Question:
How many days per week should I exercise?

what duration should I be walking on my treadmill. Is 2.9 fast enough?    — hdpearl (posted on December 1, 2005)

December 1, 2005
Hi Jan, The short answer is... exercise whenever you can. The government recommendation is the get at least 30 mins of vigorous activity on "all or most days". Now if you are just starting out build your way up so that you can gain some indurance. 2.9 is a start but to gain cardiovascular benefit you need to keep increasing from there. When you can do it easily you need to increase the speed. A good fast paced walk is 3.5 -3.8. Just start slowly as to not become overwhelmed. If you stick with it you will blow right by the 2.9 and be able to do it for longer, and longer periods of time. Good uck to you!
   — SteffieBear15

December 1, 2005

   — aprilbaree

December 2, 2005
Work out when you can and as often as you can. When I haven't worked out for a long time I start just with cardio for about a week and then move on to weights. However, every body is different and every one's situation is different.
   — the7thdean

December 3, 2005
Don't limit your exercise to a treadmill. Find other ways in your life to add a little here and there, it will make a big difference. Do squats taking clothes out of the dryer, do 15 crunches and 5 push ups every time you use the bathroom. (at home, of course LOL) Park in the back of parking lots, take the stairs, do small strength exercises during the commercials of your favorite TV show. (A can of green beans make great weights) Get creative with it each day by adding a little here and there and it will add up to quite a bit in a weeks time. I'm taking a tae kwon do class with my kids. It gives us some family time, a mutual interest, and an unbeliveable workout that's fun. There is exercise everywhere, you just have to see it. As for your question about a treadmill at 2.9 being fast enough: According to the personal trainer where I work out (occasionally LOL) 2.9 is fine so long as you do it for 90 minutes per day. Who has time for that? So she recomends that I go at 3.5 or more for at least 20 minutes w/ 10-20 at about 3.
   — RebeccaP