Does anyone exercise twice a day?

[GymEnthusiast]

i exercise twice a day 7 days a week. I swim 2k or do a Pilates session in the morning. I then do a cardio session in the evening after work. I keep being told this is too much (mostly by people who never exercise) , but I spend the rest of my time sleeping or sitting behind a desk at work. I don’t have a specific goal, I only want to keep fit, healthy and slim.
Anyone else do twice a day sessions? Please share your routines with me.

I also have a sedentary job, so I between my morning and lunchbreak workouts I'm sat at my laptop not moving

Sometimes, but I'm nothing like you in how I do it. I'm about to go for a run (only 2 miles ish)& I have a gym class later but I usually work on a Thurs and would probably only squeeze in a quick ab workout and soem pressups.
Most days I do 40 pressups and every couple of days I do a quick ab workout. I have a pull up bar in my bedroom and try to use it each time I go upstairs throughout the day. I sort of 'pepper's day with bits of exercise and try to run with the dog about 3 times a week on top of that. I also have a pole in my house which I practice on, and some dumbbells downstairs which I'll pick up nowhere near often enough. Habit forming at the moment !

I don't do any formal exercise but I walk at least 6 miles a day and do a lot of housework.

It’s not too much op , very healthy and prob other people are jealous! You’ve got lots of time obviously that maybe others don’t . I exercise every second day but in between I’m constantly moving , I’ve three children (who are all extremely fit ) so I go swimming with them or cycling but it isn’t the same as working out alone. I also work so can’t exercise everyday.. But I really believe in everyday physical activity, up and down the stairs , physically shopping and carrying shopping, lots of walking , physical work in the house. I painted ceilings last week and felt it in my arms the next few days .
Obviously on mn a lot of people will have children so prob not your target audience here like …. For example my children range from 6-12 but I wouldn’t leave them at home alone so am limited about when and how often I can exercise as is my dh but we swap over as much as possible. Actually the kids have been the biggest motivator to get and keep fit.

I exercise three times a day, take four showers (but turn off the water when I am soaping up) and change my bed linen three times a week but wash it in toilet water

You sound incredible. I love the idea of splitting the year, how genius is that! Long May you reign, this is inspiring.

also OP I would like to exercise twice daily but don’t get the time and need time to recover. You do you.

It is better to have rest days and things that allow for recovery. But it sounds like a lot of what you do would count as active recovery, depending on the intensity.

You can do what you like, so long as your joints are ok. Bear in mind, longterm overuse but I'm heavier, so have more wear and tear from that. If you have pain or stiffness, then adjust but otherwise carry on, ignore everyone.

This but no Olympic athletes in our family

Sometimes, but only a short 15/20 minutes arms or abs on my morning tea break if I’m wfh, followed by a Caroline Girvan video or run when I finish work.

If I’m in the office then the various walks between office/train/ home are about 6k, then either a run or Caroline Girvan when I get home.

I do have one day a week where I do no conscious exercise but may get a stroll in or end up shifting furniture, and one day of ‘active rest’ so maybe go for a more strenuous hike, a longer slower jog/run, or paddle boarding. I believe these days are as important for health as the fuller exercise days.

We only have one child, and no school run to build into the day. Exercising at home means it’s easy to fit in rather than having to travel to the gym and a supportive husband who exercises with me. We consciously prioritise exercise in our lives, and work out ways to make it happen, e.g. go for a run whilst dinner is cooking, or grab a quick 10 minute weight session over lunch.

I often do yoga + running but not every day, and I’m trying to cycle short journeys as much as I can so sometimes do that plus running. Not sure I cycle fast enough to class it as exercise though!

No but I walk nearly 10 miles in one session most days.

If you have the time, and listen to your body, go for it! I'm 57 and work part time so I train a lot (because I love it), I run 10 miles x 4 mornings a week with dogs and strength train with Caroline Girvan 4 times a week for at least 1h15m: Dog walk every afternoon 3 miles and cycling a couple of times a week:

Another road cyclist here.

I tend to ride 6 days a week. Over last 4 weeks thats been between 13-20h per week. The sessions are mixed of intensity sessions and longer endurance ones. This does decrease in the winter as more riding is on the turbo rather than outside, but then I like to mix up with some swimming/running/climbing.

Most days I will also add a yoga or pilates class. And once a week I'll do strength training.

The most important bit for me is listening to my body. Good sleep and good fuelling is so important with multiple sessions.

And whilst it is important to me and I enjoy racing, I am happy to cut session if I am too tired or work/non lycra life clashes with a session. If you can't do this without negative thoughts then it's not a problem.

My friend does and often 3 times, it works for him
He does 40 mins bike in the morning then run/swim weights and then 40 mins bike in the evening

Some days yes. I have a day where I do a weights class in the morning and a cardio class in the afternoon.
Or I'll do a 5k walk in the morning and a weights class in evening.
Some people (side eye at ex best friend) se to have an issue with it. Which I don't really understand as it doesn't affect her AT ALL. I don't go on about it.

I eat what I like within reason. I have a sedentary job. I don't think twice a day is excessive.
I do have rest days (two a week) but on those days I'll do an hours walk or a yoga class.

I hate to say it as it's such a cliche, but I think those that have an issue with it are jealous. Of the motivation and time and the fact you do it full stop. But I work it into my life and now it's part of my routine. Eg an hours walk whilst DC is at a club in the evening on my rest day

We have a saying in our household. Train Hard Rest Hard.

The only thing you are achieving if you are working hard twice a day, 7 days per week is burnout. The body needs rest to recover & repair from the exertions you put on it.

There are billions of pounds of research in sport, whether it be football, rugby, athletics, etc etc etc. Every single one, even at the pinnacle of performance level will include an element of rest required. Research into female cycles is becoming very prevalent now (Women footballers are 10x more likely to suffer ACL injuries than men due to hormone changes). Joints, muscles, tendons etc need to be allowed to recover

Thats not to say what you are doing is wrong for you. It may be that you need this stimulation to maintain mental well being etc. But its not normal and not actually conducive to good performance or good results.

Most women with jobs, families, and social lives would find it difficult to exercise twice a day, especially with the showering and possible commuting. Hope you’ve got enough of whatever these competitive comparisons give you. Very MN.

@Fancylike its only remote work that makes it possible for me. Can just stow my laptop in a locker while I swim or work out.

I appreciate the "train hard, rest hard" philosophy you've mentioned, as rest and recovery are undeniably crucial. However, the evidence suggests a more nuanced approach like "train smart, rest when needed".

You reference athletes: plenty of athletes train 7 days a week, but they manage the intensity of the sessions - the vast majority NOT being hard. They have downtime at the end of the season, but few 'rest' as in do nothing.

For the ACL point, the evidence is still unclear. Chelsea FC looked at this and the thought was around hormones. Raised levels of oestrogen are meant to cause increased ligament laxity - they thought that at a certain point in a woman's cycle, they could be more predisposed to ACL injury. It also depends whether the tear is mid-substance (within the ligament) versus at the bony insertion. Bony insertion is likely due 'weaker bones' (osteopenia) which in athletes is more common related to something called REDs - relative energy deficiency syndrome. Also biomechanical factors are likely at play. Women have wider pelvises and this is likely to cause more torsional force at the knee.

I do have a family, a full time job and a social life. I swim in the mornings before work and go to the gym on my way back from work. The gym is next to my office and if I work from home I live fairly close to my local gym too.
My children are late teens, but when they were younger I would just go out once they were in bed.

I don’t find it difficult to find the time. It’s what you prioritise. I don’t do much housework and I don’t really watch tv either. I am a very active person. At the weekend I am out riding my bike or doing loads of walking.

I think I do listen to my body and don’t have any symptoms of burnout or injuries. I think the variety of what I do helps with that.

@GymEnthusiast I don't understand how you can fit it all particularly if you have a partner who wants the same time for exercise/hobbies. And if dc have their own activities. Did you exercise morning & evening when your dc were young? Did your partner?

I'm off work currently & meant to be packing but even during days I'm off work I struggle to fit in 1 session everyday. I didn't achieve that pre kids!

I don’t do much housework and I don’t really watch tv either. I am a very active person. At the weekend I am out riding my bike or doing loads of walking.

I only watch tv when im exercising & have a cleaner. When do you fit in going out with family, wider family, friends, partner?

i Sometimes swim early, then go back to the gym in the evening.

but mainly cuz I like to use the swimming to stretch / recover from previous workout, so I don’t really go for it, just a gentle 30 mins

if I didn’t have other commitments I would defo exercise twice a day though , it makes me feel so happy when I do

I agree with you about finding the time. I will always fit it in and prioritise above many other things. I couldn't have done it so easily when the children were young.

I think I know the warning signs of injury now and will do a different exercise or some helpful cross training if I'm aching or feel I have overdone it. Or actually rest of course 😀

I am assuming each session takes 1 hr when you factor in exercise time/ getting there & back/shower/changing.