How often should I exercise?

Hi all! Hoping for some advice here... My mom just transferred her lifetime Bally's membership to me so I can finally afford a gym! ($9 a month, can't beat that!) Anyways, I was wondering whether I need to exercise 6-7 days a week or if 5 was okay too?

I work 6:30-3 so it's easy for me to go to them gym right after work and still get home at a reasonable hour. But I need at least 1 weekday where I can go to the laundomat after work (if I go after 5 or on weekends I can't get a washer)

I was thinking I would go Monday-Thursday after work and then early Saturday mornings.

It's hard for me to get away in the evenings and it's not safe to jog at night in our neighborhood, and our apt is too small to excersize comfortably in (if I lay down to do crunches my head touches the couch and my feet hit the bookshelf!)

Anyways, does that sound like a good plan, or should I try to add Sunday in there too? I have church and lead a small group on Sundays but I could fit it in... I just don't want to turn my Sunday into a day of no-rest!

Thanks for the advice!

Your plan sounds good.  A day of rest is important.  Also, you may want to make sure your workout routine is not the same everyday.  Have fun!

Oh good! Yeah, I figured alternating strength and cardio would be good, maybe with a little swim everyday just for fun. THere's also a ballet-excercize class I'm dying to take but not sure if it's at a good time

5 days should be sufficent, more isn't better when it comes to exercise.

sounds good to me. it's whatever works for you some people workout 7 days a week and some 3. I try to work out 6 days a week if possible and weather cooperates with me

Your plan is perfect. My friends bf, who has a masters degree in sports med and nutrition, told me yesterday that ideally you want to work out no more than 5 days a week, with 2 days of rest, ideally not resting on consecutive days.

Sounds great! Maybe I'll rest on Weds and Sun then...the laundromat gets a little crazy on Fridays anyway...

I only goto the gym 2 times a week, and do no at home excersizes.  Is that the most efficient way to get to my goal weight, no.  But its better then nothing (and dropped 15lbs in a month)

I can only manage to get to the gym 3 times a week. It's working for me now but I will probably try to incorporate some at-home exercises (eg squats) soon.

5 days a week will be perfect for you if you can manage it!