What's your workout routine

[cupofchaitea]

Im looking to get into a good exercise routine. I exercise sometimes but don't have good routine.

What is yours like?

I was thinking doing Pilates 2x a week, a 5k 3 times a week and then something else like tennis, long walk, hill walk or paddle boarding on another day? What do you think? I worry it is too much as you hear about too much exercise ruining your metabolism.

Also how much more do you eat on days that you exercise?

TIA

PT twice a week (strength training), 2 classes (Pump and Legs, Bums, Tums).

Plus 3 solo gym sessions which start with a 3-4km jog on the treadmill with a mix of free weights and various machines eg assault bike, row, ski erg. Free weights will be renegade row, mountain climbers, Russian twists, variations on planks or crunches which I split into circuits.

I’m also doing 100 squats a day currently for charity.

I’m also doing My Fitness Pal and the only extra thing I have on exercise days is a Ufit protein drink straight after a workout. The white chocolate ones are particularly delicious.

I tend to do four or five classes - body pump, body attack, aerobics
Swim in the summer
Walking as much as possible
Gym will do some bike, fast walking as can’t run and weights
Out of everything I like the classes best

Harley Pasternaks,25 minutes 5 days a week. Used to do Tracey Andersons dance/aerobics as warmup and get heart rate up
Last year Jo Wicks. Treated myself to an "E" bike,used to cycle weekly before moving to the top of a hill. Have a couple of dogs.long and short walks with them. Hill walking. I don't eat any more on excercise days

Boxing classes 3 times a week, peloton classes twice a week, 30 minute brisk walk 5 days a week, tennis once a week

Personally I think that’s a lot of running, but it’s most important to do what YOU enjoy - that way you will want to do it. Never heard about the metabolism thing but yes you definitely need rest days as recovery is also important.

I think you should look at the reasons why you’re not currently in a routine and then build the routine around that if that makes sense. For example, do you avoid Pilates because the class times are inconvenient - maybe look for something that fits better. Do you avoid running because its lonely - maybe look to join a netball team or running club. Hope that makes sense! I feel like it also helps to have a goal to work towards eg a sub 25 min 5k, complete a triathlon etc

As for diet, you definitely need to keep fuelling your body if you’re increasing exercise. Personally I would stick to the same macros six days a week, but perhaps increase them a bit on the day that you do the outdoorsy stuff? That sort of daytime endurance stuff defo makes me starving and it will also allow you to be more flexible with dining out or packed lunches.

Running 5x a week, between 30 and 50 miles depending on what I'm training for.
A bit of cycling and climbing here and there. One body pump class a week.

What you suggest doesn't sound anywhere near too much to me, OP.

Strength training 4/5 times a week, run 2/3 times (distance varies, currently 5-8k), Pilates, lots of walking (I quite often hit 30k steps), cycling, outdoor bootcamp.

OP, your routine sounds good if you enjoy those things but nothing like too much. The NHS recommendation, which really are a baseline, are here www.nhs.uk/live-well/exercise/.

Running 5 times a week, approx 50km in total, usually a longer run, two medium runs (12km) and two shorter runs (5 or 6km)

A strength class once a week, also occasional swims and lots of walking.

Echoing PPs I don't think that sounds like too much.

At the moment I try to do Pilates daily at home (anything from 20 minutes to 1hr, depending on time). Then one intermediate ballet class and yoga classes (number varies per week). Occasional park run.

I don't think I alter my eating much at all.

Bloody hell where do you find the time?

I run 3 times a week doing 25 - 30k on average, and 2 body pump classes a week as well. I love the balance of strength training and running

@OakleyStreetisnotinChelsea

Bloody hell where do you find the time?

I was thinking the same! I bought a rebounder just before covid and I do a 10 minute workout after lunch at home. Then I do a 10 minute muffin top youtube workout. Plus I do the morning school run. I don't think I'd have the time to leave the house to go to a gym for 1.5 hours (including travel time).

Sounds fine. Try and find a routine you can stick to, ideally forever, rather than all or nothing. You’ll get lots of people who comment who do a lot but are currently losing weight and haven’t always done that much and won’t continue to do as much. So don’t compare yourself to others. Do what feels comfortable and increase duration and intensity as you go along. Being consistent is what’s important.

I don’t tend to eat more on gym days, just keep it balanced overall.

The majority of people can find time to exercise if they prioritise it. Single parents of young children aside. Personally I get up and work out at 5.30am as I work ft and have 2 small children. Saying that isn’t me boasting or trying to say I’m some kind of wonderwoman but it’s what I do because exercise is important to me and I prioritise it over other things, like watching tv in the evening because I go to bed at 9pm!

I get up early and run, so I'm home in time to get the kids ready and do the school run. I also run on lunchtimes if I can get a decent break.

This week i've done:
Sat - lots of walking
Sun - 10k run, 2km swim
Mon - lunchtime walk (2km), evening gym session - 20min cross trainer warm up and a lot of weights
Tues - lunchtime walk, evening 1.6km swim (sometimes do spin on a Tuesday but timing didn't fit with others things I had to do this week)
Wed - lunchtime walk, 20min cross trainer (long story, should have done more!)
Thurs - lunchtime walk, evening running intervals sessions
Fri - TBC
Sat - parkrun and might cycle there and back (10k each way)
Sun - TBC - usually longer run and/or swim
I would like to get a pilates class in but it always books up so quickly I never remember in time and I think i need to do something like HIIT to get me back to my previous fitness levels, everything is a bit "comfortable" pace at the moment.

@OakleyStreetisnotinChelsea

Bloody hell where do you find the time?

It doesn’t take much spread out over a week. The great thing about running is you start right from leaving the house.

You just get into a routine with it - early morning, evening, lunch time.

Don't eat extra on gym days but I do make sure I have plenty of protein. Pre-pregnancy I was doing 3 days in the gym, 2 heavy one light paused reps. During pregnancy I dropped paused day and swapped to dumbbel rows, now 3mth post c-section and on my 4th week back in the gym so rebuilding my strength to pre-pregnancy numbers, had a 3mth break (was back in 10wk pp) and the doms were horrendous.

Day 1, I do back squats, barbell rows & bench heavy day
Day 2, squats, deadlifts, military press, rows, bench, triceps extensions, front raises & lateral raises for pause reps lighter weight.
Day 3, deadlifts, military press, tricep ext, front raises and lat raises heavy day.
Only squats are not back up to 80% atm, osteoarthritis and had spd during pregnancy so don't feel stable enough to push harder yet.
I have dog to walk and 6 kids to run around after so don't have many full rest days.

I do my training sessions fasted too.

I try and do a lot as much as possible. My dog keeps me fit that is for sure. Nature walks count as part of my exercise schedule.

5 online PT sessions
1 HIIT class at the gym
3 20 minute swims (to replace running)

I've just signed up to spin and I'm nervous 🤣

At least 1, but hopefully 2, 5k runs
1x Spin session,
1x 30 min row
At least 1, but hopefully 2, weight sessions (Caroline Girvan)
As much walking as possible

Plus it's so easy now to exercise without leaving the house!! There are some great workouts on YouTube, some just 10 minutes, others up to an hour. One just needs to find a few trainers that one feels comfortable with. I particularly like Growingannanas and Caroline Girvan, but I regularly go back to several others that I started out with, e.g. Rebecca Louise and Lucy Wyndham Read. Love LWR's Thighs & Glutes!