How frequently do you exercise?

dsb188

Hello,

I have a general question. How frequently does everyone exercise? I am currently on the keto diet and I am down 33lbs. I at first started exercising 7 days a week but I'm completely burned down and started cutting it down to 6 but wasn't sure if I could cut it down to 5. I am 6ft 315lb male. I don't mind working out 7 days a week but I don't want it to be counterproductive. Any thoughts or suggestions?

AlwaysInMotion

I don't really see much advantage to working out 7 days/week. I believe in diminishing returns after a point... I usually alternate workout days (4x/week) and rest days (3x/week). It's okay if rest days are "active" - doing easy activities like walking, yoga, etc. I'm also way more active in the summer vs winter and I have to remind myself to rest/recover.

Edited to fix typo. Oops.

Walter__

3-4x a week.

No need to work out 7 days a week. You're just going to burn yourself out and eventually quit.

dsb188

Thanks for the replies. I always feel this tremendous amount of guilt when I don't exercise but I need to realize I need rest days

AlwaysInMotion

Thanks for the replies. I always feel this tremendous amount of guilt when I don't exercise but I need to realize I need rest days

No need to feel guilty! Rest is just as crucial for the body as the workout! :flowerforyou:
http://sportsmedicine.about.com/od/sampleworkouts/a/RestandRecovery.htm
http://www.active.com/running/articles/what-to-do-on-rest-and-recovery-days

LKArgh

3-6 days per week, depends on my schedule.

dt3312

I go to Yogalates (Yoga-Pilates) class twice a week. It is like standing pilates and works a lot on core and balance.
Three to four times a week I go to the gym for 50 minutes and do some cardio, freeweights and various core and flexibility exercises.

I probably could go to the gym less often, but I like to go because I see my friends there at the senior center gym. I sometimes go in the evenings to work out with my husband and adult son at the regular gym.

Jewlz280

I try for 2 to 4. I don't do much cardio other than regular walking, etc., but I am trying really hard to get on a more consistent routine with lifting. Although, I may start doing more cardio to try to be more supportive of a friend of mine. I just don't see the benefit of working out every single day. I think I'd hate it after a while.

jenilla1

Whenever I feel like it - literally. Good thing I like physical activity, so I end up feeling like it more often than not. I don't have a set schedule but I tend to do weights 2-3 times a week, a long cross-country run once a week and then dog walks and hikes whenever. If I miss a day or two or three here or there, oh well. Rest days are just as important as workouts.

ROBOTFOOD

7. Check out my profile and you will understand. I always have insane energy. Running, snowboarding, skateboarding, climbing mtns, im out everyday doing something. Been doing it all my life.

I do NOT recommend this for everyone. This has been a lifestyle for me.
Take a day or 2 off a week and you will be fine.

DreamOfSunshine

I started just like you ... 7 days per week and on day 20 I was so tired and exhausted that I decided to listen to my body. At my heaviest, I was going 3-4 times per week, regular burn 500-800 cals per workout, mostly cardio. Now I do 4-5 intense workouts per week, but they are alteration between strength and cardio... Rest days are just as important as the workout days!

Good Luck

MeanderingMammal

I at first started exercising 7 days a week but I'm completely burned down

What's your net calorie intake, and are you fuelling your training?

Jumping from minimal to 7 days a week is quite a step and it's not out of the question that you're underfuelled, also what are you doing on those sessions?

Personally I train 6-7 times per week, ranging from one very short run of 3-5km through to a long run of approaching 20km, including three interval/ tempo sessions, as well as a couple of resistance sessions and a long ride or row.

To fuel that I eat at a limited deficit.

Mauthos

I train basically 6 times a week, but this includes 6 weight sessions, 2 body combat sessions and 2 martial arts sessions. However, on Tuesday, which is technically my day off I teach martial arts for 2.5 hours, but teaching I don't find physically demanding so do not class it as exercise really.

Capt_Apollo

3-6 times a week depending on what i've got planned

matuskap

I do cardio 7 times a week (running 5-20km) and strength training 6 times a week. 3 body parts combination all 2 times a week. Ive been training for 8 years tho, i would not be able to do that when i started.

kbmnurse

5 days a week is enough! Like you said more then that and I get sick of it.

_Zardoz_

It depends what you count as exercise. I run 6 days a week some weeks I will run 10 days and have 2 off, I do however though walk my dogs every day so that's a minimum of 5 miles walking a day. You can only judge on your personal circumstances. it's not really a case of having days off but easier days. Over the winter I ran 83 days straight but I had easier days that all I did was run 1 or 2 miles at a slow pace. To me it's not a case of having days off but having easier recovery days.

Phrick

walking is my main exercise for now and I try to do it 6 days a week, several miles a day. I take Mondays off for the sake of smell and practicality - that's trash day in my neighborhood and all the sidewalks are lined with stinky rotten trash bins so I choose not to walk that day :drinker:

Mich4871

5-6 days/ usually 5. I find my workouts are a great stress reliever when I'm having a bad day.

twice a week I train with a trainer. Now that the weather is getting nice, I'm trying to get outside and run more.

Cynner2007

I have been doing 7 days of cardio a week. I think I am going to cut down to 5 or 6. I do feel very tired, but they may be a problem with my calories as MFP has me at 1250.

lawlorka

5-6days a week, depending on how I'm feeling/work/life schedule

I always do 4 runs and 3 weight sessions. Sometimes they fall on the same days so I have 2 rest days, sometimes they don't so I only have 1.

I try to have 1 rest day were the only exercise is walking the dog.

justal313

I was literally exercising every day, 30 minutes at least, until I started training for a half marathon last year. The training schedule had rest days on monday and friday but at first I was just not running but lifiting and hitting the arc trainer or something...

As the miles built, the rest days actually became important.

Now I still have rest days on mondays and fridays but if the weather allows I go for a 45 minute (or so) walk at lunch to pad my calorie allowance so planning my food on those days isn't as tricky. No beer, but real meals and snacks..

Branstin

I love to walk and would do it every day if time permitted but I have committed to exercising 4 days @ 30 minutes minimum.

cad39too

Generally 6 days a week.

scubasuenc

I do cardio on a stationary bike 7 days per week. I sit at a desk all day, and I look at my 45 minutes on a bike as a way to burn a few more calories as if I had a less sedentary job. It is low stress on the joints and I can watch TV or read a book while doing it.

3 days per week I do strength training and often another 30+ minute cardio session like swimming, water aerobics or an exercise DVD. These are the days where I push myself and I make sure there is a day between the sessions.

At one point I felt like I wasn't recovering well from all of the exercise, and after doing the TDEE math realized I wasn't eating enough. I increased my calories by 500 per day and now I can recover again.

tmm_0127

30-60 minutes every day. 7th day is a rest day, which is generally 20 minutes of yoga and/or a 30 minute brisk walk for me. I walk with my coworkers for 30 minutes every day before lunch (when the weather permits), and then usually do kickboxing, pilates, aerobic dance, and other various types of workouts depending on my mood for another 20-30 minutes when I get home from work.

davemunger

If you feel like you MUST exercise daily, I don't see a problem with it -- the key is not to go too hard every day. There's nothing wrong with going for a nice, easy run, walk, bike ride, swim, whatever -- just at a very easy pace. What burns you out is hitting it hard, workout after workout.

jasonheyd

Not sure if anyone else has suggested this, but it might also be a question of what you're doing, not just how much or how often you're doing it. It's often a good idea to give your muscles some time to heal after a stressful workout. That's less true for some exercise / muscles and more true for others, but it's worth considering.

For example, I do some sort of resistance training (usually free weight stuff) three days a week -- typically M/W/F -- but I always take a day "off" between lifting sessions.

On those "off" days (Tu/Th), I'll usually go for a run and, depending on how I feel, I might throw in 20-30 minutes of core/abdominal stuff as well.

Then on Saturday I play it by ear. If I feel like I have the energy for it, maybe I'll go for a run. Sunday's a rest day, to make sure I'm ready for pushing things a bit harder on my Monday lifts.

I'll usually switch my lifting routine every few months, and I try to make sure I'm getting ~10k steps a day (if possible, not including my runs).

For me, it really comes down to keeping things varied & as well-rounded as I can, and trying to stay as generally active as I can, even outside of specific exercise.

darrensurrey

Unintentionally, almost everyday. Abstract exercise in the form of lifting 3 times a week, then kung fu, tennis or dodgeball for different exercise on every other day.

rainbow198

Congratulations on losing 33 lbs. OP!

I workout basically everyday, but none of my workouts are strenuous or high impact. I walk briskly everyday (average 2 - 5 miles), lift weights 3x per week, and I do other things throughout the week (Youtube videos, workout dvd's, mini-stepper, ice skake, tennis etc.). I do completely different workouts everyday so I'm hitting different parts of my body and so that never bored.

Depending on how my body feels I will take a rest day where I do nothing maybe once a month.

My job is completely sedentary and I drive everywhere, so I need the exercise to keep fit and stay healthy.

jmv7117

Hello,

I have a general question. How frequently does everyone exercise? I am currently on the keto diet and I am down 33lbs. I at first started exercising 7 days a week but I'm completely burned down and started cutting it down to 6 but wasn't sure if I could cut it down to 5. I am 6ft 315lb male. I don't mind working out 7 days a week but I don't want it to be counterproductive. Any thoughts or suggestions?

I exercise daily - walking goal of 10,000 steps (3.79 mi). Five days a week I add in cardio and strength training. My exercise sessions are in 15 to 20 minute blocks so the number of blocks per day varies. It depends on what exercising you are doing. If lifting heavy, you need to have rest days. There's apps to help you create an exercise program that will include the proper amount of rest needed.