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!

True, but it still works out way cheaper than a gym membership - as well as being more convenient. Or you could get adjustable dumbbells.

In terms of fitting it all in…. Until my youngest was 10, I mainly trained at home. Before anyone was up, or during the day on a WFH day. I am lucky that my gym is only a mile away from home and office now. On WFH days, I go at lunchtime, weekends I go early before the family get up, and office days I either go before work or just after. Yes it is a juggle but it makes such a difference to my mental health.

This is basically my schedule except I have Mondays off instead of Fridays & am training for a very hilly race so the intervals are often hills

Far from a half decent club runner but I really love it.

There's a CrossFit box in town that I really want to try though, I don't love the strength sessions I do in my spare room (though I'm enjoying the effects) so was thinking something more social might work.

The weights I’m using now are a lot heavier than the ones I started with but also you need different weights for different exercises, so adjustable ones sound like a good idea.

I do weights 5 days a week and hiit 3 days a week.
I also walk the dog a minimum of 3 miles a day.

I go to the gym before work and do the walk and hiit after work.

I currently have 3 sets: 5, 8 and 10 kg, plus a single 12.5kg from an adjustable set that belonged to my son. I acquired these over the past 4-5 years or so, since I started weight based training.

I find these work for me right now, but I'll probably get a 12kg pair in due course. I think I paid less than £80 per set, which I consider an excellent investment. Sometimes you can find dumbbells on Freecycle. That's how I acquired my first 3kg set, which I donated back once I'd moved on.

I'm 70 now and in excellent shape. I'd urge anyone to prioritize exercise. It is so, so worth it.

Sorry, forgot to add:
If you are considering adjustable dumbbells:

if at all possible try before you buy, or at least read the reviews carefully. Some can be bulky and/or fiddly. Which is why I decided to get 3 sets of standard dumbbells instead.

I don't have a partner. I have one teenager at home. I have lots of time to exercise.

Typically 2 Body Pump classes, one 5k run and either a second 5k run or a spin class.
Plus one 30-45 minute dog walk a day, but the dog's getting older and slower so I no longer consider that exercise!

CrossFit 5 days a week and one swim a week with my friend and then one or two weightlifting classes depending on how I feel. I’m nearly 50, previous exercise history was Ironman/marathon,but as I’ve got older I’m loving the non endurance stuff also love love love the CrossFit community

Crossfit x 5 a week at least, recently hyrox training so a lot of running.
Absolutely love crossfit it's such a good way to combine strength training and cardio, the sence of community etc keeps you coming back for more.

I’ve been following Stacey Sim’s advice and added SIT and HIT alongside 3-4x weight training and I feel great. I
am doing a programme called Power Happens. The cardio is super efficient. I also do Pilates once a week.

I take long walks and outdoor swims for pleasure but don’t worry about them being fitness.

I am 49, in the dark, ugly part of peri menopause.

There's so many ways to get a workout in. When It was covid and I was on Mat leave I did an abundance of YouTube videos and purchased weights.
When I started work I still did the YouTube videos.
Now I go gym between 3-5 times a week.
We both are home at 5 and by 8 by 4 year old is in bed. I always go gym at 8 on weekdays and I do a class on a Sunday morning at 8.30.
If I cba to go gym I have a walking pad and weights and will do a home workout.
Or taking my daughter out her bike and having a 30min walk round the block.
It just depends

I have flexible work, so I often get up at 6am, work for an hour before the kids get up. I drop them at school and go to the gym 9-10.

I can workout at home 6-7
am as well but prefer not to exercises fasted.

weekends are easier.

@Bananaapplemelon sure. I've got an elbow niggle at the moment but my usual routine is 2 boxing classes, 2 short calisthenics classes (both upper body), one legs session, a shared PT (upper), and usually one/two upper body workouts but they can vary intensity - sometimes I go light and practice skills (that's a thing in calisthenics) and mobility. I can double up boxing and strength. Every few weeks I have a couple of rest days (either when I feel I need it or when bad weather or life intervenes 😀). It does depend how long and intense your workouts are as well. My gym is very local and small so I tend to go more often and for a shorter time - and that seems to suit my body better (I am 57).

I used to need a full rest day a week. Now I've been doing this a while, it is more a case of needing at least two upper body rest days IYSWIM. I would listen to your body. If you are recovering well, sleeping well, feeling well, not achey, not too DOMS-y, and have energy for work and life and fun outside your training, that's good.

I swim 3 times a week about a mile each time and then when the weather is reasonable do gardening which although not traditionally exercise does improve strength, and also gives a lovely garden, that's about 3 hours a week in good weather. Sadly good weather is a bit lacking.

Also, you do need some cardio for health (NHS guidelines https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/exercise/physical-activity-guidelines-for-adults-aged-19-to-64/) so rather than swapping out strength sessions which you enjoy for other types of strength training which you may not, I would look at finding something more cardio-based (unless you already walk a lot? I find walking, running and boxing all help recovery from the strength training as well, I feel looser afterwards).

I have no kids but work full time, with some commuting a couple of times a week, plus have a dog who needs a daily walk.
I definitely have time for family, friends, life! It only takes 30 minutes to run a 5k, that's nothing. All of my friends with kids (of all ages) manage just fine too.

I do actually walk around 10000-15000 steps a day, I just don't count it as intentional fitness. I know I could do more though

I do think it’s very hard to fit in a lot of exercise when you’re working and have children at home. I’m MUCH fitter now as a fifty something retired person than I was when I was a thirtyish working mum with kids at home. I have nothing but respect for people who prioritise exercise at that time in their life, but that wasn’t me.
In a week, I do
zumba twice
netball
pickleball three times
table tennis twice
a Pilates class
an very easy weights workout from the internet probably 2 or 3 times.
at least one bike ride.

I feel like I’m making up for lost time, in a way. I love being active. I used to run three times a week, but I developed awful osteoarthritis and had to have a hip replaced last summer so that’s over for me now.