How often do you exercise?

[whattodo2019]

How old are you and how often do you exercise?
When do you exercise and how do you fit it into your days?
I need motivation!

I'm 45 and don't exercise...

Can I ask, anyone that is now 40-60, did you have little energy for exercise in your 20's and 30's and now feel you have more energy or do you just do it because you know you should?

@YappityYapYap I exercised on and off throughout my 20s and 30s too. In my 20s it was the gym although nothing too crazy. In my 30s, it was crazy gym, full-on cycling, rowing 5 times a week (I was in a racing crew), spin classes most days plus British Military Fitness in the park. When I hit 40, I had a break (mainly due to the pressure of work) and got into bad habits of eating and drinking too much and not exercising. I looked and felt terrible. Then in my mid-40s I got my fitness mojo back and now I'm as fit (and the same clothes size) as I was when I was in my 30s crazy gym phase. I turn 50 next month eek! I don't feel 50. I hope I don't look it. I'm dating a man 10 years younger than me (who I met in the gym) so that helps with the motivation to stay fit and healthy.

On a good week, 6 days including twice on some days (lunchtime and after work), a mix of running, yoga, bike and weights. On a bad week it will be 3-4 sessions. Exercise keeps me sane which is my motivation! It’s an excellent stress buster.

I'm 37 and play netball as often as I possibly can. Normally twice a week.

35 and doing yoga every couple of days about a 30 minute practice. I used to run but my knees can't take it. Really need to do more than I am but lack motivation for anything else at the moment.

I'm 36. I run twice a week, about 5k each time. I do one or two classes at the gym each week (Bodypump or circuits), and I do yoga every evening (usually 20 min Youtube video). I have been building up this routine gradually over the last year or so - I have two small children so it is difficult, but as they grow up I've gradually been able to do a bit more. I would like to do more ideally...maybe as they get older.

As to motivation, I would say daily habits keep me motivated. My yoga is sometimes a tough work out, but sometimes more meditative. But either way the daily habit of doing something keeps me focused on healthy habits.

Oh and as to how I fit it in, I mostly depend on lunchtimes at work. One day I run with work colleagues, and 1-2 days I do the classes at the gym near work. My second run is on Sunday mornings when DH and DC are eating breakfast.

It does mean that if I'm busy at work, or I am on annual leave, it's difficult to keep up the routine.

I do 4 x1 hr sessions a week and on the days of no structured exercise I take the dog for an extra long walk.

I run 6 times a week. Work full time during the week, with one DC at nursery and the other school. I do a long run on a Sat (couple of hours if marathon training) whilst DH takes kids to swimming, an hour on Sunday morning (very early so it doesn't eat in to family time). During the week so fit 4 runs in. Two days I work from home so run during my lunch break, and the other two I usually go out very early in the morning before DH leaves for work at 7:00 or as a last resort on the treadmill once kids are in bed. Use to think I never had time for exercise but it's amazing what you can fit in if you want to.

I'm 57 and do no exercise at all (shamefully). Used to play competitive badminton but can't now due to arthritis. But I've been inspired by this thread and have just booked a pilates class, so thank you OP. Will also start getting out at lunch (work full time) to walk a bit.

48. Run 5k on a treadmill every lunch time. Fortunate to have a gym opposite my work. Also play 6 aside football once a week.

I’m 56. I run 5k Parkrun on Saturday morning, do a class on Sunday evening and run 5k one weekday lunchtime.

So about 130 minutes “vigorous exercise” -nhs term- every week.

I also work full time and have sole care of 11yo ds, so constantly busy.

I’m 48, run 3 times a week and yoga twice a week. Kids are grown up now so have more time for myself.
I have always run though as it’s easiest to fit in around everyone else

35. Never really started exercising until I turned 30 and then I had a long gap off while I was pregnant and on maternity leave. Then time constraints meant I could only exercise if I was getting up at 5am! I started getting back into regular exercise only last year, after I got a job working from home 100%.

My motivation: to be honest, not wanting to end up like my mum. She was overweight and diabetic all my life. this resulted in kidney failure and several strokes. She passed away in 2018 and my son will never remember his grandmother. She was only 66. I miss her every damn day.

So I exercise and eat right in the hope that I will one day be a grandmother to DSs kids (if he chooses to have any) and watch them grow up.

At the moment, I'm doing yoga every morning before work and then a short HIIT workout at lunch time. I'm thinking about doing the couch to 5k. I am about to upgrade my dumbbells from 3.5 to 5kg :)

I'm fifty one, I am in the gym six days a week. Four days cardio, two days lifting.

My motivation is pure vanity. Yes I like the health benefits, if I need to break into a run I can do so without embarrassing myself. I know having a strong body is a positive.

But yeah it's the vanity if I'm honest. I want to look toned and fit. The only way to achieve that is to get my arse in there. Laying on the sofa doesn't make it happen,,,😁

33 and every day unless I’m ill (currently) where I probably do 3-4 days instead.

I'm 44 and go to the gym 4-5 times a week for 1.5 hours a session.
I do 30-40 mins cardio (mix it up with the stepper/stairmaster/running/spinning) and weights.

I go because I'm the slimmest and fittest I've ever been and want to stay that way! I don't want to be old with flabby arms and weak bones, I'd rather be strong even if that means getting in the gym at 6am and eating less cake than I'd like!

@Bluntness100 do you find 4 days cardio 2 days lifting is a good balance? Do you mind me asking what your figure is like? I’m fairly new into exercise and am wondering where the balance is. I currently do more lifting than cardio but need to burn the fat as well as build muscle so not sure if I should switch it round?

New into serious exercise I should add

I'm 38, and I exercise 5 out of 7 days, I either run for an hour (6 miles) or I go to a high intensity cardio class at the gym, like body attack.

I'm 41 and I workout daily. I'm primarily a skater so I 'workout' because skating is pretty much the best thing in the world and I want to do it all the time. I go to the rink 2-3 times a week for 2-5 hours at a time. Depending on the weather I try to skate 22-35km outdoors twice a week, as I'm trying to get my marathon times into the sub two hour range, though that's a lot harder on wet ground. If the weather doesn't co-operate or if I really can't find the time for that, I use my slideboard. 40 minutes on that is close to the equivalent of a long skate, especially as I use dumbells and add arm exercises to my routine. In dry weather I add in a session or two a week at the skate park if I can but I won't do that alone, so it's hared to organise.

I stretch twice a day and do strength exercises 3 times a week, aimed at lower core and chest. I do the stretching and strength for the sole goal of improving my skating. A stronger core makes it easier to check turns (ie immediately kill the momentum of your spin once you are in the correct position) and land jumps. I've only been skating for a year so am only starting out on single jumps (ie, one full rotation) and if your core is weak it's so, so much harder to control and land your jump safely. And I have a fantasy of being able to do a handstand at the top of a ramp, so having a stronger core and upper body is the only way that will ever work.

So I'm very fit with is great for both my over all health and weight as I head towards middle age and menopause. And I do enjoy how I look. I never sought out having visible abs or wearing size 4 jeans (I am very, very short) but I'd be lying through my teeth is I didn't say that I derive pleasure from them now. But they aren't my motivator. My motivator is being able to skate in a way that I only ever thought was possible in my imagination.

49 - I run twice a week, do a high intensity class once a week, 1 hit class and weights at home twice a week

I do it because we have a genetic history of heart disease and I want to keep fit

Hi, I'm a size ten, five foot eight. I can go up to a twelve. I'd say I look toned, as in you can see I work out, as my body has definition. Not muscly as that's pretty impossible to achieve for women naturally.

Everyone has something different that works for them, most fitness experts though do do a mix of weights and cardio.

I kinda developed my own routine, I find cardio boring, so I do a mix of running, elliptical, and bike to keep it interesting all on the one day . On weights days. I do full body, so it takes me a lot longer, at least ninety mins to two hours, and twice a week is enough for me. I don't think I'd be able to physically do it more and my muscles need to heal.

37, run three times a week, try to get to the gym to cross-train once a week, and am trying to get back into yoga on the remaining days. At the moment DS is quite enjoying doing yoga with mummy, so I can normally get half an hour in somewhere.

Motivation is my mental health - I had a nasty phase of stress and insomnia last year and started running again as a reaction to that. I ran before but this time I really feel like I’ve found my mojo - I’m slower than lost and I only run up to about 5k at the moment, but it makes me really happy. And I can sleep again (well not at the moment as DS is ill... but usually!).

38 and do a marathon gym session on a Saturday and Sunday and then a spin class on a thursday. I would love to fit in more but I start work at 8 so I don't have time to go before work as my gym only opens at 7am and am also studying for my CIMA which is using up most of my week nights. Im building up my stamina running on the treadmill with the hope that I can start running outside a few mornings a week so fingers crossed by the time the weather improves I should be able to manage 5k. I'd love to try Pillates but the only local class for me is at my gym and it is during the day when I'm at work which is annoying!

61 - and none - I do work in retail so am standing up all day, lots of moving around and lifting, and I try to walk a bit.

I have no excuse except laziness, I have plenty of spare time and money to pay for a gym membership - my DH goes to the gym or swimming most days (he's even gone out walking in this weather). Even my 86 year old DM does yoga once a week.