How often do you exercise?

[dotfurio]

How do you find the motivation? I find working out really boring.

I have to make it a scheduled priority event for myself, because there's always a million things I can convince myself I should be getting done instead. I'm not a morning person, so I go after work in the mid - late afternoon. Some days that means I need a cup of coffee to overcome the afternoon slump. For me, exercising at home makes it too easy to get distracted and stop. Going to a gym makes it a "thing", and once I'm there I love cranking up the music and just forgetting everything but what I'm doing. I feel so much better when I'm done - mind and body. One day a week I do a power walk with my oldest, and that's been a great time for us to talk.

 

[OKW8297]

One hour on the treadmill 5 days a week

 

[Elle23]

Once a year at WDW.

 

[Sabeking]

3 days hot yoga with weights, 2 days run3-4 miles. Unfortunately I have been down for the count. I have messed up my hip flexor and am waiting for some improvement. I am getting very antsy!!!

 

[Kitty 34]

It's soooooo nice to see many of you truly exercising....keep it up. I can't anymore (lung disease) but man when I could I exercised all over the place. Walking was my top exercise. So DISers if you can....do.

 

[morgan98]

^^^^ This! I can't imagine a life without working out and it keeps my sane. I run 3 miles every other day, no matter what is going on in my life (always first thing in the morning--best way to avoid procrastination). I weight train 2-3 times a week but am not as consistent as I am with running, plus I don't put in half of the effort. I'm trying to improve on this because weight training is just as important as running. I used to run 30 miles a week (5 days @ 6 miles each) plus weights but am in better shape doing just 3 miles every other day and the weights. It's not necessary to make it such an effort, just 30 minutes is perfect. I think that's the best way to become consistent--30 minutes is easy to scrounge up but an hour makes it seem insurmountable some days (and easy to skip).So, early AM and keep it it short and work hard during that time! Also, I have found it's easier to be consistent if you can workout at home rather than having to go to a gym.
I also walk a huge local bridge 3x a week at night while my kids are at practice, much better than just sitting around waiting. I got a little out of control last year and started running the bridge (in addition to my EOD AM runs) and blew my foot out. Now I am just back to a leisurely stroll at night--again, doesn't help to overdo things.
A great book is Body for Life, by Bill Phillips. He emphasizes 6 days a week of 20 minute exercise, alternating 3 days of 20 minute runs with 3 days of weight sessions and a day off. Excellent program that is easy to follow! My husband lost 25 pounds in a short time following that. The 'diet' shouldn't even be called a diet, but a way to eat properly. A protein carb and a vegetable--5-6 meals. Digging my book out!

I basically wrote the same post a few above yours about Body For Life. I agree that it is a sound program and the diet is about healthy eating and not really a diet. Excellent book!

 

[Kathryn Merteuil]

Minimum of 3 times a week.

 

[Mariearistocat]

I basically wrote the same post a few above yours about Body For Life. I agree that it is a sound program and the diet is about healthy eating and not really a diet. Excellent book!

That's great! We have so many other books and magazine subscriptions but that book is really all anyone needs.
*Edited to add--I just read your post and we are also same with exercising first thing and a home gym! I am up before 4 AM some days, coffee, time on the internet (necessary to wake up) and hit the treadmill. A home gym feels like a luxury and was something I always dreamed of before we owned our first house. I used to drive to the gym in icy weather and sometimes the person who was supposed to open wouldn't even show up! Plus it felt scary being out and about that early alone. I invested in a Precor treadmill the week we moved in, we didn't even have furniture downstairs the first year! I've had it over 18 years now and it's still going strong after consistent use. Slowly since then we've added equipment and turned our guest room into a gym. I prefer the hexagon dumbbells, which are very cheap.

 

[mnrose]

6-7 days a week. I run about 30 miles a week. Some weeks more. Some less. Pretty equally spread out. Sometimes, I use a recumbent bike or stairmaster to mix it up. Lift a bit. Always stretch and add an ab workout. I'm in pretty decent shape for a woman of my age, and can generally place in local 5K races. Sometimes even first. :-D I lost 30+ pounds last year, which definitely enhanced my speed.

 

[a1tinkfans]

I’m so impressed with so many of you. Inspiring and motivating. I typically power walk 5 days, weights 3-4, and getting into a better food intake “state of mind”.
Really want to drop 10 pounds and it’s been a battle. Retirement Ain’t easy nor are all these wonderful “ visitors” that come to escape the cold... entertaining and dieting do not go together easily, lol

Have a good day, all!!

 

[soccerdad72]

In a good week, 5-6 times a week, usually a combination of classes (kickboxing, boot camp, TRX) and personal training, with some extra cardio on my own sprinkled in.

In a rough stretch (either through schedule or motivation) - 2-3 days a week.

 

[GreatLakes]

5-7 days generally but what I do depends on the season and my schedule. I run a lot but also bike, swim, hike, and lift. My rest days generally still include easy swim laps or at least a 2-3 mile walk with the dog. I feel so much better when I exercise so I make it a priority even with a pretty packed schedule.

I find though that that is only a part of the equation. Controlling stress and diet are just as important for me to feel my best. I'd say it is 75% diet, 15% exercise, and 10% stress control/mental health. No one will out exercise a poor diet.

https://stateofobesity.org/physical-inactivity/

What an unfortunate visual. I'm always amazed at the huge gap between CO and WV. I know WV is first/last on a lot of lists it shouldn't be but the hiking, biking, trail running, and winter sports are great in that state. They should be the Appalachian version of Colorado.

 

[erinlynn2020]

I’m a walker and it’s as much for sanity as functional fitness.
For me, the FitBit family competition helps. I try to hit 10k/day.

I turned 50 & many friends my age do nothing. I want to be as active with my granddaughters as I was with my kids.

Starting to add machines at the Y, 3 days a week. Also went sugar free. Starting to see good changes in body shape.

 

[Lilacs4Me]

4-5 times a week, basically every day i work from home, plus at least one weekend day. Either a 2-mile moderately fast-paced walk, or I just throw Pandora on and loosely follow along a few 1-mile indoor walking you-tube videos - with the bad weather in the midwest lately, I have been doing the indoor stuff more often and have found that I burn way more calories than I do walking 2 miles around the neighborhood.

I will also do weight-bearing exercises each day - just squats/lunges/pushups/etc, and a few yoga poses. Nothing special, and I don't use a whole lot of equipment. At age 42, my goal is just to stay healthy and strong, not become a bikini-clad bodybuilder lol

 

[Klayfish]

I find though that that is only a part of the equation. Controlling stress and diet are just as important for me to feel my best. I'd say it is 75% diet, 15% exercise, and 10% stress control/mental health. No one will out exercise a poor diet.

This. So much this. You can debate the % of diet vs exercise vs. mental health, but there is no question that all come into play. I can't tell you how many people I see at the gym who will work themselves into a horribly sweaty frenzy, but would seem they probably have a very poor diet. On that note, never understood the concept of wearing things to make you sweat more while you're working out. All that really does is dehydrate you.

I'm a gym rat. In the gym at 4:30am Mon-Fri. My workout is 80% weights, 20% cardio. Love it. DW is 6 days a week and is an absolute machine, she is incredible.

 

[superme80]

I work out 4-5 days a week. I do workouts from the internet 3-4 days a week. I go to dance class, ballet and tap, once or twice a week.