To think that moving more every day is just as beneficial as going mad at the gym?

[Sunrise6875]

Is it better to just make sure you are moving briskly every day, I.e as many steps as possible, than flogging yourself at the gym a few times a week?

I’ve gone through phases where I’ve been at the gym a few times a week, absolutely exhausting myself and then feeling achey for the next day or so, and repeat.

For the last month I’ve shaken up my routine and made sure that I am going on at least an hour of brisk walking every single day, even when it was awful weather this weekend.

I have to say, that routine, coupled with cutting out snacks but eating proper meals (no calorie counting) has done, I think, wonders for my mental and physical health.

AIBU to think that actually, it’s more important to do something active every single day, even if it’s not enough to get you really sweaty (but still raise heart rate)? Have we been conditioned to think that the only way to keep fit is to ill ourselves at the gym?

How much do you move in an average day?

Regular activity of any kind is surely good? You've found something that works for you, and it sounds very beneficial. If someone else prefers to go to the gym, do a YouTube class, do gardening, or go for a run/bike rike, or a combination of activities, that's ok too. Do whatever you enjoy that is easiest to make a habit of, not what works for other people.

The best form of exercise is the one which you'll do.

Absolutely this.

I was in the best form of my life doing Jillian Michaels DVDs and C25k but that takes a lot of motivation to keep it up. I have a gym membership purely for classes and they have a great system where you get a financial penalty if you don't show up for a booked class or if you make a late cancellation. That means that I hauled myself out of bed this morning at 6am and went to a spin class rather than getting an extra 90 minutes in bed.

Whatever works.

Depends on what your goals are ...

Well yes, a generaly active lifestyle is healthier than being sedentary and working out a few times a week. However once you get to menopause, or perimenopause it's important to do some strength training for your bones.

The best form of exercise is one you can commit to regularly.

But being outside, looking up at the sky, across at green trees etc, feeling the weather on your face is also hugely beneficial for MH as well as physical health.

YANBU but some people do seem to think that exercise is not much use unless it’s something you’re paying for.

There was a recent thread from an overweight person who was finding exercise classes very difficult, but didn’t think that merely walking would do any good. A lot of replies advised her otherwise.

I agree. I never go to the gym but would also never have a cleaner. A good solid session of housework gets me moving and stretching all my muscles. Why pay a cleaner to then pay to go to the gym! I walk a lot, I've never had a car. I do yoga videos. My holidays also involve a lot of exercise (hate lying on the beach). I feel all that is enough. Previous generations didn't have gyms but they didn't lead a sedentary lifestyle. I certainly don't think anyone "needs" a gym. They may find it a preferable way to exercise but it isn't essential.

The best form of exercise is the one which you'll do.
Even arm chair aerobics when you are mobile and healthy?
I disagree and think your body needs to be challenged.

As beneficial to health? Yes, as long as you're raising your heart rate. But tbh I don't think most people spend hours at the gym just for a general benefit to their health. They probably want to get really fit or look toned or lose significant weight (though the latter is mostly about eating habits).

It depends what you want to do. If you just want to generally get fit or drop a few pounds then absolutely getting into the habit of moving more is just as beneficial (although some people do need the 'exercise mindset' and the gym style environment of loud music and every working to the same goals - which is fair enough).

If you're trying to body build, obviously you can't do that without heavy equipment, so the gym is best for that.

@notacooldad well if your going to do arm chair aerobics but you wont stick to going to a gym then yes its better, because if you wont stick to it your not going to go. If its in place of sitting in front of the tv then yes its good for you

Personally I think walking is good both physically and mentally. Getting freshair, just clearing your mind. Excercise you enjoy is the best form.

However if your goal is to be bodybuilder ripped then you probably need a gym

although some people do need the 'exercise mindset' and the gym style environment of loud music and every working to the same goals - which is fair enough)
Blimey I couldn't be doing with gyms with loud music and I use about 4 different ones! I like to listen to y own taste of music!

Brisk walking every day for an hour is excellent for your fitness.

But to keep strong in older age, including some strength exercise is ideal. It doesn't have to be intensive in the gym. Just a 15mns routine at home with some weights will do it.

I guess you can do both.

I walk the dog briskly for an hour every morning and I go to the gym every day - either spin or pump or tennis or weights. The odd body balance/yoga class.

Moving more definitely helps me, until the start of this year I worked a Job where I covered 15k+ steps daily, a fair amount of heavy lifting etc. and I was in great shape, didn't have to think much about diet to loose weight and could spontaneously run 5km when I fancied without any regular training. I now have an office based job, between January and June I gained a stone and lost a huge amount of fitness despite going to a hard strength based gym class weekly and running twice a week. Since June I've made a huge conscious effort to work out properly at least 3 times a week but also to do something each day whether that be a leisurely walk/bike ride or some gentle yoga etc. and I've seen a huge improvement. My phone tracks what it calls active time and its been really helpful to input any exercise I do into there (it tracks walking and running automatically) I focus on my weekly average trying to keep it at 60 mins a day and usually achieve this even if I have a lazy day when I don't do anything

The only exercise I did & really enjoyed when younger was bike riding & walking. Bike as village buses were non existent. I was really slim & fit . I've nowhere to put a bike now so do a daily half hour walk & Lucy Wyndham's You Tube beginners work out to my fave 80's hits every day. Really feel the benefit.

Even arm chair aerobics when you are mobile and healthy? I disagree and think your body needs to be challenged.

Arm chair aerobics that you can commit to doing everyday is a much better option than signing up the gym if you're only going to go twice and then get fed up.

To answer the OP - I dog walk (professionally) and easily walk 15,000 steps in a day. Yes, it's good exercise but to get my heart pumping I have to go uphill or do something different. My body is so used to me walking decent distances on the flat, that it's no longer challenged by it.

I am a ‘naturally slim’ fidgeter but I was in the best shape of my life when I went to the gym 3-4 times per week for about an hour at a time. I spent most of my time there doing moderate weights plus fifteen minutes of cardio.
By toning up I think I burned more calories on a day to day basis which helped shift the belly and muffin top fully for the first time since puberty. I am a nurse so easily do my 10,000 steps and I found the extra strength handy at work too.

The premise of the question is wrong, though. It's not either/or. You can do both.

I do interval training at the gym and i like having the different equipment available to do the timings without too much effort on my part (terminally lazy) and to have the 3 things i use for interval training close together (row, cross-trainer, bike). I also run /cycle outside and walk a lot.

I swap up with yoga at home and different equipment at the gym if i want to target different muscle groups with weights/resistance training as well as cardio.

You have to find your own rhythm - and not set your goals to high.

Also I'm sure I read that going to the gym doesn't do much for you health-wise if you are sedentary the rest of the time. Especially as people can sometimes subconsciously or consciously move less because they feel they've done their bit of exercise. Better to keep active, sit down less and make sure you raise your heart rate regularly. I live in a very hilly place and live on the top of a hill, so getting my heart rate up by walking is not hard to do!

Yeah you definitely sound terminally lazy, Brefugee

It's personal preference. I dislike walking for the sake of walking. If I'm walking somewhere then that's fine. I love the gym. I go six days a week. That is what works for me.

Seriously - i have to really push myself to do any of it... it sounds like a lot but in reality it's 5 things a week usually, plus walking if i want to get anywhere.

It depends on your lifestyle and goals. I gain a huge sense of satisfaction from the gym and making progress there. It positively impacts my mental health (as well as my physical health) in a way that going for a walk does not.

Well, the best thing is to do both, obviously. Moving more has a beneficial effect on calorie burn and cardio fitness, resistance training builds muscle and bone density, stretching helps maintain joint flexibility...

But "going mad" in the gym isn't going to be helpful. If you don't like the gym then fine but some of us do, no need to look down on us...