How often do you go to gym or exercise?

prisky780

I feel guilty for not going to gym everyday. I go 3 days a week and I do circuit training for about an hour with a training. The other 2 days of weekdays, I tell myself to do yoga but never get to it. On weekends I feel even more lazy.

I "try" my best to eat right. Since I'm not trying to lose a lot, I'm trying 1200 calories small meals through out the days. Of course I go over 1200 cals some days but my question would be is that okay to have only 3 days a week to workout?

It makes me feel extremely guilty when I hear my coworkers talk about going to gym everyday or run everyday, eating all healthy food while they are way slimmer than me.

Need2Exerc1se

I shoot for 5 days a week minimum of varying degrees of intensity. Sometimes I fall short of that, sometimes I do more.

For health, the recommendation is 3 times a week for 30 min. That's the minimum amount associated with lowered health risk. So, yes, 3 days a week is fine.

Rasons to exercise more could be to burn more calories so you can eat more while losing/maintaining weight, to achieve a personal fitness goal, recommended by a medical professional (rehab, recovery), just because you like it, etc.

KANGOOJUMPS

I have never been to a gym in my life. I do it all on my own. 2 to 3 hours cardio a day. outside, even if it is minus 30.

arditarose

If you're not trying to lose a lot, why are you only eating 1200?

Anyway, go to the gym as much or as little as you like.

FatFreeFrolicking

5 days a week unless I'm sick (like I am currently).

Alison423

You should try yoga. I love it---depending on the instructor, it can be very relaxing, but a good workout just the same. You might find it a nice alternative to circuit training as it strengthens and stretches your muscles at the same time. Consider it a gift to yourself, not a chore.

xcalygrl

I exercise 6-7 days a week, but that is in no way required. I workout the way I do because of goals I've set and races I run.

Going 3-5 times a week is great. Most people don't even do that. Just keep doing you and don't listen to what they say. You are on your own life path while they are on theirs.

yesimpson

I try for 4 runs or gym sessions a week. I'd like to make an effort to walk more rather than drive too, but the days need to get longer for that.

If you're forcing yourself to go every day and you hate it, you could spoil what would be an otherwise enjoyable effort to get fitter/be healthy/improve whatever. I know I would probably put myself off long term if I did that.

yesimpson

I try for 4 runs or gym sessions a week. I'd like to make an effort to walk more rather than drive too, but the days need to get longer for that.

If you're forcing yourself to go every day and you hate it, you could spoil what would be an otherwise enjoyable effort to get fitter/be healthy/improve whatever. I know I would probably put myself off long term if I did that.

VegasFit

No reason to feel guilty because of what your coworkers do. You have to do what works for you. I think 3 days a week is fine. It all comes down to a deficit in the end when it comes to losing weight. I don't think I could survive on 1200 calories a day myself though. Have you lost weight on your current plan?

4leighbee

prisky780 wrote: »

... while they are way slimmer than me.

Everyone is different. There's so much comparing one person to another on MFP ... that's bound to be frustrating. I agree with the poster above who said consider the gym a gift to yourself. For me, it's the best part of my day - and not because I have a miserable life, lol! I love the me time. But my kids are older. When they were young, I couldn't find the energy for gym every day. Do what works best for you in your life and don't worry about everybody else!

Beautifulbridgittlee7

I try for 5 or 6 days a week, 7 if I get anxious, or I just go outside and exercise. Sometimes if I'm sick I might only go like 3 times, but when I'm better, I'm raring to go.

Crossfitjessi

4-6 days a week, depending on commitments, at least 4! Most weeks 5. Occasionally I will kill it with a 6 day workout week!

cwolfman13

Having some actual fitness goals that go beyond just burning calories or whatever will really help you out here.

You don't have to workout every day...and really, rest days are highly beneficial and depending on what you're doing, may in fact be a necessity. I would also add that feeling "guilty" about not working out everyday is ridiculous.

Mapping out some fitness goals will help you determine how much time you should spend working out. As a matter of good health, the AHA recommends 150 minutes per week of moderate exercise or 75 minutes per week of vigorous exercise or a combination of vigorous and moderate exercise. So basically if you're doing an hour 3x weekly, you're pretty much covered on that end. Beyond that, more specific goals would be in order.

I personally ride about 60-80 miles per week on average (more when I'm training) and lift 3x weekly for about an hour per session. I most certainly did not start out that way though.

I also take at least 1 rest day per week...often 2 to allow my body to recover and my fitness to improve.

get_fit2009

I exercise daily because I love to. My exercise varies. Some days I push it at the gym. Others, I do weights at home. I always get a walk in because I have an 11 month old puppy so if I don't walk him, he's a pain in the *kitten*. But you have to fit what you can into your lifestyle and schedule. I do usually find that a 30 minute walk clears my mind and makes me feel better;not all days have to be all out, 100%. Just remember, talk yourself INTO exercise, not out of it. Meaning, if you are on the fence, just do it. You'll feel better for it.

amtru2015

6 days. I allow myself a rest day once a week. Its not any set day--so if there's a day I'm feeling lazy, I don't have to go to the gym but I know in my mind, that's it, that's my rest day.

kbmnurse

Usually 4-6 times weekly. So far this week 5x's.

flabassmcgee

6x a week. 3 days for lifting, 3 days for 5k training.

prisky780

arditarose wrote: »

If you're not trying to lose a lot, why are you only eating 1200?

Anyway, go to the gym as much or as little as you like.

I've up-ed my calories before and realized I gained a lot more than losing. So this time I decided to down my calories to see if I lose weight. I'm not sure if I lost weight or kept it maintained. My weight seems to fluctuate. I'm at 104 lbs as of this morning. I was 106 lbs on Saturday. So it goes back and forth between 104-106 and it's been a month.

On top, I'm indian so whenever I got back home (which is almost every weekend) I eat my mother's cooking. It means lots of butter, spices, and sour cream, oil, and of course white rice. Those things add up so technically it's not really 1200 calorie everyday. But at least I know a number and see how far away I'm from that number and what it does to my body.

hoping2succeed

prisky780 wrote: »

arditarose wrote: »

If you're not trying to lose a lot, why are you only eating 1200?

Anyway, go to the gym as much or as little as you like.

I've up-ed my calories before and realized I gained a lot more than losing. So this time I decided to down my calories to see if I lose weight. I'm not sure if I lost weight or kept it maintained. My weight seems to fluctuate. I'm at 104 lbs as of this morning. I was 106 lbs on Saturday. So it goes back and forth between 104-106 and it's been a month.

On top, I'm indian so whenever I got back home (which is almost every weekend) I eat my mother's cooking. It means lots of butter, spices, and sour cream, oil, and of course white rice. Those things add up so technically it's not really 1200 calorie everyday. But at least I know a number and see how far away I'm from that number and what it does to my body.

don't mean to be rude but are you a model??? 104 lbs? and your coworkers..

FitOldMomma

It makes me feel extremely guilty when I hear my coworkers talk about going to gym everyday or run everyday, eating all healthy food while they are way slimmer than me.

First rule of your health and fitness: worry about yourself-not about others.

tonyprz

I guess circuit training is good if you only workout few days a week cause it high intensity exercise that will show results without putting in a whole week.

Ellaskat

prisky780 wrote: »

I feel guilty for not going to gym everyday. I go 3 days a week and I do circuit training for about an hour with a training. The other 2 days of weekdays, I tell myself to do yoga but never get to it. On weekends I feel even more lazy.

I "try" my best to eat right. Since I'm not trying to lose a lot, I'm trying 1200 calories small meals through out the days. Of course I go over 1200 cals some days but my question would be is that okay to have only 3 days a week to workout?

It makes me feel extremely guilty when I hear my coworkers talk about going to gym everyday or run everyday, eating all healthy food while they are way slimmer than me.

I don't think you should feel guilty - you should do what is right for YOUR body - no one else's. For me, I work out 6 days a weel; 4 days a week for at least 30 minutes; 2 days a week of 10-20 minutes of stretching, yoga etc. 1 day a week of doing nothing I don't feel like. I don't do this because I'm so crazy committed, but because I know my body. If I miss 1 day, I'll miss the next day and the next... so for me, having a schedule that I stick to each and every day is really important.

ThatMouse

I go 5x a week in the AM before work, 2x karate and sometimes a few lunch workouts if I'm not booked for anything. I'm also looking at adding a Sunday morning bikram class.

My reasons for what might seem like an "extreme" amount of working out are the following:

• At 5' 1" and female, this is one of the only ways I can eat near 2,000cals a day without gaining weight (and I want to lose weight right now, so I welcome any way to have a bit more space in my daily deficit)
• Daily weekday workouts are my stress-relief in my fast-paced job and help me stay alert and productive during the day. I also avoid a half-hour long traffic jam by leaving from home an hour earlier.
• My morning training (3/weights, 2/HIIT) helps me in karate, especially the HIIT cardio.
• Sunday bikram would help my back

I'd say don't feel guilty. If 3x a week is giving you what you want in terms of generating enough of a deficit and it's what you want for physical conditioning, then don't feel bad. Maybe your coworkers are training for specific events or genuinely enjoy working out. Stick to your goals, you're doing fine.

hoping2succeed wrote: »

don't mean to be rude but are you a model??? 104 lbs? and your coworkers..

It could be that she's a shorter person, too. At my height, my ideal weight range is 101-127lbs (according to BMI). BF% could impact this, too. Everyone's goals are different and will be for different reasons.

My goal is 105lbs. I'm sure to be quite trim at that weight, but that's why I want it. I need agility and speed to fight well being so small - excess weight won't help that for me. Plus, the smaller I am, the less target I present, ha ha!

ckmnacln

Everyday and sometimes twice a day but no one ever said I was sane.

Lounmoun

I don't go to a gym. I do try to do around 30 minutes of some exercise daily. Some days I do more.Walking, dancing, workout videos off of you tube.
My goal with exercise is to increase my fitness. My goal with logging food and reducing portions of high calorie foods is to lose weight. I can lose weight without exercise. I will not improve my fitness level without exercise.

seltzermint555

I've never been to a gym.

Of the people I know who do go...just for the sake of reference...half are super fit and dedicated, the other half are there to gossip/chat with people they know, sit on the equipment and talk about Paleo eating.

47Jacqueline

I'm a gym rat. I go to group exercise classes about 4 - 5x a week. I take 1 or 2 classes in a row. And I ride my bike for transportation. I'm also a Zumba instructor so I have workouts based on developing my classes or actually teaching them.

But it's important to have days off so you don't overtrain and get burned out. If you're doing 3x a week of vigorous exercise, you're ahead of over 50% of the population. If you don't make it to a yoga class, just make sure you get at least a half hour of walking in on those day.

azulvioleta6

ckmnacln wrote: »

Everyday and sometimes twice a day but no one ever said I was sane.

This! It's a rare day when I don't do something, even if it is just walking, a leisurely swim or social dancing. Generally I get an hour a day of intense workout time, plus another 30-60 minutes of walking or other more casual activity.

When I am sick, severely injured or under doctor's orders to rest (such as after surgery) I do, but that's about it. My body needs to be this active and it makes me feel good.

You should do what you need to do for your body and worry less about other people. That having been said, only working out 3 times a week might not be enough for general cardiovascular health--it depends on exactly what you are doing and for how long.

malibu927

Five days...three of strength training, two walking/cardio. Mondays and Saturdays rest days (though I took a 3.5-mile walk today as I was off work).

jpaulie

5 or 6 days depending on meeting cardio goal per week. Workout at home though. Just not a gym guy. Too many mirrors