How do you manage to exercise everyday?

[Thewerera66it]

I love running, which I do two - three times a week. I also do yoga once a week and tend to walk as much as I can during daily life. However, I am really envious of people who are physically able to exercise every day. Don't you get exhausted???? I would love to do some sort of CV exercise daily, but I know that if I did then my mental health would plummet.

I'm asking out of curiosity, really. I am happy with my exercise regime as it is, but often wonder where people's energy comes from!

I don't sleep if I don't get a lot of exercise. Actually, swimming is a bit easier if you aren't truly awake for it. More rather than less exercise is better for my mental health.

Depends what you classify as exercise? I've got an Apple Watch that sets me daily goals which I like to meet - 1 of these is 30 mins of exercise - ie elevated heart rate. A brisk stroll will do it. I also have an 'active calorie' goal each day, so because I'm a stubborn do and so, I will always try to do something, even if it's a couple of walks a day - half an hour at lunch and a treadmill session at home in the evening. My DC are also old enough to be left alone now, so I can get out when they're around.

A typical week for me would be:
Mon: maybe a yoga class or Barre, or a workout at home around work (work from home on Mondays)
Tues: Power Yoga; walk at work (lunch)
Wed: walk at work, treadmill in evening, either run or walk depending on energy levels
Thurs: walk at work, circuits class
Fri: PT session
Sat: something at home fairly gentle
Sun: tennis/yoga/circuits at home/long walk/run ie whatever is available and whatever I fancy to meet my goals.

So a lot of walking (when it's dry!), and evening stuff is reliant on not having something else on.

I find the more I do, the more energy I have.

I just keep it part of my daily routine so don't even consider skipping it even if I'm tired. I treat it like a meeting or appointment so there is no option to back out. I always feel better afterwards.
It's also good to know when the best time to exercise is for you. For me if I've not done it before noon then chances are I won't so I go straight from school run Monday-Friday

Carrie74 I guess I was thinking heart rate elevation, but more strenuous than walking. Often I read of individuals doing runs or exercise classes daily, which is the kind of thing that I know I would struggle with.

It's interesting that you say that it's better for your mental health to exercise daily, whereas for me I need recovery days.

I struggle to get to the gym but aim to go 3-5 x per week as I did when I was younger and slimmer . Also have a dog to walk and work @ 8-6 with a 1-1 1/2 hr commute each way .

What’s been really helpful is the gym now does virtual classes from 6.15am and also running later in the evenings .

Davina 7 Minute Fit DVD.

op you say you need rest days in between, why?

The more exercise you do generally the more stamina and fitter you feel and you end up in a virtuous cycle.

I have to fit my exercise around work, dh being away a lot and a young family. Some days I can’t but then I’ll go much harder the next day.

I also have an elliptical in my bedroom and use that if I can’t get to the gym.

It's not the opportunity that's the issue - I'm lucky in that I have time to exercise everyday; it's the tiredness that I struggle with. Maybe it's an age thing - I'm 47.

Mawkish the DVD sounds interesting. Is it one of these where you work your socks off for a very short period of time???

Low impact stuff every day fine, hard stuff less often. SO gentle jog not hard and fast on your rest days Or Do upper body strength on days when your legs tired from running?

I’m over 50 btw . I have huge variety ..dance climb weights hit yoga cross trainer....

I used to go to the gym everyday.
I was always sore from the weights,
But when I was single I went out of boredom it killed an hour before going home.
Now I’m just lazy my work hours are the same iv no excuse.
My false excuse to myself last night was I’m tired after working and making dinner. So I lay in bed like a slob haha. Then I was up late.

I don't do exercise everyday. I lift heavy and do a full body session so I'm pretty sore the next day, I wouldn't be able to do that everyday.
I do that every other day.

It doesn't need to be a daily thing if you're pushing yourself on the days you do go.

I do a 7am yoga class Mon-Thur and a 10am Fri- Sun. I also walk the dog every day.

It is tiring getting up at 6am but it's worth it.

I did try a couple of bootcamp type classes at 7am but i found I was wrecked at work later on in the day.

The yoga is kinder and my body seems to like waking up for it.

I think the key is finding something your body responds well to and looks forward to.

if I have rest days I know that when I DO exercise I can work harder.
Whenever I have tried to do CV exercise daily I feel exhausted overall, which then makes me feel very low and tearful (I'm on long term AD, so have to watch my mental health).

As I've said, I'm happy with my level of exercise. It works for me and I am fit and healthy. But I can't help feeling a little wistful when I read of people enjoying daily workouts!

Perhaps it's the type of exercise you're doing? I walk to work every day - which I guess counts as exercise, and I really miss it if I don't.
I also go to the gym and lift weights. My body certainly couldn't cope with me doing that every day, but it would be happy for me to do something less intense in between.

So I guess the answer to your question is that people don't do "hard" exercise every day - they mix up different intensities and types.

OP yes, it’s great.

There are loads of 7 minute routines, and you can do just one if you’re short of time, or do a few if you’re feeling fit/virtuous.

I’m a week in (this time around) and I can already feel that my bum has toned up.

op. I do some CV for my heart health, some weights and strength and then some yoga type exercises.

Any chance you're anemic, OP?

Rest & recovery days are really important for preventing injury. Seriously. You're better off exercising 4 or 5 days a week than 7.

Of course you can exercise every day- but I would vary it

So for example if I run 3x a week, I would do a Zumba class on day 4, swim on day 5, 10 minutes HIIT on day 6 and then some Pilates on day 7.

There are some really gentle exercises to do on "rest" days, some yoga and Pilates moves for instance, and you can go for a walk or whatever of course.

We don't need to rest 100% any days. It's better to do a little bit often, but variety is key. If you run every day, for instance, the impact on your knees etc. Isn't great. Whereas if you mix it up it keeps any particular area becoming a problem

Well, this is a typical average week:

Sunday - 1 hour run + upper body exercises.
Monday - 20min walk to /back work
Tuesday 20min walk to/back from work
30 min gym (sometimes!) or Outdoor run in summer + upper body exercises
Wednesday 20min walk to/back from work
Thursday 30 min walk to /from shops. one hour yoga class
Friday long run+ upper body exercises
Saturday nothing.

So, as I said, I'm happy with the amount of exercise I do. To the PP, I am a long term vegetarian, so probably do have low iron levels, but I can run 8-9 miles in a go and maintain good energy levels at the moment, so I think it's unlikely that I'm anaemic.

I exercise around an hour each day and also walks loads. Have lots of energy.

I do cardio and strength training, alternating days. So kettlebells, dumbbells, HIIT. Doing just ‘pure’ cardio every day isn’t good. Mix it up. Add in strength training. There are so many benefits to it!!

Sounds like you do plenty op!

I run every day. I have done for ages. At the moment I'm averaging over 10km every day.

Don't you get exhausted?

No, and I love it. I feel very lucky to have the time and if I had more time I would do more running each day!

How do you manage to exercise everyday?

I built up to where I am slowly. But from the outset I always exercised daily, just far less intense.

• started with a short walk every day
• became a 5km minimum walk every day
• became a 5km minimum fast walk every day
• started adding in small bits of running (via the C25K program), while keeping the overall distance as 5km by walking the rest
• built up to 5km run every day
• started doing 1 or 2 longer runs in the week, keeping my 5km run on other days

.... and so on. You get the idea.

If I had the time and resources (ie staff to look after the home and children so I had no other responsibilities in the day), I'd be quite happy devoting 8 hours a day to exercising!