How much exercise do you actually do?

[whimsicalname]

That's it really. I think I've got in with the wrong crowd at my running club who all seem to workout 2 or more hours a day. Please tell me I'm not the only one not doing that.

I didn't mean the addiction thing as necessarily a bad thing Suzanne , am 'guilty' of it myself but I think the key, as you say, is learning to listen to your body and slack off when you know you are pushing too hard. For me this is general fatigue plus an inability to sleep properly (ironic but true). I think if you can do that, also take a proper break if you are ill or on holiday for example, then it's not a bad (or even necessarily 'true') addiction at all. I think one of the defining elements of an addiction is that you need to gradually do more of the same to feel satisfied - I don't have that! I also don't get too grumpy or unhappy if circumstances such as sick kids force a day or so off either (frustrated and irritable yes, but not that anyone else is likely to notice).

Sleep, in retrospect I was facetious there on the subject of addiction!
As you say, some of it's defining features (needing more and more to get the same effect, compulsive behavior, partaking in activities which do more harm than good) mean that (true) addiction does tend to be detrimental.

Now I'm confused about whether or not I am addicted!

(Initially I was responding to Ironmaggie who posted that she had been called an exercise addict)

Both my husband and I were much more active pre-kids than we are and are able to be now. We used to run regularly, my husband to a high level (sub-2h40m marathon times) spend whole days or weekends away riding mountain bike trails, doing triathlons, and taking active holidays - skiing etc. All of which are impossible to replicate with toddlers around. And the lack of sleep in the early months (years in our case!) is also a complicating factor.

I know that not all MN users have kids so am curious to know how many posters on this thread are parents. Childcare and time (both tp train, and rest / recover) are the main issues when it comes to fitting in exercise and sport when you have kids in my view.

My husband works FT and I'm PT. We only have 1 child but with not many babysitters available, finding time to exercise is hard. And we enjoy spending time with our son too so don't want to spend masses of our non-work time away from him.
My husband has changed sports as doing running and triathlons now doesn't interest him as he'd never match his old PBs as he can't do the training needed. He now does tennis and gym sessions with a weekly run, but time remains a challenge.

Maybe when our kids are older, more independent, going to bed at a more regular time and waking up at a more reasonable hour, are at school we'll be able to do more, and hopefully with them as they get even older.

But I'm being realistic for now. Home workouts for me, weekend walks and hikes for us all, the odd run together with DS in the running buggy etc.

If only our local swimming pool had decent lanes at the weekend. DH and I could do a swim session each, taking turns to splash about in the other bit of the pool with DS. But they don't. More integrated thinking from sport and leisure providers would really help parents to exercise and stay healthy. Leisure centre creches should be just the start....

My DH was most definitely an exercise / endorphin addict in his pre-kids days btw...

When my daughter was small enough to carry, I was fitter than I have ever been in my life. Throughout my pregnancy I exercised hard. When she was born I carried her everywhere, rarely using the pushchair. By the time she was almost five, she was getting too heavy, and most nights every muscle in my body ached. If I wanted to go somewhere, I always used to go by bike, but she wouldn't stay in the childseat so I had to walk. I would just sit her on my shoulders when she couldn't walk fast enough or far enough.

Many people expressed surprise that I could do it, and a few very close friends worried for my sanity. But I would say I was stronger than any woman I know and many men too. Cardio fitness was also very good, and I did my stretches while DD was playing on the swings, so I was flexible too.

Since she is too big to carry, but too young to ride a bike on the roads I need to use to get to where we need to go, we have to drive much more, and all the muscle I built up is dissolving. So my new year exercise regime is to do the shopping on foot or bike. And looking in to getting a tandem, as the hook-on thing is now too small too.

Run for half an hour 3-4 times a week. Gym about 3 times a week (mostly lifting).
But the rest of my life is very inactive.

In answer to inconceivable - we always cycled everywhere. Once babies came that was very hard indeed. I still cycled to the tube station but even that stopped when I had to take the oldest child to her school bus en route to my work. I certainly did a lot of running up and down stairs tidying up when I had children and lugging huge twin boy toddlers around when they were that stage was good exercise. Quite a bit of DIY and housework we both did is actually exercise. We always did stuff like mowed our own lawn which I still do now the children are older. I think you can add exercise in such as cycling to work even after you have children but it's certainly harder. A lot of time when they were younger was taking them to exercise. When the older 3 had a riding lesson though I did have a year when I had a lesson at the same time next door so sometimes it's possible.

Also walks with little children are basically tiny strolls as toddlers go off in all directions or don't want to be in the buggy and older children tend not to like walking up mountains.

We did start taking the older 3 skiing when they were 3/5/7, put them in ski school and skied ourselves - quite expensive but we both worked full time. I still take them skiing once a year now they are teenagers although we often ski apart once there as all 5 children are faster than I am and I used to be the best at skiing when they were little.

Now they are bigger i have more time for bikram yoga which I highly recommend to everyone if you live near a proper bikram class. Also always run up all stairs. I try to run up those at home two at a time. I also walk much faster than most people when I am out and about too.

I am SAHM and manage about 3 x 1hr kickboxing classes, 2-3 gym sessions (mostly lifting, bit of HIIT) and about 2 hot yoga sessions of 1.5 hrs. On the days I do more than one of these it's alongside the DC's, I'll pop upstairs to the gym while 2 have swimming lessons or have a personal kickboxing lesson while dc's do their class for example. Before they were in school/nursery I used the crèche at the gym every day, it saved my sanity . Now DH will do 6-7km runs around the park with the older 2 dc's riding their bikes sometimes. He works long hours but manages 30-60 minute run or cycle a day and a long 50-80m cycle on a Saturday. It's really hard to work and fit in regular exercise with DC's (especially if LP!) but it is possible.

I run 5 times a week and do body pump twice a week. I'm trying to add in some weight sessions at the gym , to improve my strength .

So far my knees seems fine ( thanks for asking ) and I'm in my 50s.

I have three kids at home ( 2 in primary school ), work part time and my DHs works away a lot .

I exercise when the kids are at school and I'm not at work, or run early mornings /evenings when DH is at home . Or do classes /gym in between dropping off and picking up one child at a sports centre ( 4 times a week ) - not possible if I have a younger child with me .

I used to go to the gym or swim at lunchtime when I worked near a sports centre . I Started 30 mins earlier in the morning so I could take a longer lunch break .

I don't watch TV though.most people I know watch far more than 2 hours TV a day . So I guess that's where I find the time .

I forgot to say that I don't iron and I don't commute . My work is a 15 minute drive away and I can work at home some days, it's very flexible

Kristina- I don't watch TV either. I do 3 body pump classes and 3 body balance a week, I am also in my 50s.
I hit the gym at 9am on the mornings I exercise. I have kids ( no iron) an a partner who is often away.
I work 40 hours a week, but self employed and work from home so no communte and I choose my hours.

< high fives big blue stars>

Argh, I was going to skip today, but you lot are making reminding me that I need to get off my ass. I am a bit sore after bootcamp last night so I'll go for my run. Sod you all.

(In answer to the original question though, there is no way I would have the patience for 2 hours per day of anything! I try to run 5-ish km 3 times a week (30-45mins) and do 3 strength/conditioning/bootcamp classes (30 mins). )

Kanye- if it's any consolation I was booked into the gym this morning for two classes, but woke up with a temperature, raging sore throat. It's the kids first day back at school and first time I have been to the gym for a week so was looking forward to going.

I feel as weak as a lamb, frustrated and fed up.

Poor you, bluestars, I hope you're feeling better again soon. I hate the feeling when I can't do something, rather than choosing not to, it always makes me want to do it all the more. Today, however I'm just feeling lazy, so in your honour, I'll go get my sports bra on now

THanks Kanye. X Enjoy your run.

This thread does give a slightly one sided view. In fact 1 in 10 people in the UK did no exercise in the last decade and 80% do less than the Government recommends. Very impressive posters on here though. Keep it up.

I agree flower- those who don't exercise will probably have no interest in this thread and just move on.
I agree that us exercisers are in the minority.

Also if you don't exercise at all (most people) do remember that running up stairs, scrubbing the bathroom, mowing the grass, chasing the children in the park, cycling to the shops are all exercise of some kind. Run for the bus. Lift very heavy boxes and children at home. All that is very good stuff. You don't have to do formal runs or go to gyms if that's not your thing.

I remember how frustrating it was when babies came. Hard to cycle as if you go with them they cannot keep up (now of course they have to wait for me to catch them up, same when I ski with them). I remember taking them swimming = parent not swimming at all because you're standing the shallow end with babies. Even once you have 3 under 5 as we had going on a walk is not really a proper walk as at least one will be walking at a snail's pace.

I think we have all been there flower. Of course many of us who go to the gym are also running up stairs/ mowing the lawn/scrubbing floors as well as exercising.

Am feeling very lazy and inactive after reading this thread!! I was very fit until autumn last year when I just seemed to lose all motivation, and then with the excuse of a) crap weather and b) christmas was on the way I seemed to have stopped exercising completely and ate utter rubbish. Prior to that I went to zumba classes twice a week, gym (step machine, etc) twice a week and a brisk half hr walk almost daily, maybe a cycle a couple of times a week with the kids.

Started back yesterday, did a zumba class, then this morning did an hour on the wii fit, mixture of aerobic, muscle and yoga exercises. Hoping to go for a cycle tomorrow if the weather picks up.
How do you all stay motivated, that's my real problem, I can be great for a few weeks, start eating better and feeling better, more energetic, etc but then self sabotage kicks in and I start missing a class here and there, a chocolate bar creeps in and before I know it I'm a couch potato again. I do enjoy exercise when I'm actually doing it but am a terrible procrastinator, I'll stand at the window and watch the clouds come over and say 'can't go for my walk now, it's going to rain'! Any tips? Thanks in advance.

I agree with the PP who said there could be more joined up thinking from providers.

The government laments out lack of exercise. It is a huge problem for the NHS. But if you both work and have kids it is nigh on impossible.

I mainly now do home DVDs and weights and have a bike at home. So I am still fit but that doesn't work for everyone.

After Dc3 I decided I would do something every day, but I have myself a choice, gym/swim/run/yoga. One of them was always the 'least bad' prospect. I tried to develop the attitude that exercise is just something I do every day, like brushing my teeth (and now it pretty much is, although that slips when I'm away from home). And eventually you miss it if you don't do it. Remember that unless you are actually getting ill, you never get to the end of a workout feeling worse or wishing you hadn't bothered. If you are hesitating, get kit and trainers on anyway, then if still hesitating, say to yourself you will do 15-20 minutes and if you aren't enjoying it or still want to be on the sofa stop - it will almost never happen and even if it does, 15-20 minutes is better than nothing . Finally, try and find something you love, or get a huge sense of achievement from - for me it is kickboxing. I quite enjoy the gym but 2-3 times a week is plenty and part of its purpose for me is to improve my kickboxing, pure aesthetics would not be enough motivation to keep me going, even as vain as I am!