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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

What exercise do you do each week ?

227 replies

Rainydays55 · 12/03/2022 20:39

What exercise do you try and do each week and what benefits do you see from it? Looking to try and get into it a bit more but not sure where to start!

OP posts:
fishonabicycle · 13/03/2022 15:59

I used to have a long commute to work including over an hour of walking, and go to the gym 3 times in my lunch break. I now drive to work, and have to make up the walking by exploring the lanes and paths around our new home. I also (since COVID started) have worked out with weights at home (Caroline Girvan) 4 times a week.

fishonabicycle · 13/03/2022 16:00

Doesn't really help with weight (which I have kept satisfactory for about 6 years with mfp) but definitely helps with shape.

ghostyslovesheets · 13/03/2022 16:02

HIT/weight class Monday
Body Pump or boot camp Tuesday
arm workout Weds
Aerobics Thursday
Arms Friday
Body Pump Sat (or boot camp depending on Tuesday)

douper · 13/03/2022 16:07

Do the people exercising a lot have partners that do similar?

PurpleDaisies · 13/03/2022 16:08

@douper

Do the people exercising a lot have partners that do similar?
Not really. Dh does other things.
BalladOfBarryAndFreda · 13/03/2022 16:11

@douper,

I exercise moderately. My DH exercises more than me. Our kids are grown and flown so it doesn’t impact on family life.

douper · 13/03/2022 16:13

Yes stage of live obviously makes a difference, someone with dc who are older or flown the nest won't have the same constraints.

Not really. Dh does other things.

I would say DH likes exercise & socialising just as much as me so we have to share our time. Plus I like his muscles 😆

waterlego · 13/03/2022 16:19

Most of my exercise is my paid work so it doesn’t impact on my spare time. DH doesn’t do as much as I do but he swims twice a week, plays tennis twice a week and sometimes football as well, plus he walks the dog too. He would like to do more but struggles to find the time. Our kids are 14 and 16 so can be left for a while at home.

GiveYourHeadAWobble · 13/03/2022 16:22

Yoga twice a week and a 30-40 minute walk a day. I do more walking than this during the summer.
I’m better with gentle exercise.

Fairislefandango · 13/03/2022 16:27

Dh is more naturally active and sporty than me. He needs it, whereas I have to have a bit of willpower to make myself do it. He has less free time than me though, so I do the majority of the dog walking.

AndrewPeacock · 13/03/2022 16:28

I've been doing CrossFit for a year now and love it. I've recently gone from 3 classes and 2 runs a week to 5 classes (one is just a cardio class) and it's definitely the fittest I've looked and felt in years. If you get the right gym, I'd recommend it to everyone.

iloverock · 13/03/2022 16:28

I cycle twice a week
Run twice a week
Swim twice a week
Pilates once a week

As a minimum.

I also walk dog for 30-45 mins most days.

Mocara · 13/03/2022 16:31

@Whereisme

How do you all have time to do all this exercise?
This exactly !!! . I think the feeding the 5000 with one chiken thtead has reached its peak and they needed somthing new !🤣 From some one who is raising a family , works full time and exercises regularly ,you'd have to be a person of leisure with paid staff to be spending this much time exerciseing. Most on here are training for there very own fantasy Olympic me thinks 😂😂
GooglyEyeballs · 13/03/2022 16:31

I run 3-4 times a week 5-7km. I've only been doing it for around 6 months and at the start I couldn't do the whole route without walking breaks and now I can run the entire time. It's rewarding noticing when I'm improving. I've also noticed I don't get as knackered doing other things like walking etc and generally just feel a bit healthier. Id like to do a class but there's nothing near me that's reasonably priced or close enough to be worth it. I get grouchy now if I go too many days without a run.

whymewhyme · 13/03/2022 16:32

Crikey...this thread make me realise what a lazy lump i am. I don't do any excersise lol

Camomila · 13/03/2022 16:33

I don't do any formal exercise but on my three office days a week I get the bus half way and walk half way (actually works out quicker than getting the bus the whole way), and then at the weekends I take the DC to the swimming pool or the park.

MrsJBaptiste · 13/03/2022 16:40

I would like to exercise more but struggle to fit it all in. With dc, seeing friends & family & spending time with DH I just don't have the time I did pre dc

You have to prioritise. I'll see my parents at the weekend but will arrange it so I can get to the gym early doors. Same if I'm seeing friends after work, I'll make sure I factor in the gym before arranging a time to meet them. Or you have to say no to meeting people to make sure you get your exercise in.

To answer another person, my DH doesn't do as much exercise as me but we either go to the gym together or he goes first then me, overlapping on the treadmills! We have teenagers so life is much easier when you can leave them at home and eat your dinner at 7.30 when we get in.

AndrewPeacock · 13/03/2022 16:41

In terms of fitting it in, we just prioritise it now (DH does a similar amount) whereas pre-kids we always said we were too busy but actually just didn't make it a priority.

Monday - Friday I get up at 615, CrossFit 7am, home 815. DH is at home so gets kids up and we share the nursery/school run plus 2 days the grandparents do childcare so if youngest DS isn't out of bed it's not a problem.

DH then does classes after work or sometimes 930am and flexes his start/finish time at work.

We also fit in DH football match (sat) and training through the week along with DS1 football (sun) and training through the week and both DS swimming lessons.

DH might be changing jobs and we've already discussed how to make that work with our gym classes. If need be, I'd start going at 6am and maybe go back to running twice a week for a later start.

Fairislefandango · 13/03/2022 16:46

From some one who is raising a family , works full time and exercises regularly ,you'd have to be a person of leisure with paid staff to be spending this much time exerciseing. Most on here are training for there very own fantasy Olympic me thinks.

We don't necessarily all work full time or have young dc (or dc at all) though. I work part time and my dc are teens. I have time. I know people who do work full time and fit in a remarkable amount of exercise though. Maybe some posters do have 'paid staff' though. If you can afford to outsource your chores so as to make more time for keeping fit and healthy, then why not? I would!

waterlego · 13/03/2022 16:55

@Fairislefandango, I was about to post something similar in response to @Mocara. Some posters will be PT workers or SAHMs, some have older children so are able to go out in the evenings, some are obviously managing to incorporate their exercise into their daily tasks (walking to work, walking the dog etc), some will be outsourcing eg having a cleaner so there is less work to do around the home, and some will just be getting up very early to fit it in!

No doubt it is much harder to fit it in if you work full-time and have young children and have lots of tasks to do in the home. Getting up super early might be the best or only option for those folks.

bjjgirl · 13/03/2022 17:02

I gym 5 times a week, do strength and a high calorie burn sprint / circuit.
I also do Brazilian juijitsu 7 days a week for 90 mins a day.
I also walk my dogs about 2.5km

I work full time and my kids train at my bjj gym while I go to the "gym" round the corner. Sport is a huge part of our family life. We all love it

douper · 13/03/2022 17:02

I'm p/t & we outsource but getting up regularly at 6am is not for me. I like exercising but I prefer for us all to sit down for dinner & we need to help dc with homework/reading. Plus I do prioritise seeing friends & spending time with DH over exercising & DH wants to do as much as me.
When the dc are older we will both be able to do more. And after covid I have so much catching up to do with friends/going out etc.

skippy67 · 13/03/2022 17:04

In terms of fitting it all in, you have to prioritise. When my dc were little, I did classes around their schedule. So late at night when they were asleep, or first thing before they woke. As for netball, I've bought the dc with me if I've not had childcare. The league I play in always has lots of dc around the courts when matches are on. There's always a spare pair of hands willing to help. My friend bought her 8 month old twins along last week while she played. Netball babies are a thing!

fairylightsandwaxmelts · 13/03/2022 17:22

@RampantIvy

How do people have time to fit in all this exercise?
I find the time because I don't have DC and only work part-time.

Also, my job is dog-walking so I get the vast majority of exercise while I'm out working so I kill two birds with one stone.

Momicrone · 13/03/2022 17:25

How do people have time? Get off mumsnet for a start!