People who are too busy to do exercise

There are so many defensive posters here. OP has made very good point. A lot of people just don't prioritise exercise for whatever reasons . Exercise (not just running) is very important for your health and lack of exercise (along with overeating, alcoholism and smoking ) is one of the main reasons that our health service is on its knees. People need to take responsibility for their own health and stop dismissing those who do prioritise their well being. I am not keen on it myself but I do it anyway because I realise the importance of it.

I went to visit a supplier in Tianjin last week, two nights away in a nice hotel. It was great! I had an hour in the gym each evening and swam a mile each morning. It just goes to show how having kids and spouses takes up so much time.

at home I never have time to spend exercising in the evening bar 10 minutes stretching before bed. I have to walk to work instead and swim or gym in my lunch hour.

Quite unusual to get a whole hour in most jobs these days. I used to get 30 mins when I worked for the NHS and often had to skip this due to the demands of the job.

So you have a DH, childcare and don't have additional caring responsibilities for family? So quite a cosy simple and well supported life, you kind of posted the definition of a privileged family life.

I can't honestly be that hard to understand others don't all have the same comfortable well balanced life with no major disabilities, care responsibilities and the support of an equal partner.

Still a choice, and one that leaves you very time short/tired and with little motivation or time for other interests.

Plenty of people choose otherwise: no or only one child, less demanding job with shorter hours, partner that pulls their weight, de-prioritise things like housework.

Oh jog on OP, literally.... People prioritise their time differently to you, big deal. For me and my family and life setup, doing exercise either means getting up earlier (but I prioritise sleep more) or else going late at night (but I prioritise down time more). I don't have 30-40 minutes in the middle of the day to do it, that's just the facts.

You're right. I'm just lazy

• Female, 31, 7 months PP, still exclusivly breasfeeding, work full time.

Which gym do you go to? Where I live there are no gyms that allow children in to sit and watch a class?

You also admit that if your husband isn't facilitating your exercise you can't do anywhere nearly as much. So.... what are your "ways around it" and "there is always way" hints to the single parents who NEVER have a husband to enable their exercise, (or other family who can step in, there are often threads on here with single mum's unable to do something, even a one-off thing as they have literally noone to help), also don't have a gym where they can take their child and their child whines if they try to take them out for a decent walk?

Well there you go then - absolutely no excuse! Now I'll be super annoyed if it turns out she can't be bothered to work her way theough the booker prize short list on audio book just because "she's too busy running".

I don’t have time to exercise, I used to tell myself this, I have a full life with working full time, 3 children and the middle one has SEN so life was such a balancing act. However at the beginning of last year, I also realised that I hate how I look in clothes, I was obese, not finding fun in anything then I decided to prioritise me as well. So DH help me set everything up in the garage and now I wake up at 5:30am in the week before the kids wake up to work out. I’ve now lost weight and feel so much better now. Now exercising is something I love to do as I don’t want to go back to that rot.
It was hard waking up that early to start with but with time, I’m used to it now.
However, I can never look at someone in the face and tell them what you’ve just said. It’s so smug, people are facing lots of things.

I have all the time in the world usually, time is one thing I rarely ever lack. I don't have energy, co-ordination or health though. Good for you running 4 miles but even without my other disabilities, my uncontrollable cardio induced asthma would literally kill me if I went running (something that kills 4000 people per year).

I shouldn't HAVE to justify 'why' to nosy idiots that think they are just magically better than me rather than just 'more privileged' though.

You might make time to jog but your life you described is bog standard at best, you are not representative of everyone timetable. Example: maybe they work full time and have 2 kids just like you but they also deal as a single parent with a child with autism and severe ODD who can't be left unsupervised and/or a parent with dementia that can't be left alone because they wander off, fall, turn on ovens etc... and 'time to jog' just isn't important to them when they can't even find time to pee usually.

Many people don't have time to sit, eat and enjoy a lunch break, I have a pretty low energy life and just had to throw away my dinner after two bites because the kids are off school this week and I didn't get a chance to eat it before breaking up a sibling fight and fixing an injury. I couldn't take 40 minute to run even if I physically could because what am I going to do with my kids? just abandon the toddler in front of Mr. tumble during that time? The idea that everyone just has 40 minute lunch breaks with nothing else on to take off on a run is insane.

Do you dedicate half an hour every a day to listening to in-depth podcasts about global politics?

To be fair, you could do this while running. You could also keep up with modern literature if you like audiobooks. I like a bit of In Our Time when I’m on the cross trainer.

Well it’s not like we all are doing the same certain amount of things and then have certain amount of free time to use up during which I choose watching TV while you are doing running. It’s not so simple.
People have different things in their life, different opportunities and different starts.

I absolutely agree with
@MrsTerryPratchett ,
your post OP doesn’t come across well at all.

In order to squeeze it in, I would have to drop something that I want to do more.

I wonder, do you find time to keep up to date with modern literature, or Art? Do you dedicate half an hour every a day to listening to in-depth podcasts about global politics? Do you play an instrument, or sing in a choir? Are you working towards a Master's degree? Do you have a side-hustle small business that you're working to get off the ground. I'd find it really annoying if you said you couldn't do any/all those things because you were so busy running round in a great big circle.

I have a demanding job, I work full time, I'm parenting alone and have a 9 year old child with additional needs and a 4 year old waiting to be assessed. I absolutely try (occasionally a 30.min walk on my lunch break) but most of the time my lunch break is spent shopping or general family admin. Life is tough. Sometimes I get.out for a walk at weekends, Sometimes I get away for a hike but not always. It's very tough.

Having read through the comments it's just even more obvious that people will make multiple excuses on why they can't exercise for 30 mins per day but can easily scroll social media for 4 plus hours per day.

I work 30-40 hours week (condensed into 4 days as I work 10 hour nightshifts as a nurse)

I have 4DC who are 6,5,2,2, oldest 2 in school and younger 2 in nursery.

I do all drop offs and 2-4 pick ups per week. DH is very helpful but I still do all the cooking and food shopping.

On a weekly basis on average I do 2-3 x 5km runs, 1-2 x 1.5km swims and 1 x PT session which I would love to increase but can't as it's too expensive.

I prioritise exercise because it's amazing for my mental health.

I should also add that DH & I have ZERO family support yet still manage this because it's important to us.

If it's important to you then you will do it; but people will always make excuses.

I used to run. I used the Couch to 5k app and found it really good even if I had to repeat the runs a little more than the app suggested to get to my goal. That's fine.
I stopped running. A bout of ill health, a diagnosis of early onset arthritis, other demands on my free time have made it difficult to return to. But not impossible and I'm hoping I get back to it.
Cost is a barrier. You'd think just "getting out there" and putting one foot in front of the other would be fairly cost free. But getting good trainers that will protect your joints are expensive (my last ones, including gait assessment, cost £120).

I found it interesting that your post was full of frustration and was judging others. But you were also concerned that others were assuming you had a less important job or more free time than they had. Might be worth examining why you think that is the case. Is it someone close to you who is giving you this vibe?

It's great that you find that motivation. Maybe you could break down why you are motivated and offer some support to others to join you in exercise. Start a run club? Lots of women feel unsafe out on their own.

I agree with you OP actually.

Funny how a lot of people who don't have time to exercise do have time to post of Mumsnet or watch rubbish TV.

Exercising does not mean having to go to a pricey gym or do anything complicated.

You can just do easy things like going for a walk rather than drive to the shops, going with your kids to the local park for a walk or swimming together at the local pool or using YouTube exercise video and exercise in the comfort of your own home.

In many instances 'I don't have time to exercise' translates to 'I can't be bothered'...

The fact that we have so many people in our society who choose not to try to have a more active lifestyle and a better diet isn't consequence-free.

It means more sick days at work, more overweight people and more pressure on the NHS.

I think you have hit a nerve OP considering the defensive responses you are receiving...

Your giving them too much credit. I was more thinking lard ass on the windup.

It's a shame so many people won't exercise because they "don't like it"

It does so much for mental and physical health - it really makes me feel that people either don't care for themselves, or won't take responsibility for themselves ( and then expect the NHS to pick up the tab)

And they will be teaching their children the same - increasing the chance that the children will have poor health or shortened lives

It's sad

Oh god I KNOW

All these fat fucks unable to get off their arses and just be as bloody disciplined and amazing as me you. They're not really busy, just lazy and somehow morally inferior to us you.

The good thing is you can bask in the warm glow of your superiority - hell it may even burn so brightly it will consume some extra calories! Every little helps.

We need a few more emoji's for mumsnet... like a Goady Fucker or Smug Arsehole (I'm picturing a pucker with a smirk for the latter and this is something I really didn't need to be thinking about but here we are).

Well bully for you. Are you always this smug?

I work FT as well. I had good intentions of exercising on Monday evening but got a phone call from a relative who was having a problem I needed to help him sort out. By the time I got off the phone it was time to eat and then I had a committee meeting for a voluntary role I do so didn't get home until 10pm.

I've been away for work Tuesday - tonight. I've stayed with friends for the last two evenings so no chance of exercising.

Tonight I will get home at around 8pm. I'll be shattered and the last thing I'll feel like doing is exercise.

Tomorrow I finish work at 6.30 and am meeting friends for dinner at 7pm.

Some weeks are obviously not as busy, so I do exercise then. But I refuse to feel guilty that I can't always fit everything in.

This.

And I haven’t got the motivation. I’d rather do anything but exercise.

Yes it is possible

Although "immaculate" house might have been "clean"

Quality time with kids and friends might have included things like exercising together and doing major home DIY together - fun

Home cooked meals - so during the week they were quick ones - pasta and a creamy vegetable sauce ; tuna pasta bake ; jackets and slaw - they are not long or complicated

What I did have was quite a short commute - 30 mins or thereabouts

I really wish they'd make a TV programme about all the things we are meant to do as parents and then actually see if it is physically possible to have an immaculate home, homework done, home cooked meals, 150 minutes of vigorous exercise a week, quality time with kids and friends and a high flying career. Oh and be stress free and have 8hrs sleep a night. Would be interesting to watch.