How to get exercise into daily life

[squirrelnutkin23]

As someone who hates exercise I am making a conscious effort to do a bit more. I work part time and look after a toddler on my days off so life is pretty hectic. I make time to go to the gym once or twice a week but usually when it coincides with something else - like I'll go on the way back from shopping or something.

Occasionally I'll do a YouTube workout at home but I struggle more with getting myself psyched up for this.

If you exercise daily what does your routine look like? How do you fit it in around daily life/kids/chores?

Perhaps I need one of these watches, but I wear a nice watch, dont really want one of these things. At peri menopause I seem to have very little control over temperature regulation these days, its either one thing or the other!

I exercise at home in the morning: yoga, pilates or weights, before anyone is up (pre-kids I used to take my gym bag to work on specific days and go straight there).

I walk a lot and move around the house a lot. @soupfiend start small and gradually increase your steps. I usually do between 10,000 and 15,000 steps.

@soupfiend getting up every hour and walking around for a bit can help but depends on what kind of job you have. I will go to the toilet furthest away from my office to walk further

I don’t have children and WFH 2-3 days a week.

I do an exercise class 6 days a week - usually barre or HIIT, usually first thing in the morning. I power walk everywhere and average 10-12,000 steps a day. On WFH days I force myself to go for a walk to get my step count up, usually around lunch time/early afternoon.

I don’t take weekends off - exercising at the weekend is one of favourite things to do, and it’s when I can mix up my routine (e.g. by trying a different class, or going on a hike).

I see daily movement as essential and as a privilege, and genuinely love every minute of exercise 🙂

Brisk walking carrying shopping is good.

This is a very useful thread. Great ideas. Thanks everyone

Some good ideas yes

I do think its easier if you are home based and have no commute that needs to be done by car or you dont work full time/at all

First & most important advice I was given when getting into exercising..

Find something you enjoy...

I used to love clubbing so now I have my own private rave by myself ... Its an awesome workout 💃💃💃🤣
I throw in some strength stuff and other stuff now I'm totally into it

Its about finding something you can get in to rather than something that's an utter chore 🤞😄

I go to the gym three times a week and write it in my diary to give me a sense of achievement. If I get to Saturday morning and have only been once I make sure I. Go Saturday and Sunday.

I go early morning at the weekend so DH does the children and after work in the week.

I do 30 mins YouTube work out with weights every day as soon as dh leaves with dcs at 8am (he also does a longish walk to school with them). Then 30 mins getting ready before wfh log on. I literally don’t have the time to psych myself up - I also work out in my pjs and then stick them in the wash! It’s done early and I love that even if I’ve had a bad day I’ve done something positive for myself.

I do a home workout twice a week and try to get to one class, either yoga or pilates, and I do 10,000 steps a day. That's all I've got time for!

You need to find a type of exercise or class you really enjoy, then you will be able to find time. Maybe sign up and try a few different things and see what you love

Twice a week, I get up at 6am and do a quick weights workout. Then once a week I do a yoga stretch type video when wfh.

I have a walking treadmill to get steps up and try to average 6-7k per day.

There are some really good step workouts on YouTube that can easily add 2-3k steps in 15/20 mins.

I aim for 150mins of exercise per week. But often 120mins is good enough for me.

I plan my exercise. I book in 4 gym visits per week on Saturday for the next week. 2 body pump, 1 spinning 1 body balance and check with DH to see when he is free if stuff needs doing wth our children. I do 10,000 steps on average per day across the week between dog walks and just walking if necessary. But home work puts can work well too to fit it in. Just plan ahead and make it non negotiable like work and you will do it.

Walk daily (have a dog). I also cycle when DC are in school if I have a free day.

I have Les Mills On Demand and a fair bit of kit at home as I wouldn’t have time to get to a gym. I run 2-3 x per week and try and do 2 strength workouts from the app. If I don’t want to run I’d do a grit or body combat or spin also from the app. I tend to get up super early before work/school drop off but I’ve been wfh for the last couple of weeks and done a lunchtime workout which was lovely.

Never use escalators or lifts

I walk on my lunch break where possible and after work with the dog when DH is back to get my 10k- I am a fast walker plus my job can be quite active.
i do a YouTube yoga most nights before bed and stick to the 15-20 min ones
I train early on a Saturday and Sunday with a PT

It is a discipline and I often struggle in the winter. I cycle to work rain or shine.
If I WFH I aim to do an early run instead of the commute.
DC activities usually get in the way of Parkrun on a Saturday but I try if I can.
With a toddler it is difficult and I didn't manage much then. You sound like you are doing OK OP.

Walk everywhere. I wfh but do nursery and school runs on foot, no matter how crap the weather is. Extra three mile walk at lunchtime.

Routine is key. Never fall back to the car option, ever, even when it's brutally cold. It just becomes a habit.

I see the ladies with buggies running along the seafront. 150 minutes recommended at the moment. The 10k steps was just hype by the Japanese manufacturers of the old manual pedometers. You can get fit in 12 mins hit,if pushed for time,see Michael Mosley. I joined Joe wicks in lockdown. I now have an f bike, weights, steppers, resistance bands at home. Used to cycle, now live in a very hilly area (in my 70s) got dogs,will hill walk when not muddy/slippery. When the grandkids were small, they went with me in a carrier. I did just over 9k steps yesterday it was 2.62 miles,that was just out walking, not counting indoors, housework, because the app is on my phone. If you look at the stats the fit watches are very inaccurate,20% out on HR alone. Agree, you have to find something you actually enjoy doing. I do a lot of stairs/steps (coastal cliffs) because of you downsize to a bungalow or ground floor flat,you need to excercise your knees and hips.

It's a struggle but I remind myself that I never want to be a size 14/16 ever again. I walk the dog, and before getting a Peloton I'd try to go out and run for 20-30mins plus 20mins of yoga 5x a week.

I have 4 kids, (one is 4), and work FT from home.