn’t found something she enjoys yet!

I do think having the time to do it and even the ability to move our bodies is a privilege though, that’s why I try to do yoga as often as I can. I want to be able to stay mobile for a long as possible.

Mon - weights AM 30 mins
Tue - weights 30 min, 10km running club
Wed - weights 30min
Thurs - Pilates 1hour, run PM
Fri - weights 30min
sat - Pilates 1 hour, 8 km run
sun 12km run

sometimes run a bit more. Been doing Pilates 5 years and weights about 4, running about 30 years.

50’s work FT, teen kids

I swim or run at least an hour a day, every day. I've also recently started doing weights and Pilates.

I do it because I enjoy it, I swim and run with clubs which form a key part of my social life, and I'm motivated by getting faster or at least not getting slower. I also enjoy doing things that require a high level of fitness such as fell running and ski touring and want to be able to do those things for as long as possible. I'm 48. I think I'm above average in how much exercise I do.

Movement is medicine!

i find the time by not watching TV and being extremely minimalistic about housework. Both of those things are huge time sinks. When DC were younger we made sure that all childcare was evenly divided so that we could both train. eg if one of us was going shopping they would take DC with them so the other parent could train.

You and me both, and the walking I do is free. The adult ballet class is only in termtime anyway, and is a drop-in at £6.50 a class. It is also aimed entirely at the - er - mature and unfit beginner dancer lol. Suits me down to the ground.

mines around 4/5 miles everyother day usually to try to keep tummy levelish, i enjoy it but depending on my efforts im either very sweaty or general exercising

Practically zero at the minute, I'm not well though. When I was going to the gym id do weights 3 times a week but would struggle to stick to it consistently. I also found it was making me really hungry so the id eat more and not lose weight. Since I've stopped, my appetite is now a bit less and I've actually lost a bit of weight.

I barely watch TV mainly because the men in my house are always watching football. I prefer to go out and walk with a podcast.

For the cost a lot of studios have memberships! My local studio is £70 a month for unlimited yoga and mat Pilates classes. They have multiple on throughout the day so I find it to be really good value.

There is a studio that has unlimited hot yoga classes for £30 for your first month so I’m thinking of giving that a whirl for a month too.

Today I started work at 8am, I then had 13 meetings back to back finishing at 7.45pm. I sat for pretty much all of it. I desperately need to move my body now but I’m too exhausted to do it. It’s horrifying me how little movement I am doing.

I go to classes in the evening. My children are no
longer small which I recognise is an advantage. My classes are cheap because they are through the local leisure centre. I have a membership which works out that I break even if I do at least 1.5 classes per week.

I do about 45 mins 5 days a week, some times more, sometimes less. I’ve a fully equipped home gym in an out building, so I just go in and do it. I’m 57.

im retiring shortly as is my husband so wil, join an actual gym as I want to do swimming and their gym a couple of times a week.

i enjoy it yes, sometimes i cant be arsed and drag myself in, but find it good for my mental health, I also like my body is toned with definition, if I’m honest.

None aside from walking the dog and the odd football match with the kids (I have 4) - I’m 46, size 14, 10 stone, work retail. I used to run 10ks, go to aerobics classes, do fitness classes in front of the tv and properly play football, chasing and everything else with the kids. I hate how I am now but back regularly goes and my knees are in bits and I’m just so exhausted (three ten hour shifts and two four hour shifts a week).

Exercise has been proven not to make you lose weight. It does however build muscle, regulate your endocrine system, and help your heart, brain, and digestion.

It’s about health, not weight.

Weight lifting 3x a week
Pilates 1x a week
yoga 1x a week
aquafit 1x a week
stretches/physio exercises everyday

I have disc issues and arthritis so trying to offset that

I walk a few miles most week days with friends (not necessarily all in one go, I tend to do a deliberate walk for exercise then if I need to go to town/supermarket later I’ll walk rather than drive and end up needing something most days)

I go to a gym class on average three times a week (usually step or Zumba) and I go dancing one evening a week. On weekends I’ll do longer hill walks of 7-10 miles.

I’ve recently decided to do more weights so I’m going to try and fit in a YouTube dumbbells class a couple of times a week (I used to go to body pump but got out of the habit)

I do it because it makes me feel better mentally and physically. I struggle to sit still and find it hard to sit around so it fills spare time that I’d otherwise spend hanging around at home (I work p/t)

3 gym sessions a week plus daily walks. Why, because I drink too much wine and eat way too many sandwiches

2-3 hours per day. But quite unstructured. I need to be more targeted on the exercise I need to do, and on technique as I'm constantly getting injured!

I do it as I like being active and fit, and i don't want to get fat! 🤣

I row competitively so six days a week. Five water sessions, two erg sessions and two weights sessions.

I walk about 60-120 minutes a day (more like 1 hour if it's extremely hot so have to walk before work which reduces time available, or if it's raining. Normal.day usually about 90-120 minutes). I have a dog. I enjoy walking. I also do a lot of walking holidays. If traveling, I will average about 12-14 miles a day. I travel about 60-70 days a year.

Normal weekly routine is for gym stuff
1x Body Pump
1x Body Pump Heavy
1 X pilates athletic
1 X reformer
2 X 60 minute swims.

How I do it 1 class is in the evening after work
Pilates and reformer are on the same day, early on a Saturday so usually before any Saturday plans.
I do body pump heavy and 1 of the swims back to back on a NWD. This means I only go to the gym 4 days a week.

I might thrown in an extra swim in summer as it's nice to hang out at the outdoor pool

Gym based stuff obviously reduces when traveling.

Why? Swimming is fun and nice in the outdoor pool, plus I am making myself fitter at the same time.

Weights was started for health to keep muscle tone as I lost weight. Now enjoy it a lot, and have an interest in eating lots of protein and trying to build muscles/have definition. I want to look, toned and muscular but not bulky. I also love the classes I do. The instructors focus on progressive overload and lifting more/increasing goals. Some body pump instructors just prance about with the weights, and don't push you. Mine really do push and make you do more. It's mostly women, but the feeling of camaraderie, respect and strength is really amazing to be a part of. There is no competitiveness, just women (and some men) being strong together working on the same goals and being encouraging.

The pilates stuff is about strength building too, and protecting myself as I age. Things that help is that I have made friends with people doing the same classes, so it's a social thing too.

I want your life (with the horses). I rode a lot when younger and would love to get back into it but everywhere around me only does walking. I want to gallop across beaches like I used to do!

I exercise everyday. I run 4 days a week (parkrun, two 5/6 milers and one 10 mile plus). I do two small group PT weight sessions of an hour each. Then I do one gym class, sometimes two.
I do it because I enjoy it, I want to stay fit and well, it’s my social life and I have thr most sedentary job in the world.

Over a 5 days I do 2x park fit classes, 4 x 30 min weight workout, 2 x shorter run, 1 x longer run.

Because it’s healthy, sets a good example to my kids, I like nice food and wine without putting on weight!