How often do you workout?

hap2010

For someone who has been inactive for many years. I am working out 4-5 times a week. Just the treadmill right now to get my cardio better than I plan on doing the Jillian 30 day shred. How much do other people workout?

1Fizzle

I do at least 5 days a week...normally 6 though. I run daily even on days that I incorporate weighlifting. If you are just getting back in the swing of things, don't push too hard to fast. Just build a good solid regimen and be consistent!

sovannac

I workout at least 5 days a week but I always try to workout 6 days.

Lately it's looked like this:

Monday - chest & triceps, 30-45 mins of cardio
Tuesday - 45 mins of cardio
Wednesday - Back & biceps,30- 45 mins of cardio
Thursday - 30 minutes of cardio in the morning, Legs at night
Friday - Shoulders & abs, 30-45 mins of cardio
Saturday -30- 45 mins cardio
Sunday - Rest

jehavin

I finally found a perfect balance for me:

3x week intense cardio on stationary bike or elliptical (30-45 min) and about a half hour of lifting. (at the gym)
2x week vinyasa yoga (at home)


Any more than that, I don't feel like I've had enough "rest," any less, I don't feel like I've done enough

wandamarshall585

I have a question. I know you burn calories when you do strength training. Why isn't it counted in this app? They only count cardio, which is fine, but i do have days I just do strength training.

Lisah8969

There is a "strength training" option under cardio for calories burned.

I work out 5 - 6 days a week...generally something like this...

Monday - 2 hours b/t strength, treadmill and bike
Tuesday - off or some sort of cardio if I have time
Wednesday - 30 - 45 minutes treadmill (depending on how many miles are on my schedule for the day)
Thursday - off
Friday - an hour b/t strength training and bike
Saturday - an hour at the park putting in miles (time dependent on how many miles i need to do that day)
Sunday - 2 hours b/t strength, treadmill and bike

RobinC37

I was inactive for a long time and started walk-jog-walk-jog every day for 30 minutes at my own pace without being uncomfortable for a couple weeks just tot get my body and joints used to moving and working like that. Unfortunately that was disrupted by surgery on Christmas, and when I got the okay from the surgeon, I started doing the same routine again. After a pain free week of that, I have amped it up with longer runs where I push myself, and am on day 6 of the 30 Day Shred. I really would recommend it even for beginners, but give it a couple weeks and just incorporate more activity and movement so your body can warm up to whats going on. The last thing you want is to finally be motivated and then hurt yourself a few days in. Slow and steady is the way to go, and when you feel your body is ready to be pushed hard, then start pushing. Remember to be patient with yourself. Changes will happen faster than you think. In December I couldn't run a mile, and I ran one in 10 minutes yesterday without walking at all! I can also do 3 modified pushups all the way, and can keep going half way down for another 10!

Something else I've found is that as a beginner, you can't look for the runner's high or the lifter's high. The exercise will be tough, and painful. If you do the shred and you're anything like me, your legs will be shaking halfway through. The high for me comes when I've finished the workout. When I've done a little better than yesterday. I'm a little faster. My arms aren't as sore. When I sit down with a tall glass of water and a post-workout snack and I can feel all my muscles still activated and warm, I know what I accomplished today that I couldn't have done on New Years Day. I huffed and puffed and my legs screamed through my mile yesterday. It wasn't exactly "fun", but when I saw my time I started crying from happiness. I was on cloud 9 all day.

You can do this! Just don't get impatient with yourself. One last thing to mention is your weight might go up a little when you start working out. Track your inches too (I do bra line, waist, bellybutton, thighs, and wrists). A new exercise regimen can make you gain some water weight initially and muscle is denser than fat (so 1lb of muscle takes up a lot less area on you than 1lb of fat). Make sure you are eating enough to make your routine sustainable- remember, food is what gives us energy. Without it, your body will turn on those muscles you are trying to build. And don't be afraid to take rest days, this allows your body to more efficiently rebuild.

sleepytexan

6 or 7 days a week. Ballroom &/or Latin dance nearly every day (I'm an instructor), in addition to heavy lifting, cycling, and paddleboarding.

TR0berts

It is/was 3x a week.

Starting next week I'm moving to 4x a week.

All lifting, with the exception of 5 minutes on the bike to warm up and possibly 20-30 minutes after lifting on the weekends, if I think my bf% is going up.

taso42

4-6x / week. 4 of them are strength training

kr1stadee

I'm coming out of being VERY inactive.
I work out (hard) 3 times a week, and then I get on the treadmill twice a week, and do yoga twice a week, usually

**Edit- the 3 times a week is for 1 hour and 15 minutes each class, the treadmill is anywhere from a half hour to an hour, and the yoga is usually 20 minutes

jbr121

5x a week for 25mins. Any more and I won't be motivated to get off my butt, it's enough to make a difference, but not too much so I lose interest or get demotivated. Quality, not quantity!

dorianaldyn

I do something everyday. I'm currently following a marathon training program and that mandates 4 days of running, 1 day of cross training and 2 rest days - however on the rest days, I still do something. It's usually mellow (like yoga), but I still do something. If I have days off, it just throws my schedule off.

I've also found that, on those rare occassions when I save my workout for night rather than the morning, I'm the biggest grouch ALL DAY LONG without my workout. So, apparently I need daily workouts for my sanity and for the sake of those around me!

Hellbent_Heidi

5-6 days a week, average of 90 minutes per day, with a focus on strength training at least 3 of those days and more cardio on the others (strength days, I do less cardio, but still a little bit)

Nessiechickie

Maximum: 7 days a week alt between gym (cardio& heavy weights), Wii & Bikram yoga.
My goal this week is to get 1.5 hr of gym today of 1hr cardio and 30mins heavy weights
Tomorrow an hour on the wii
friday is 90mins of bikram yoga
Saturday hopefully an hour at the gym
Sunday 90mins of Bikram Yoga.

Total: 7hrs in a week (includes yesterday 30mins)

aj445

I do 5 - 6 days a week. With active activities as extra on the weekend with the kids. 4 days minimum of running in there.

Amanda

maulop

I try to go 6 days a week, 3 times a week is cardio and strengt training, the other 3 days is yoga and cardio, and rest on sunday.

If i can't go to the gym because of work, i try to do one of the zuzkalight.com workouts at home, or yoga, depends on how tired i get home.

janeite1990

7-10X a week. I do some sort of cardio every stinking day. (and at that rate, I'm probably the stinky part) If I start skipping days, I end up giving up altogether. On weekends, I try to exercise twice day, and I can usually slip in an extra on one weekday. I do strength training as often as I can. There are definitely days I don't hit it as hard, but I try to do something every day, usually for around 40 minutes minimum. I get better results this way. 3-4x a week wasn't enough to move the scale or the tape measure.

Gramps251

Lots of motivated people in this thread. I shoot for 3 or 4 times a week.

amy_36

I was inactive for a long time and started walk-jog-walk-jog every day for 30 minutes at my own pace without being uncomfortable for a couple weeks just tot get my body and joints used to moving and working like that. Unfortunately that was disrupted by surgery on Christmas, and when I got the okay from the surgeon, I started doing the same routine again. After a pain free week of that, I have amped it up with longer runs where I push myself, and am on day 6 of the 30 Day Shred. I really would recommend it even for beginners, but give it a couple weeks and just incorporate more activity and movement so your body can warm up to whats going on. The last thing you want is to finally be motivated and then hurt yourself a few days in. Slow and steady is the way to go, and when you feel your body is ready to be pushed hard, then start pushing. Remember to be patient with yourself. Changes will happen faster than you think. In December I couldn't run a mile, and I ran one in 10 minutes yesterday without walking at all! I can also do 3 modified pushups all the way, and can keep going half way down for another 10!

Something else I've found is that as a beginner, you can't look for the runner's high or the lifter's high. The exercise will be tough, and painful. If you do the shred and you're anything like me, your legs will be shaking halfway through. The high for me comes when I've finished the workout. When I've done a little better than yesterday. I'm a little faster. My arms aren't as sore. When I sit down with a tall glass of water and a post-workout snack and I can feel all my muscles still activated and warm, I know what I accomplished today that I couldn't have done on New Years Day. I huffed and puffed and my legs screamed through my mile yesterday. It wasn't exactly "fun", but when I saw my time I started crying from happiness. I was on cloud 9 all day.

You can do this! Just don't get impatient with yourself. One last thing to mention is your weight might go up a little when you start working out. Track your inches too (I do bra line, waist, bellybutton, thighs, and wrists). A new exercise regimen can make you gain some water weight initially and muscle is denser than fat (so 1lb of muscle takes up a lot less area on you than 1lb of fat). Make sure you are eating enough to make your routine sustainable- remember, food is what gives us energy. Without it, your body will turn on those muscles you are trying to build. And don't be afraid to take rest days, this allows your body to more efficiently rebuild.

VERY well said!

Richie2shoes

I just built up to 5 days last week, this week my goal is 6 days.

M-W-F 30 minutes of strength followed by 30 minutes of cardio
T-Th-Sat, 30 minutes of cardio.

I also try and do something active on Sunday and will be building the cardio only days to 45 minutes.

MinnieInMaine

I exercise 5-6 days a week, sometimes 7 in the summer.

cmon49

Question to those that are more than 5x a week. Just trying to get a feel for if I should alter my workout routine.
How long have you been maintaining that habit? How many days are "easy" vs. "hard" workouts? Do you feel it's sustainable (or maybe the better question is for how long would you continue doing 6-7x a week workouts)?

lilmisfit

At least 4x/week, sometimes 5-6, depending on what's going on in my life. I generally take weekends off, but will occasionally go on a Saturday or Sunday.

If it's just 4 days, I warm up for 15 minutes, then lift for 30-45 minutes, then do an hour of cardio (combo of treadmill and recumbent biking)

If it's more than 4, I'll generally just do cardio to give my muscles a rest. I'm a firm believer in rest days.

ETA: I have a pretty sedentary job, but take the stairs (4 flights) numerous times a day to stay active at work as well.

jimmie65

Question to those that are more than 5x a week. Just trying to get a feel for if I should alter my workout routine.
How long have you been maintaining that habit? How many days are "easy" vs. "hard" workouts? Do you feel it's sustainable (or maybe the better question is for how long would you continue doing 6-7x a week workouts)?

Over a year now. I do "hard" workouts 5 days a week and something fun, but usually hard as well on Saturdays and a lighter workout on Sunday.
The thing is, if your workout isn't hard (for you, relatively speaking), it may burn some calories but it isn't going to make any changes to your body.

I will continue working out 7 days a week until I can't do it any more.

jfsears

I take the dog for a hike throuh the woods at least 3 times a week for 30-60 min its winter here so the snow sometimes makes it hard to get out everyday or stay out for long periods of time. I do pilates at least 3 times a week for 30-45 min depending on which video I choose. If i can't get outside for a decent hike I do a jillian michaels video 30 day shred/6 week 6 pack/yoga meltdown. In the summer I do the same but add in a 30 min run 3 times a week and swimming...the hikes are longer if the bugs are not trying to carry me away.

yarmiah

I started working out in 2009, just doing cardio M, W, F over my lunch hour. I ended up working with a personal trainer(and am still happily with him!) in 2010, and increased my gym time to 5 times a week and my routine is pretty much unchanged:

Monday: Cardio(stair treadmill, treadmill, eliptical, amt or similiar) and ab work
Tues: Cardio (intervals runs + another form of cardio)
Wed: workout with trainer
Thur: Cardio routine again
Fri: TRX class

(Some saturdays when my schedule allows, I take an hour long bootcamp class as well)

I am shocked that I actually enjoy working out and look forward to it!

hap2010

So I can see that alot of you are working in weight training into your fitness routine. I want to do this but have never actually done weight training (I did crossfit with my husband for about a month last year) Do you recommend getting a trainer to teach me the correct way to do it or just trying it on my own? Right now, I work cardio at home. I do either weight loss mood or hill climb.

RitaSantoss

Everyday. But there are always those days where you're just too lazy to do it. Even though "lazy" is just an excuse to not workout, I still exercise pretty much everyday so my laziness doesn't do much damage at the end of the day.

grangerkelly

I used to do nothing but cardio really and I would do it 3-5x a week.

Recently I've started lifting weights/strength training as well. I do THAT 3-5x a week and I do some sort of cardio every day. On days I train, cardio will be 15-45 mins depending and on cardio-only days I do 40-60min (sometimes 75 because since I have CP it takes me a little over an hour to do a 5k )

jennmodugno

Since "getting serious" about this, I work out four days a week by myself for 30-45 minutes, and two more days in a class for two hours. Sunday is my "rest day", to give me a little break and a chance to rest my muscles. Every single workout includes at least a bit of strength training, and quite a bit of cardio/strength. (Martial arts is sort of both. Sort of.) The strength training gets alternated on a day-by-day basis, never working the same muscles two days in a row, but not confined to arm days/leg days. I like to mix it up.