The FastDay Forum

For me, it's gardening, walking the dogs and housework.
I know many of you wouldn't think of this as exercise at all (I didn't a few years ago).
What do you do for exercise and how much per week please?

Chewing, lifting my fork, going to the loo, changing the channels, typing...

I know, I know, I'm the last person to reply to this one but I consider -some sort of- exercise the walk to/from metro station (20 minutes both ways), housework and dancing. I can't tell you how much per week though because it varies, depending on my schedule.

I do three days a week either at the gym or outside. I've been doing this for years now and I still hate it. None of that getting in a habit and enjoying exercise if you go regularly.

I run 2-3 times a week. That's real exercise. I try to take the stairs, not the lift, walk to work (not enough), garden, etc. That's incidental exercise. It's all exercise. Probably the incidental is more important.

Good to know that I'm rising to the expectations!!!

BTW, in my old neighbourhood, dogs walked themselves. It was great, lots of small parks, no traffic and the few car drivers knew every dog by name. Even the bus drivers!

(I take the stairs too and there is no elevator where I live. Hmmm, I never consider that exercise...)

I've only been on 5:2 for 3 weeks, but decided to re-instate a short exercise regime while I'm at it. A few years ago, (can't recall the source), I read that this would work wonders. It's interval workout, and it makes sense to me. I've done it on and off, but now with the 5:2 going on, I'm adding this to see what happens (5 times/wk).

I'm walking on a treadmill and doing the following:
0-90 seconds at a comfortable pace
then 60 seconds as fast as you can
then 90 seconds comfortable
then 50 seconds fast
then 90 seconds comfortable
then 40 seconds fast
then 90 seconds comfortable
then 30 seconds fast
then 90 seconds comfortable
then 20 seconds fast
then cool down as long as it takes. You'll be done in about 13 minutes.

For me, it's gardening, walking the dogs and housework.
I know many of you wouldn't think of this as exercise at all (I didn't a few years ago).
What do you do for exercise and how much per week please?

So glad you asked this question Pennyforthem. Being so overweight (crept on after menopause), I have put real pressure on my ankles and feet so they ache a fair bit when I walk plus when its hot and humid here in the summer I don't find it particularly enjoyable. (Never did get used to enjoying being sweaty - so you can see not very good at real physical exercise.)

So apart from the normal housework and occasional gardening and until I have lost enough to be able to walk for exercise, I try to do 30 minutes at least three days a week on an exercise bike at half speed; and as I find that rather boring and I can think of other things I would rather do, I use the time to catch up with missed tv programmes on ABC iview which takes my mind off my rear end having trouble coping with the hard seat on the bike. Not much but at least doing 5:2 seems to be giving me the discipline to stick to it.

Anything that substantially raises your heart rate counts as exercise; anything that gets you moving but doesn't raise your heart rate by much is activity. Obviously, your fitness level determines what stuff you determine as each. One person's walking the dog is another person's 10k run is another person's climb up the stairs.

I've been pretty fit for the last few years after being a couch potato for a few years beforehand! My exercise is when I go to the gym and work out with weights or cardio that makes me sweat; that's about 5-6 hours a week. I don't generally class my cycle commute as exercise since unless it's particularly windy, it doesn't feel all that strenuous. It's like a brisk walk rather than a run in terms of effort expended. But, it is activity so it's another 6-7 hours a week.

I agree with Maryanne, that incidental exercise is probably the more important. Keeping active, keeping moving, not sitting on your bum all day.

I try and do a couple of HIT sessions a week, (tabata style, so very intense but only 4 minutes), then at least one walk a day with the dog, a longer bush walk every week, and any skating I can get in. I used to do about 5 hours of pretty intense skating a week for roller derby, but having some time off for injuries to heal (ironically, neither of the injuries are derby related).

I also use my bike as transport and have a standing desk.

So the vast majority of my exercise is incidental or something I do for fun.

KataMac, I have a standing desk too. Have you thought of switching to a treadmill desk?

I gained alot of weight when I switched from a quite active job to a much more sedentary one.

I do a fair amount of walking. Summer I sub one walk for mowing the lawn. Everyday I have to do cafe strengthening exercises and leg stretches to keep my left ankle mobile - result of badly broken lower leg last year. I do some gardening (last year it was all on the patio, this year I'm back to the garden - yay)! I pretty much ignore upper body and abs, but sometimes remember to throw a few exercises their way!

I have thought of a treadmill desk, but unsure how I'll go working on it, because I do graphic design which needs a fair bit of precision mouse-work. I think I'd quite like a slow paced walk though all day. My work tends to be bunched together, so I'll have 4 days working 12 hours a day, then 10 days doing hardly any, so I'm lucky in that I don't have to be stationary all day every day - but a standing desk has made a massive difference in the 4 days, that's for sure.
Have you tried a treadmill desk?

I have been active all of my life, regular aerobics etc, the past three years I have been doing at least 6 classes a week, Zumba, deep aqua, Body shap, yoga etc etc. all good. I am also vegan for the past year and vego for 40 years before that. I started to put on weight about 10 years ago, and nothing touched it, no matter what I did UNTIL the 5:2 came along yay! Since starting this I have lost 6kg another 9 to go, and it isn't hard. I still love going to the Heath club and really miss it when I can't get there. We are members of the fantastic health club at Sydney Olympic Park and will keep our memberships and keep doing 5:2 forever!

Walking, every day I just get out for a walk, even if its just a short one on a day when weather is bad.

..... Have you thought of switching to a treadmill desk?

Doesn't it make your writing all wonky

I'm afraid I take the TML approach to exercise, but since starting the 5;2 way of life I have found myself out walking, briskly, everyday and am shocked at how much I enjoy it. In my previous life i.e. pre 5;2 I managed to multitask spectacularly by combining my exercise routine, my favourite meal and pastime, I would eat a box of chocolates, drink a bottle or wine and watch television! Ah those were the good old days! It was these slothful yet strangely satisfying ways that enabled me to do my elephant in the room impersonation, nowadays I'm more like a sleek panther (touch of poetic licence there methinks!!!!).

Ballerina x