How much exercise do you do & do you notice a difference in how you feel?

[uka888]

Looking for some tips on how people motivated themselves to get into a regular exercise routine?
How much / what exercise do you do a week?
Do you feel better for it?

I did nothing at all prior to July. Lockdown and work had left me with MH issues and generally lacking confidence. I decided to complete the Couch to 5K. Fast forward to September and I try to run 3miles 3 times a week. I feel so much better, physically and mentally. I scoffed actively at those who said it could help. I am in a much better place, my fitness is also much better!

I walk around 3-4 miles daily. I find my mood is boosted. I'm less stressed and feel more relaxed in general. It also helps me to sleep better at night too

Walk 3 miles to gym and back 4/5 times a week for 1 pump class and 3/4 weights sessions. Went from living in the pub to weights training two years ago at 50. Middle age spread and habit were my motivation.

Mental health is much better, I can really tell if I miss a day. Physically, the aches and pains I thought were a fact of life getting older have vanished. More stamina, more energy, more content, look better (bye bye menopause belly).

That's not to say there aren't days I hate dragging myself out of the house, but if I can get myself there I'm fine.

I’ve just started a bootcamp - 3 days p/w 6:30-7:15am. I’m only 1 week in, but I have to admit that I’ve noticed a difference in both my mood and my alertness. I’ve been in a real funk for months now, and I’ve been so lethargic. This week I’ve been in a better mood and noticeably less tired. I hate admitting it because I’ve spent a lifetime despising exercise, but I can’t deny that it’s having a positive effect.

I run most days 5-7 miles and walk our dog up to three times depending on working . It’s essential to my mental health feel so much better for it

I’m trying to do a Joe Wicks HIIT at least twice a week. I swear at him throughout the whole thing and then feel better afterwards. Hate doing it though. Also try and do walk, or a yoga video on the other days. Working from home means I can very easily not move at all, even if it’s 20 minutes it helps.

When I’ve had a really rotten day, I stomp for a walk and listen to a podcast. Most of the time, it straightens my brain out.

I started a weight loss regime incorporating exercise 4 years ago. I lost 5 st and have kept it off. I walk 4 to 6 miles daily, with dogs, and dance with 1kg weights every day for 20 minutes. It decreases appetite, wards off tiredness, brought my BP down from 140/96 to 120/65, relieves shoulder and hip pain and makes me feel great mentally.

I feel awfully mentally without exercise! I run 3-4 times a week, covering around 30 miles a week. I do rebounding or Pilates on the other days, and walk when I can.

At the start of lockdown I decided to live in gym clothes hoping it would motivate me, then started using the time saved from not having to do the school run on pe with Jo which I did with my son, was doing around 6 days a week for a few months and felt so much better and lost nearly a stone. Now I do around 30 mins 4 times a week, 2 hiit and 2 sttrengh. I should do more though as I barely move otherwise!

I’m feeling a bit lethargic and want to improve my mood as well as loose about 5 pounds and tone up, but I’m struggling to give myself a kick up the bum to get started.

@uka888

I’m feeling a bit lethargic and want to improve my mood as well as loose about 5 pounds and tone up, but I’m struggling to give myself a kick up the bum to get started.

Make it as easy as possible - put on a sports bra and exercise clothes when you get up, keep your trainers handy and your gym bag packed. Set yourself a challenge - run 5km, lift 10kg, attend 3 classes, whatever it might be and keep going til you get there.

I can run 10km and deadlift 70kg which is ok for an overweight 40 year old! It's just practice

I do CrossFit 4-5 times per week. Some days I'm raring to get there, other days I really have to drag myself, but I ALWAYS feel better afterwards.

Not enough! I've got a baby and just as I seem to be getting into a routine, her routine changes and it really knocks me off my stride.

About 3 weeks ago I was doing couch to 5k 4 days per week with one weights session at the gym. I like to get it over with first thing in the morning so that was working for me, as she was sleeping until 10am so I could take DS to Nursery, leave her in bed and exercise, even if DH was sleeping off night shift. Now that she's up at 7 I've lost that opportunity.

I'm really missing it, but I'm going to have to force myself out when I find a window, even if I don't fancy it.

20 min every day (i am a lazy fat fuck).
Sometimes hiit, sometimes weights. As I am a lazy fat fuck, I see and feel difference just from that bit😂

My back doesn't hurt, I don't run out of breath (that easily) and i can feel my posture and strength getting better (back where it used to be in once upon a time)

I don't know how people function without exercise. Without, it disrupts my sleep, and I seize up easily.

I feel a positive difference if I start my day with yoga, even just 10 minutes. I'm fortunate to have time to go running easily now, but when the DCs were little, I started C25k at night after DS finished his feeds for the evening and when I RTW, I did a longer run at the weekend and some shorter ones either early or late.

I only do exercise that feels good, and I do it for mental health. So that's yoga and walking in the woods by the pond etc. Usually I would do a short yoga session every 1-2 days and waking is daily, varies between half an hour and a couple of hours. It definitely brightens my spirit and helps my arthritic knees (I'm not old but got arthritis in my 30s)

I am not a pleasant person without a decent amount of exercise.

I exercise daily, I run (which I do hate at the time), I also do weights and HIIT. At the moment I’m following PTIQ as I’ve put on a bit of lockdown chub.

No matter what exercise you choose, it does need to be both something you will kind of enjoy and at an appropriate level for your fitness. Build slowly.

40 minutes fast walking 7 days a week, sometimes more. And a very physical job. Makes a massive difference.

I have to say that lately I finally see why people like it. I always hated exercise. I managed to not to do pe all through secondary 😂

Prelockdown I swam before work and did yoga at the weekend so did something every day. Over lockdown I've done yoga every day. But now the pools are open I've not got back into a swimming routine yet. I love swimming but before it was: get up, drive to pool, then go to work. Pool was next to work. I'm still WFH (in another town) and so can't use my membership there but not sure it is worthwhile to get membership in this town. And because you have to book ahead it's that little bit harder. Really miss swimming, early on in lockdown I would dream about it.

As for motivation, I once read aomeone say 'have you ever done some exercise and at the end thought 'well, I wish I hadn't bothered to do that?". Apart from an ill advised attempt at spinning I find that's generally true. And of course once you are in a routine you really miss it.

I try and run at least 3 times a week.... out for anything between 15 mins to 2 hrs at a time. Im trying to work up to do a marathon on my own before the end f the year. I also do an hour long "zumba like" dance class every week. Try and stretch/ do some yoga every day.
I'm still about a stone overweight... but i really like food and if I don't go out I seize up and my mood dips. massively.
Best thing i can suggest is to put your exercise clothes on before you go to bed and put them on straight away. Its harder to procrastinate then. Also monitor your progress ( for example strava for running). Focus on what progress you make in the first month or so..... you will amaze yourself!

I run 3 / 4 times a week and do a weekly exercise class. Only started doing this 3 years ago and I feel so much better for it. When I don’t exercise I feel sluggish. When I do my mood lifts and I feel happy. It helps me to relax after a stressful day and I sleep better. My motivation was to improve my mental health. I am not amazing at running, I am really slow but I love how it makes me feel!

I run 3-4 times a week, between 4-8 miles a time depending on time available etc. I never used to be a runner, but I can’t believe the change it’s made for me. I’m not someone who particularly needs it from a MH perspective, but it does clear my head. And it’s toned my body up, I feel fitter, and like I’m getting out of my body what I ought to! I didn’t really get the bug still I started fell running, now it feels like part of what life should be all about.

I'd recommend C25K op. I did it and now just go for runs twice a week for half an hour.

I've only recently found motivation by having a 'crush' on someone (in a stupid Facebook way) and feeling like I need to sort myself out before doing anything about it.

I've been going three times a week for two weeks and can't really see or feel any difference yet besides barely being able to walk today. I've booked in three gym sessions, a class and swimming for next week.