How many times a week....

april80s
april80s Posts: 18 Member
edited December 2024 in Fitness and Exercise
should you exercise? For example, I do 60 minutes of Zumba on Mon, Wed, and Fri and sometimes 20 minutes on Saturdays (very rare though). And I do 20-30 minutes of strength/weight lifting exercise from a Fitness mag I have on Tues and thurs. Is that enough?

Replies

  • mmapags
    mmapags Posts: 8,934 Member
    Enough for what? Do you have a specific goal for weight loss or fitness. Without knowing that, it's impossible to say.
  • therealangd
    therealangd Posts: 1,861 Member
    Depending on what your goals are, if it's enough for you, then it's enough.

    Exercise is a personal thing. Some people exercise for a couple hours a week, some exercise 20 hours a week. Some people exercise 3 days a week, some people 7 days twice a day.
  • saragato
    saragato Posts: 1,154
    I think most people aim for an hour or so three times a week. Some designate strength or aerobics days and cardio days separate, some do a little bit of both throughout or at different times on the same day.

    Really what it comes down to is what is your goal with the exercise (which would designate what types you should do) and how much time you have to comfortably fit it into your schedule. And your budget.
  • april80s
    april80s Posts: 18 Member
    I'm trying to lose 83 more lbs by next year. I just didn't know if I should do cardio everyday or just a few.
  • supplemama
    supplemama Posts: 1,956 Member
    I exercise every single day. I walk 10 miles per day plus 30 minutes of hula hooping. I recently adding 30 minutes of strength training for 3-5 days a week.
  • tmauck4472
    tmauck4472 Posts: 1,785 Member
    I exercise every single day. I walk 10 miles per day plus 30 minutes of hula hooping. I recently adding 30 minutes of strength training for 3-5 days a week.

    wow, I'm lucky to do a mile and a half a day...and then it's only 3 days a week, the other two days it's a mile and Zumba
  • mmapags
    mmapags Posts: 8,934 Member
    I'm trying to lose 83 more lbs by next year. I just didn't know if I should do cardio everyday or just a few.

    Given your goals, I'd reduce the Zumba to 2 days a week, get more intense with the strength training and walk a couple of times per week. The strength is great for fat burning and will help you to minimize an muscle loss as you lose weight. Too much cardio and you'll lose probably more muscle than is optimum.
  • AntWrig
    AntWrig Posts: 2,273 Member
    I'm trying to lose 83 more lbs by next year. I just didn't know if I should do cardio everyday or just a few.

    Given your goals, I'd reduce the Zumba to 2 days a week, get more intense with the strength training and walk a couple of times per week. The strength is great for fat burning and will help you to minimize an muscle loss as you lose weight. Too much cardio and you'll lose probably more muscle than is optimum.
    I am starting to doubt the claims of too much cardio. There is nothing perfectly wrong with doing cardio at least after each weight training sessions. The studies I have seen regarding the catabolic effect of cardio are on people who don't lift weights.
  • Bobby_Clerici
    Bobby_Clerici Posts: 1,828 Member
    should you exercise? For example, I do 60 minutes of Zumba on Mon, Wed, and Fri and sometimes 20 minutes on Saturdays (very rare though). And I do 20-30 minutes of strength/weight lifting exercise from a Fitness mag I have on Tues and thurs. Is that enough?
    That sounds great!
    I go at least 6 days straight - at most 10 days.
    On rest day I do NOTHING. When my body needs rest, I rest, and from time to time I take 2 days in a row.
    Do what's right for you, and listen to your body. Sometimes people get on the absurd exercise programs, because that's what some lying People magazine article said Brad Pitt does. Or there's TV Guide's crash diet for Snookie where she lost 30 lbs in 7 days eating peeled golf balls and cabbage.....
    Those traps are laid for the weak, and it always comes with a pitch - usually some worthless supplement.
    Sounds like you are right on track.
    Good Luck to you!:drinker:
  • mariagabriella
    mariagabriella Posts: 267 Member
    if that works for you and you feel fine then it's enough.
  • jennaworksout
    jennaworksout Posts: 1,739 Member
    usually everyday, but for the most part at least 6 out of 7 days a week, my body usually tells me when it needs a day off :happy:
  • chrishgt4
    chrishgt4 Posts: 1,222 Member
    I'm trying to lose 83 more lbs by next year. I just didn't know if I should do cardio everyday or just a few.

    Given your goals, I'd reduce the Zumba to 2 days a week, get more intense with the strength training and walk a couple of times per week. The strength is great for fat burning and will help you to minimize an muscle loss as you lose weight. Too much cardio and you'll lose probably more muscle than is optimum.
    I am starting to doubt the claims of too much cardio. There is nothing perfectly wrong with doing cardio at least after each weight training sessions. The studies I have seen regarding the catabolic effect of cardio are on people who don't lift weights.

    I agree with this as long as a) you are getting appropriate nutrition to cover the cardio and b) it doesn't affect the strength training.

    From what I've read - the real muscle loss from cardio work doesn't come until you really go for a long time and your body has exhausted all the other more readily available sources of energy.

    I think it's just worth making clear though that the most important bit is the strength training.
  • dancingj2
    dancingj2 Posts: 4,572 Member
    I used to plan on exercising everyday and actually exercised every other or every third. In the past few months, I have been actually exercising everyday! I hate to plan on a rest day because I am afraid I will slip back into not exercising - one day leads to two, then three, etc.
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