To think 3 or 4 exercise classes a week is enough

[Academiahell]

I’ve been trying to improve my fitness for a while after not exercising at all during the first half of my 20s. I currently do around 3 classes a week (one weights, one cardio, one Pilates) and feel pretty happy with that.

I’ve noticed that +++ people at my gym do multiple classes per day and are there most days so do around 7-10 per week. For me this seems excessive but maybe I am just lazy?

AIBU to think that 3 classes a week are enough!

I teach fitness classes and there are a lot of regulars in my classes, some of whom do classes every day (in some cases multiple classes).

The reasons for this vary. For many it is a social thing (especially for those who live alone). Many are retired/don’t work/work PT so have the time. Some are on a health kick or are trying to lose weight so will be there loads for a period of time but then eventually ease off.

Quite a lot of my participants talk to me about mental health and tell me that exercise is one of the key tools in their ‘mental health toolkit’ Some of them are just people who like to be busy ALL the time. In some cases this is due to a ND like ADHD, or sometimes just someone’s personality type. Some of the people there are recovering from addictions and frequent exercise is really helpful for them in their recovery.

So there are a multitude of reasons why some people do classes every day. You are doing fine with your 3 a week and are doing more exercise than many people, so if you are enjoying it and able to sustain that routine, it’s working for you.

I agree with @GerbilsForever24 . Stick to your 3 classes and increase fitness levels by more walking and maybe a bit of weight training.

Don’t think I can vote either way. If your goal is overall well-being then 3 classes is fine, and better than no exercise.
if you have other goals then 3 classes isn’t enough.
just depends on your goals and priorities really. No good or bad.
personally I do a specific sport. My current weeks training is 3 runs (1 easy, 1 tempo/intervals/hills, 1 long. Then 3x 1hour sport specific training g sessions, then 3x weights/strength and conditioning (upper, lower, and whole body) obviously this means I have to do multiple double session days to pack it all in and get a rest day. And yes I work full time, and I have a child- although a teenager which makes it easier. I try to do my ru s in my lunch break and my other training on the way to or from work, or early I. The morning in the weekends.

the volume is because it aligns with my goals. If your volume aligns with your goals and it makes you feel good that’s excellent

I work out 3-4 times a week, would love to do more but I work full time in a very demanding job.

I do 2 f45 classes and 2 runs. I used to get the blues when I saw how many classes some people do at f45 but the trainers told me that those who went every day in the vast majority of cases didn't work. I envy those who do the school run and go straight to class. I go straight to the office....

Also as others have said a huge part of fitness is the social side. Some of my best friends I e met through my sport. I miss them when I don’t keep to my routine.

also routine is very important to me, exercise and structure helps with my mental health

Sounds like you are doing a great job.
you will come across people who are also addicted to exercise (the benefits of physical activity can feel amazing and a great buzz) so there will be the occasional exercise addict that you come across too at the gym.

Sounds like you are doing a wonderful job so keep at it. Consistency is key

I do seven classes a week because I want to. I've had people comment that's it's too much in the past, but it's absolutely none of their business. I have opinions on different classes or different timetables but I don't share them as it's nothing to do with me.

For me, I would feel lazy only doing three or four classes a week. That's my personal preference. Just because I feel lazy doing a small amount doesn't mean others should do more. Equally, thinking people doing more is excessive doesn't mean they should do less.

I work full time and exercise is a priority to me.

I work full time and exercise is a priority to me.

SIL is the same. And thats 100% fine for her. Having time to sit and read my book or chill out is a priority for me. I probably SHOULD exercise more, but I don't enjoy it like she does and it doesn't feel like "me time" to me.

Each to their own.

OP - if your routine works for you and feels good for you, brilliant. SIL does double that. Brilliant for her.

hunterhearsthelmsley can you please share some tips for how you fit in 7 classes a week when working full time,

I'm up at 530, leave the house at 7 and get back for 7. it's really hard with this schedule . If I manage to WFH I can squeeze more in but this isn't a given.

Would love to know how you do it: maybe there's something I'm missing.

I work 7.30am-4.30pm very locally to my home and gym. I'm at the gym for 4.45pm, class at 5ish and home for 6.30pm. Some evenings I'll do two classes back to back and get back later. At the weekend, I just fit it in around whatever I'm doing and the class timetable.

When I commuted further, I used a gym close to the office and would travel home after that as I have a bit of a mental block about exercising later in the evening.

Basically, I think my hours and the fact I work near home make a huge difference.

I do two classes and one really long walk each week. One lady in one of my classes does three classes on that particular day plus two long dog walks. That’s a pretty normal day for her, she hates to sit still. She looks amazing, she must be late 60’s and her mum who is early 90’s is still in good health too.

It also doesn't sound like you have children to pick up/feed

There was a thread a while back where someone working full time with young children posted asking how people in similar situations fit in serious exercise. Almost everyone who responded explained how they did it by working part time, not at all, not having children...

I do better on 3/4 longer sessions a week than I do on 5/6 shorter sessions. Either way works out to similar overall hours but I find I don't recover properly without the rest days.

Just do what suits you if it's working

3 varied sessions is great for general good health.

Doing significantly more for the benefit of performance has diminishing returns on benefits to effort. Great if you can and want to (applies to me) but is absolutely not essential.

A friend of mine said to improve from either a cardio or strength pov you need to be doing it about 3x a week. So you’re doing strength once a week and cardio once a week. Certainly better than doing nothing but not sure it will be enjoyable to either make a massive difference to cardio fitness or strength.

I spin twice a week (sometimes three times a week) and i wouldn’t say twice does me much, my spinning ability hasn’t improved much. I need to do it 3x a week.

3 or 4 is pretty decent for general fitness and all I can manage tbh. Some women at my gum do around 20 classes a week! Mix of retired, people who do it for a social life and MH needs.

id go more if I had time but 30 classes is not necessary for fitness.

Enough for what? What do YOU want to achieve? Personally, I am too busy (or lazy, really!) to go to the gym. So I have a gym in my house and I do on line classes at around 6am, 5 days a week (but they could absolutely be done in your living room if you don’t have a gym, with some weights bought from Aldi). I do a mixture of heavy weights, step (I’m old school!) and HIIT, all free on YouTube. I also have a subscription to Body FX. I bought my heavy weight set in a closing down sale from a local gym.
I also walk about 60km per week (thank you to my mental dogs who NEED that much exercise!)
I therefore meet my goals of not being too flabby or fat (I also like wine, so I’m not as trim as I should be 🤣) and it works for me. You do what works for you op!

It wouldn’t be enough for me but you do you and don’t worry about what anyone else is doing. I doubt they are worried about what you’re doing.

Going from being inactive to doing 3-4 classes a week will massively improve your health and fitness. Good for you!

Stick with a number of classes that you can maintain over time. Forcing yourself to do multiple classes every day will likely lead to burnout, and you might end up either injured or simply so demotivated that you'll go back to not exercising at all.

spriots I remember that thread and followed it avidly! Gnashed teeth when so many people revealed that working part time or shorter/flexible hours was the key 🤪

Thanks for all your encouragement everyone. I’m changing jobs towards the end of the year which I’m hoping will give me a bit more time so hopefully that will help 😊

I answered the question I was asked. That question did not include children.

I know a mum who is desperately fixated on exercise and would do several classes a day at the gym and a very long run. She always looks quite unwell. (Not judging, I was anorexic and over exercised and under ate following a trauma, but I do feel sad for her that this has been her life for so long)

On the other hand it doesn't seem unreasonable to do something like a cardio class and also a yoga class in the same day

How do people have time to do this?

Are you in your late 20s?You're not even doing enough to maintain your fitness, let alone to improve it. YABU.