So far, I've exercised every day. But I think I'm going to start taking a day off, maybe 2. I don't want to overwork myself or injure myself. This is the first time I've really felt sore (thanks Billy Blanks! lol), and the only time I've even WANTED to take a break. I'll still count my calories on those days, though, most definitely.
But what's comfortable for you? Every day? 4-5 times a week? 2-3 times?
3-5 days a week. Depends. I'm often unable to exercise some days because the family is traveling or something else is going on... but I try to keep moving as much as I can.
Once I'm living with my grandparents and have less stressful and busy weeks, I am hoping to do it for 5 days a week straight... going running 3 days out of that week... and other things on the other days... until I turn 18 December 29th... and then I can use the gym in town.
Even on days I'm not exercising, I try to walk and get my steps in (~7-10k with a pedometer). When I was starting out I aimed for 30-40 min a day starting off slow.
M,W,Th run/walk 3.5 miles
T/F strength train 45mins + sometimes 20 mins of cardio
S Leisurly 3 mile walk (I consider this a rest day)
Sun run/walk 4-5 miles
Then when I'm feeling really tired and like my training is suffering I take a day off completely. I would advise always taking at least 1-2 days off for your body to recover, espeically in the begining. I allow myself to do more because exercise is more than a weight loss tool for me, it's a stress reliever and it's my "me" time so I WANT to do pretty much every day.
I started off with a 21-day challenge where I had to get in at least 30 minutes of some form of planned exercise. It varied from power walking, weight lifting, the elliptical, exercise bike, etc. as long as I got in at least 30 minutes. The initial weight loss was so good, it kept me motivated to continue. Now I work out 6 days a week.
I've exercised everyday for almost a solid year, twice most (99%) days. However, none of that is really strenuous, or at least the strenuous parts are pretty short: when I started, 120+ pounds ago, I was doing 5 minutes twice a day on the bike. Now I am doing 45-60 minutes twice a day on the bike, but, again, I never get my heart rate just super elevated. I don't seem to be capable of it.
I just don't believe you can overdo light cardio. People all over the world--heck, most everyone in the world, today and for the last 100,000 years--walk 5+ miles a day without "rest days". Since my tendencies otherwise are pretty sedentary (mmm . . .couch, book, and laptop), I really think my total amount of daily exercise is probably pretty similar to that of someone who lives in a "walky" city like New York or Paris, and less than that of someone who lives pretty much anywhere in the world without running water.
I do limit weight lifting to every other day, because that isn't a "normal" human activity and because pretty much everyone in the world agrees it is a good idea.
I try to exercise at least 5 days a week. I either walk outside about an hour, on the treadmill 30 minutes to 1 1/2 hrs(depending on enthusiasm) or ride my bike for about an hour.
I plan something for every day, so if I don't do that days workout, I don't feel too badly or try and 'make-up' for the skip, which might throw my 'rotation' off. Some weeks are better than others with all seven days accomplished, some weeks are closer to 5. I've decided I do better not to keep count. If I start feeling overworked I skip a day.
This is my current rotation. It changes, but I plan about an hour a day. Again some days are 30min some get up to 90min.
week one
S cardio
m walk
t LB + cardio
w UB + cardio
t LB + cardio
f UB + cardio
s cardio
week two
s total body weights
m walk at park
t TB weights
w Kboxing
t TB weights
f cardio
S TB weights
I like working out every day. It's just one of those things I have to do. Instead of taking a day of rest, I use one day a week and do a light workout like the 20 min. Turbo Jam or a yoga workout. I haven't missed a workout in the last 377 days.
Monday: Spin class followed by a small workout at home - sit ups, some light pilates.
Tuesday: Personal training session! My PT is the cruellest man ever, NEVER have an ex-pro footballer as a trainer ><
Wednesday: Day off from the gym because I'm usually crippled from the night before, lol, but I'll always do some planks and sit ups at home, maybe some light arm weight work.
Thursday: As per Monday.
Friday: As per Wednesday OR swimming in the evening. Our pool's adult swim sessions don't start till 6pm and I usually leave work at 4 on a Friday, so more often than not I work out at home.
Saturday: Walk into town, shopping (THIS IS EXERCISE) then maybe swimming.
Sunday: I usually go geocaching so can walk up to 3 or 4 miles. Depends if I'm with my mum or not.
I've dropped my exercise frequency but the intensity has gone up - the spin classes I go to are run by a slightly too enthusiastic Australian who doesn't let you slack and my PT is just... arrrrrrgh. Now it's more maintenance than weight loss for me. If I could I'd go swimming every day, but my gym's opening times for the pool are a little ******ed and inconvenient for those of us that work 9 to 5.
How many days do you exercise?
