Comparison

It’s easy to look at other people’s workouts and feel like you’re lacking.

Social media and television (ahem, The Olympics) flood us with images of people who work out seemingly all day, every day, and have incredibly muscular bodies as a result.

If you find yourself feeling badly in comparison to these people, consider who they are.

Athletes, fitness professionals, and actors preparing for roles.

They love working out.

Or their jobs depend on looking fit.

Or both.

Is the same true for you?

If not, then of course you aren’t exercising as much as them.

If you don’t love working out, there’s zero reason for you to be doing high-intensity exercise multiple times a day.

You should do enough exercise to stay healthy, so you can participate in the activities you do love. 

The generally accepted weekly guidelines for exercise are doing at least

• two strength-training sessions and

• 150 minutes of moderate-intensity cardio or 

• 75 minutes of high-intensity cardio.

An Olympic speed skater’s fitness routine is just not relevant to the typical person.

Instead, you can use these guidelines, plus your overall health and how you feel, to decide whether you’re exercising enough.