What kind of fitness do you do in a week?

[Bananaapplemelon]

I just looking at making my fitness routine a bit more interesting, so looking for inspiration!

For the last 3 years I've been weight training 5-6 times a week which I love.

I've just cut down to 4-5 days and added in a reformer pilates class.

Thinking about adding in something else... Yoga is a definite possibility, but looking for ideas of what else might be put there.

I HATE cardio 🤣 so running is out. I used to do a HIIT class which I did enjoy, but generally cardio is off the cards for me.

I'm not a big fan of team sports, but could maybe try. Pickleball is taking off around here but seems to attract a much older demographic (I'm mid 30s).

Climbing not for me as I have a fear of heights!

Would love something that continues to improve my strength as this is what I love.

Please tell me why your week looks like!

How do you all fit all these sessions into a week?!

Not sure why the eye roll @Hermione7 as I and a few others thought that was an interesting addition to the debate as well as me adding in what I do. But there you go 🙄

I do

Yoga
Pilates
Weights
Zumba
Swimming
Dog walk x 9

Not exercise as such but will really help with your weight training (and it is very challenging) - mobility. I am 40+ and wish I’d started a decade ago.

I weight train and also love spinning and kickboxing. Short sharp HIIT/cardio burst that you might be able to tolerate!

Also another vote for barre class.

I think a lot comes down to a person’s priorities, their resources and access to childcare. I have a kid, a very busy job, and great social life…but I prioritise exercise over certain other things, can pay for a nice gym, and have good childcare plus an equal partner (meaning I don’t need to be at home for school drop off and can skip off at the weekends without much thought). In short, I enjoy certain privileges which buy me time for myself and that’s how I choose to spend it.

I am also amazed at how much people fit in! I love classes at the gym and enjoy spinning etc but can’t really get to them enough to make gym membership worth while.

I do 2x 1 hour PT sessions a week focusing on strength plus I’ve recently started swimming lessons as like you, OP, I was terrible at it. They’ve been great plus I usually swim a km which is a decent work out. I can do these things because they fit into my routine but this thread has spurred me on to get up at 6am again and add in running back into the mix. I work full time in a demanding job and kids are 2 and 6 so it’s a constant juggle to snatch any time for myself.

I do CrossFit 5-6 times a week.
1 Pilates class a week.
1 open water swimming session a week.
Walk the dog an hour ish per day.

I wfh so walk dog during lunch mainly.
Pilates is around the corner one lunchtime per week.
I tend to go to CrossFit for a hour both mornings at the weekend and take teenage dc with me, who loves it too.
In the week I tend to go to CF at 6.30am 3 mornings on dh’s school run days and if I’m on school run I’ll maybe go after work for an hour if dd wants to do a class.

Exercise is really important to our family. Both children (teen and pre-teen) love it, play sport competitively and the smaller one swims 4 times a week. I think part of that has been monkey see, monkey do as they are used to exercise being a priority in terms of fitting things in.

Strength train 2 times a week
Daily yoga stretches
Always walk, and if it’s too far I cycle.

I think cycling would be a good addition

I swim 3/4 times a week, Pilates at least once a week (aim to do more) spin 2x a week and a weights/conditioning class once a week. Swimming really took off 2 years ago when I had freestyle lessons … love it but wrecks your hair!!

2x 1/ 1.5h gym sessions twice a week mainly strength and a bit of HITT
Walk the dog 1h daily and longer at weekends

I used to also do a weekly yoga class pre lockdown (local class shut and never reopened) and think I ought to find another as it was good for mobility and de stressing.

I work full time mainly out of the home but DC are old enough to be left now (they go to their own gym in fact- wouldn't be seen dead with their parents)

Now DH and I go to the gym together when DC were small we went separately and the other did childcare but we have always gone the same number of sessions. Dog walk is early morning pre work come rain or shine and gym is one or two evenings in the week and one day on the weekend.

I usually do 7 classes a week, so 7 hours. It’s near work so it’s minimal additional travel time on top. 7 hours is really not a lot.

Though I haven’t timed it, I am almost certain I spend more time on mumsnet per week 😅

I'm not as keen as many of those on this thread, but I am a pretty regular exerciser. I usually do 6 ish hours of exercise a week and I fit it in by making it what I usually call "passive" exercise. So e.g. cycling 5 miles to get somewhere instead of driving.

I then go through phases of how much and what exercise I go through. Currently playing badminton the most regularly, with leisure cycling then minor levels of swimming on top.

I go through phases of adding yoga into that mix (and I definitely feel better when I do) and random classes like dance fitness or whatever.

I'm currently out of the habit of weight training. I used to have a friend I went with and it actually made for a very sociable gym time as we just chatted at the other person while they were lifting and you were recovering and then swapped, plus made for a very efficient use of gym equipment. I need to work out a way to motivate myself to get in there.

Oooh good call with mobility, that's something I could do on my 'rest' days and definitely something to start now

I think a lot comes down to a person’s priorities, their resources and access to childcare. I have a kid, a very busy job, and great social life…but I prioritise exercise over certain other things, can pay for a nice gym, and have good childcare plus an equal partner (meaning I don’t need to be at home for school drop off and can skip off at the weekends without much thought). In short, I enjoy certain privileges which buy me time for myself and that’s how I choose to spend it.

What are the privileges? A nice gym, childcare & helpful DH? I gave up my gym membership as barely used it. DH & I share a lot but there is no way we could both have 2/3 hours a day each out of the home to exercise. We wouldn’t see each other much & the dc have quite full on schedules themselves. He goes into the office 2-3 times a week and will use work gym when he can.
We do every pick up/drop off though as don’t need childcare for that plus I like it as they won’t be in primary much longer. I never thought of specifically getting childcare for exercise though tbf, although we have lots of gp help. I only fit in what I currently do because I’m p/t. Even my SAHM friends don’t do more than 1 class a day if that. Maybe my friends & I are lazy though or spend too much time chatting 😆

Also another vote for barre class.

I would love to add this back in. I used to do an excellent adult ballet class, it’s so good for the bum & fun. The timings don’t work now. I did try an online one but didn’t think the teaching was great, any other online recommendations?

If there's a class near you OP I've never been stronger than when I was doing pole fitness. A class full of Women of all ages and sizes and abilities, fun and so different to any other kind of exercise but phenomenal for your core (and a feeling of 'wow; I can actually hold myself upside down!').

Do people who do 7 plus sessions a week have DHs/partners who spend the same amount of time on exercise/hobbies too?

@mumpenalty I get up early ish for work as I start at 7.30/8. I’ve tried getting up earlier to exercise but I hate it particularly when it’s dark outside

I'm lucky. Work full time, but from home.

I do martial arts with DD.
I see a friend at yoga.
Apart from a run, I keep exercise to the week. I do races with my siblings.
I rarely go out with friends. I'm not a drinker and socialising generally involves that. Generally, I'd see friends during school holidays when we do stuff with our kids.
As a family, we prioritise exercise. Hike a lot. Next weekend we're climbing with adult DSSs etc.

For motivation to go to the gym, I save my favourite podcasts and audio books only for this time. Gives me something else to look forward to!

I run 3 times a week, play netball once a week (will be twice from July), yoga and Pilates both once a week. I want to add in some weight training if I can work out how to fit it in!

I was thinking weights at home but read you need to keep upping weights.

I go to the gym 5x a week. 25m weights and 25m cardio ( I hate running too, so do incline on treadmill and harder resistance on bike and crosstrainer).
On the days I don't go to the gym I do an hour long walk, with ankle and wrist weights on with the dog.

I love training and would every day if I could - as it is I can normally manage 5 classes a week, if not 6. I prefer classes to working out alone, but if need be I have weights at home and will do a Caroline Girvan workout.

Like you, I am not keen on running or cardio in general. My schedule varies depending on work, but in general it is made up of a combination of:

Women’s weight classes (heavy weights)
Body pump
Kettlebells
Tabata
Circuits
Pilates

i also go bouldering once a week with my daughter.

My job is very sedentary. At the weekends, I like to do long bike rides or walks with my daughter, but only when the weather is fine, and I live in Wales!

For those wondering how we find the time to go to the gym several times a week..... I don't, but I still exercise 5-8 hours a week, at home. For free!

I have a mat, 3 sets of dumbbells, a yoga block and a resistance band. And my preferred online trainers: Caroline Girvan especially, but also Growingannanas (HIIT), Lucy Wyndham Read (especially her Thighs & Glutes session) and Rebecca Louise (Best Abs, Bingo Wings), plus a few others I dip into as and when.

I also do the Bowflex 3 minute plank and a dozen or so push-ups every single day.

Caroline has been life-changing. Her programmes are incredibly well structured and target all areas of the body: arms, legs, abs, full-body, HIIT etc over several weeks.