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Friend hates me going to the gym

159 replies

PicnicBunny · 01/02/2022 14:03

What do you do when you make new friends and they just don’t ‘get you’.
I’m not working out to look better only. It’s a general lifestyle I’ve always been into fitness and play tennis and swim and run as part of ‘stuff I do’. Makes me so happy. I also don’t mind a lot of alone time.

But I get the same conversation every morning from my friend at the school gates - trying to take me to the coffee shop to chat.

Last year ( when we met) it went from both of us walking down to the gym and I’d say good bye to her there, or walking down the riverside, walking elsewhere…(with a coffee) because I was actually running in the evenings and playing tennis - and when I did some damage to my shoulder I did end up going to sit at the coffee shop, instead of going to the gym.
She LOVED this. Quite how much I had not realised.
But now, my shoulder has been fixed. I am back at the gym.
I understand we became close. She felt great. I usually felt like I’d wasted my day if I’d spent half the morning at a coffee shop, though still a little good that I had been there for her, and listened to her, helped her, advised her. She often said it’s like having a therapist / big sister.
I’ve advised her to actually book an appointment with a real therapist because she may need that for deeper rooted problems.

Since this January and my back and shoulder had been fixed, I’ve gone back to the gym. How to resume my old life?
Every morning she’s upset or trying hard to convince me I can go to the coffee shop first before the gym. I have not once caved. But she doesn’t know how pissed off I am by this constant manipulation.
She will send me pictures and messages of her having a coffee alone !
Also meeting up at other times does not seem to work…

I hate feeling guilty and selfish for not being there for someone. She enjoys my company and has taken it really hard and constantly comments that she feels dumped.

OP posts:
Peachandpearl · 01/02/2022 14:57

I would work out what my availability was and what I was happy to offer. Personally, I would condense my workouts, add one in at the weekend or spending like that and make time for one longer coffee and one short coffee a week, because I really value a good conversation and I think socialising is really important too and would want to strike a balance, but obviously you do you. Just because I would do that doesn't mean you should do it that way. We all have different priorities. I guess it depends whether this person is your friend and you want them to be your friend or not.

TheOrigRights · 01/02/2022 14:58

The two are not mutually exclusive, surely?

Are you working? If you don't have too many pressures on your time, can't you make time to have coffee once a fortnight or so?

PicnicBunny · 01/02/2022 14:59

I hate feeling guilty and like I’m being manipulated.

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SartresSoul · 01/02/2022 15:00

I feel a bit sorry for her really. She’s obviously lonely and struggling and she clearly enjoys your company. I can understand your side too but I’d maybe find a compromise and have coffee with her 1-2 times a week? Alternatively just ask her to accompany you to a fitness class 1-2 times a week instead.

Laiste · 01/02/2022 15:00

She's manipulating you into feeling guilty.

theleafandnotthetree · 01/02/2022 15:00

I think someone else said similar but if you like her and want the friendship to continue, then I would have a definite day per week where you go for coffee, keep it to the time limit that suits you and then get on with the rest of your week and life! This all or nothing approach is likely to lead to a blow up, whereas putting good boundaries and plans in place will hopefully mean you both get somewhat of what you want

Spud1130 · 01/02/2022 15:01

If you want to go, do it on your terms
"I can't today as I have a tennis game class/gym session/rhythmic gymnastics lesson booked, but how about we put something in the diary for Thursday next week?"

If you don't, then don't!

Letsallscreamatthesistene · 01/02/2022 15:02

Tbh she sounds REALLY hard work and quite annoying.

Id be distancing myself.

Laiste · 01/02/2022 15:02

I mean who wouldn't feel a pang of guilt if someone's sending a pic of themselves sitting alone in a coffee shop!?

But she knows that well enough.

MindyStClaire · 01/02/2022 15:03

@TheOrigRights

The two are not mutually exclusive, surely?

Are you working? If you don't have too many pressures on your time, can't you make time to have coffee once a fortnight or so?

This. She sounds OTT so you may want to back away, but from her pov you were only too happy to spend half the day with her while you were injured, and now want next to nothing to do with her. I can understand her feeling unhappy (if not the way she's gone about it).
PicnicBunny · 01/02/2022 15:04

We also meet on a weekday evening at a football club that our kids go to. And she is not interested in chitchatting then as she is talking to others. I don’t blame her. But that (I thought) was going to be our new norm. And we tried walking down to the gym other day except it’s awfully depressing to then mentally just ‘let go’ - and workout. I like to be in my zone.

We’ve tried meeting up after but with kids around it’s just not the same level of deep conversation.

And I’ve tried calling her too.

OP posts:
RunningFromInsanity · 01/02/2022 15:05

So she was a convenient distraction when you were injured but now you have a better offer she shouldn’t expect to hang out with you now?

Sounds like you used her tbh

coffeeisthebest · 01/02/2022 15:06

To be blunt, people do this to you because you let them. You are not responsible for her feelings, no matter how clever she is at convincing you that you are. If she wants to go for a coffee alone, all power to her, but that has nothing to do with you. These are your mornings and your time, not hers. If your gut is telling you to back off, then listen to it.

CakeMonster001 · 01/02/2022 15:07

I had a friend like this, only swap coffee shop to my house. Every. SINGLE. Evening.
If I missed a day I'd get "we're not close anymore" and tons of emotional bullshit manipulation from her.
In the end I took a complete step back from the friendship and saw I wasn't getting anything back, it was me running around after her, buying her things she'd never give me money back for, it was me supporting her if I said anything about my problems I'd just get a "mmmm" and back to her.
I feel much better for ditching her, I still like her don't get me wrong but there's nothing worse than someone invading your space expecting you to be their free therapist. It doesn't sound like you have much in common either.

FrugalFrancine · 01/02/2022 15:07

Oh fgs, she's being completely bonkers. No matter what it is you're doing, gym, pub, library, working on your new novel, whatever, it's weird and intrusive of her to persuade you not to do what you have planned just to suit her. She needs to get a hobby or an extra job or something if she has all this free time she cannot fill without berating other mums at the school gate. What an absolute weirdo

PicnicBunny · 01/02/2022 15:11

@MindyStClaire yes. I agree. Did I USE HER? I worry about and self-reflect on that.
( I never instigated the coffee and chat thing) it was always her needing to talk. I don’t mind talking and gave her some time (that’s how I saw it)
I would have been happy enough no coffee and walking sometimes or just generally do a bit of grocery shopping together. There was a time her conversations were so intense and she’d cry, I thought… you need a coffee, let’s go to that cafe and sit in a corner. (She had family issues)

OP posts:
candycane222 · 01/02/2022 15:11

Ugh the manipulation is so disrespectful! Would you for a second contemplate such a thing? Probably not, I'll guess.

By sending you the "sad face" photos she is sugesting it is your job to stop her feeling sad. It isn't! It's her job!

You have never made a secret of your gym and running habits. You didn't make a secret of your injury. You didn't make a secret of how glad you were to be better and able to exercise again. But she still feels she has the right to challenge your choices.

She will lose plenty more friends isf she treats them like this. Hopefully she is very young and has plenty of time for this self-absorption to wear off. But honestly I'd be distancing myself because it appears she thinks her feelings are more important than yours.

ImFree2doasiwant · 01/02/2022 15:12

It does sound annoying, but equally you don't sound like you like her very much.

candycane222 · 01/02/2022 15:15

How to deal with it? Suggest a shrug and a laugh as in "you can't seriously be expecting not to be going to the gym/for my run? You know I go every day! Sure you don't want to join me/ (if that's what you want her to do) /you should try it sometime (if not wanting to be so engaged) OK, bye then" and scamper off jauntily.

FinallyHere · 01/02/2022 15:19

I hate feeling guilty and selfish for not being there for someone.

You have nothing to feel guilty about.

Prioritise your goals. I would be inclined to tell her you enjoyed her company but it is now time to prioritise your own recovery

And encourage her to find a therapist.

Then back off a bit. It's good to have friends. This one isn't being a friend to you now.

Wot @candycane222 said is good.

You really see the real person, when you say no to someone. I've read on MN that it's a good test to try it on any new potential part and I think it goes for friends, too.

You cannot in all honestly continue to be friends with someone who tries to manipulate you into spending a long time listening to them, at the expense of your own goals.

trumpisagit · 01/02/2022 15:19

You don't want to/can't be her therapist.
So keep saying no, and stay polite, and back away slowly.

PicnicBunny · 01/02/2022 15:19

I honestly thought she knew ‘who I was’
And that I never cancelled my gym membership! I was seeing an osteopath and ‘had time’ when she said coffee? I said yes. An hour here and there turned into regular because her mum was ill, her ex was awful. I felt like I wasn’t losing anything by helping her and she said she was in a dark place.

I’ve made sure she contacted her gp, she is okay - she is in a better place. No problems. I mean in an emergency I don’t mind giving up a couple of hours here and there to listen and be there. I do like her.

But eventually me being me is a problem for her? I was a little hurt I’ve never had someone openly not support me

OP posts:
Gilly12345 · 01/02/2022 15:20

If you like her and enjoy her company then make time for her?

Exercise is great but so is having friends.

Ijsbear · 01/02/2022 15:23

I think you need to look underneath the surface here. She's fun, she's great company, she leans on you - that's her personality. But her underlying character has some unpleasant traits - she's being manipulative, pressuring you, guilting you and being demanding.

I think you can enjoy her company but need to be aware of this rather darker side.

You don't say how often you go, but if you go 4 or 3 mornings a week would it be an option to give one up for the coffee shop? In fairness if you were with her most days suddenly and she too really likes your company, it could feel a bit like being dropped for her. It would be fair to compromise a bit.

Personally her pressuring would have put me off her but I'm allergic to emotional manipulation after allowing myself to be taken for a fool too often.

thisplaceisweird · 01/02/2022 15:25

Do you actually like her? Sounds like you enjoyed her company too. Why not just put one day a week in the diary to do it? e.g. just friday mornings, and the other days you do your own thing