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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:
candycane222 · 01/02/2022 15:28

It's all been pretty one-way by the sounds of it. While her difficulties were dominant, that's not surprising, but either she can't now change her mindset to see you in a more equal role, despite having ample evidence of your needs/wishes/priorities. Or she never sees anyone that way and is one if life's takers.

As you lkke het, perhaps the former is likelier. But if she can't shift from 'picnic is my mummy' thinking then your friendship is still stuck.

Re the comment 'did you use her?' From my perspective it looks the other way about.

ElftonWednesday · 01/02/2022 15:30

Coffee once a week would be ample, surely.

TatianaBis · 01/02/2022 15:37

Surely you know how to do friendships OP? If this person is too needy and annoying then there are plenty others no?

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about these subjects:

Glitterygreen · 01/02/2022 15:38

Tbh I think the answer depends on whether you actually want to spend time with her or not?

If you do, then I would do the coffee thing one morning a week and either gym earlier/later/take the day off.

If you actually don't want to spend that time with her at all then I think you just need to stay firm.

phizog · 01/02/2022 15:38

If she were a bf, you'd be told she is manipulative and controlling. And she is.

Loneliness is not a reason to expect you to give up your routine. If you needed to be at work, she wouldn't expect you to go late would she. So she may not see the gym as important a part of the routine as work, but it is to you. Just like sitting in a coffee shop to use you as a therapist is to her.

I know you think she makes good conversations, but friendship should have a higher bar than this. Today it is expecting you to give up the gym tomorrow it could be her expecting you to stay with her all evening

  • neediness always escalates the more you feed it.

She's an adult woman perfectly capable of filling her time, or sitting in a coffee shop alone, or making new friends. Everyone can get lonely, and yes, it is sad, however, most people don't place the entire burden of it on a new friend. Stick to your guns, and if she values your friendship she'll leave you to the gym or find ways to make her own compromises if she needs you this much - like going to the gym or meeting later. If she gets frosty - then it was never about the friendship to begin with.

Ragwort · 01/02/2022 15:41

She sounds needy and manipulative- I know someone like this, all she wants to do is sit around drinking coffee ... I met her when she was a newcomer to the town I lived in (as I had been a few years before), she admitted she was lonely ... I told her about things I did, nothing too stressful but volunteering, going to exercise classes, church, WI etc ... she wouldn't try anything, complained about any suggestion but still just wanted to 'meet for coffee'. I am not her therapist .. I just refused, she is still lonely, hasn't made any friends but won't try anything new ... meanwhile I have a wide circle of friends and lots of hobbies ....

Chloemol · 01/02/2022 15:50

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

Well she has been dumped hasn’t she, because you are refusing to go to the coffee shop

Why not just go once a week, or once a fortnight? Perhaps sugges5 she joins you at the gym once a week or something?

ChargingBuck · 01/02/2022 15:51

She often said it’s like having a therapist / big sister.
RED FLAG ALERT
You already know this, PP will point it out too - enough said.

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.
"Pal, you know the gym is my routine, you knew I would get back to it, when you try to stop me from going I feel manipulated & pissed off, so please stop doing it, as I am not going to change my routine."

She will send me pictures and messages of her having a coffee alone !
Send one back of you training, alone.
(You'll feel a well-justified 'snark' moment'. SHE will feel you have paid her some attention).
Don't send it 'in the moment', don't check your phone for her needy comms, just make sure you have a few appropriate gym-pics at the ready, & send them when you are back home again. Too much instant-response will signal to her that she can just keep expecting more from you.

Also meeting up at other times does not seem to work…
Rejoice & praise whatever deity you hold dear.

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.
Does she ever stop with the fucking manipulation?
If she stopped, would you be feeling guilty about going about your perfectly normal day in your perfectly normal custom?
Of course you wouldn't.
This 'friend' now has you in the unenviable position of being damned if you do & damned if you don't. Well done on not 'caving', I enjoyed the pride & resolve shining out from your wording there. Star
So you feel guilty if you go, & will feel shit if one day you caved (say she ramped up the manipulation/ need for 'therapy/ demands that you occupy your big sister role?) & didn't go.

constantly comments that she feels dumped.
"Stop being ridiculous, I'm not your boyfriend & I don't like it when you guilt trip me like that."

TL:DR - back away sloooooooowly OP.
This one will ramp it up until you have to lock the DC's rabbits up in Fort Knox.

FlamingRoses · 01/02/2022 15:51

There are two sides to this story.

Do you really have to go to the gym every single day? Can you not meet her for a coffee every 2 weeks or so for an hour?

Or is it that she just isn’t a priority in your life / takes too much from you? If it’s the latter, you need to make it clearer.

If you enjoy her company and she really is your friend, you need to make time for her.

MrsWooster · 01/02/2022 15:52

@JesusInTheCabbageVan

This makes me think of a 'Girl on the Train' type novel.

'I would KILL for a coffee right now...'

Just a figure of speech, right? PicnicBunny's new friend LOVED going to the coffee shop with her. Quite how much, she had not realised. When PicnicBunny recovered from an injury and the visits tailed off, her friend became angry. How far would you go for a coffee? Find out in this explosive new thriller by the author of 'Massive Salad.'

I would genuinely read this! ‘Massive Salad’ sounds less satisfying. Arf.
billy1966 · 01/02/2022 15:59

@Mouldyfeet

Oh god this would piss be off and I’d have to back away. How needy and childish
This.

I'd be gone.

She wants a free therapist, not a friend.

Stick to what you enjoy.

She is using you.

Be very wary.

midsomermurderess · 01/02/2022 16:00

Isn't a key aspect of friendship that they do 'get' you? That's what the friendship is based on, as against those who simply don't.

Aderyn21 · 01/02/2022 16:03

People aren't obliged to give up doing what they really want to do (even on one day per week) to accommodate things they really don't want to do, because someone else has manipulated and pressured them into it.
If a boyfriend was sending 'I'm lonely' pics and texts to his girlfriend, while she was at the gym people would be telling her to run. It's not different because the 'friend' is a woman.

5128gap · 01/02/2022 16:03

If you've suggested other times and she hasn't taken you up on it, I'd say she just wants that particular slot in her day filled on her terms, and would feel no guilt for refusing. Friendship is about compromise. Where's hers?

Ragwort · 01/02/2022 16:03

Re-reading your thread it's clearly all about her, do you actually enjoy her company? Does she have anything to talk about? Why should you give up even an hour a fortnight if she is not a 'close friend'.

sonjadog · 01/02/2022 16:05

Could you not find a compromise here? Like one morning a week for coffee? As much as it sounds like she has used you for a dumping ground for her feelings, it also sounds a bit like you have used her when you were injured and now you are ditching her because you have your old life back. It might be that this friendship was a short-lived thing and that it doesn't have a place in your life now, but if you think you would like to keep the friendship going, then I would try to find a compromise there.

Cherrysoup · 01/02/2022 16:08

Have you actually put this to her? That you feel she’s unfair to manipulate you and constantly try to persuade you? Why doesn’t she talk to you at football? It’s a bit weird that she’s compartmentalised you into coffee post school run only.

ChargingBuck · 01/02/2022 16:11

I supported her. Why can’t she support me. (By leaving me alone I know!)

"Pal, I've been happy to give you a bit of support, all I'm asking for is that you support me in return by not asking me to abandon my hobby & gym goals."

Eddielzzard · 01/02/2022 16:12

What stands out for me is that at football practice when you're available to her, she prefers to talk to other friends. Presumably because she's decided that she'll spend time with you aka use you after drop off. That is such a fucking massive insult really.

She is a user, she's using you as a therapist. She is completely self absorbed and think your life and your time should revolve around her.

I think it's better to prioritise yourself. Sure, if you have time for a coffee, great! But doesn't sound like this friendship is a two-way street, which friendships really need to be, on balance.

Dontbeme · 01/02/2022 16:13

@5128gap

If you've suggested other times and she hasn't taken you up on it, I'd say she just wants that particular slot in her day filled on her terms, and would feel no guilt for refusing. Friendship is about compromise. Where's hers?
100% this and the OP herself confirms as much with this comment

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

She wants OP to fill free time when the other preferred people are not available. Ignore her manipulation OP and enjoy your gym time. I bet if one of the preferred people were attending the gym with you this woman would be pulling her trainers on quick smart.

ChargingBuck · 01/02/2022 16:15

by the author of 'Massive Salad.'
Grin Grin Grin

Nice juxtaposition @JesusInTheCabbageVan ... I see what you did there ...

StationaryMagpie · 01/02/2022 16:15

Would it really kill you to give her one morning a week to go for coffee?

Howeverdoyouneedme · 01/02/2022 16:16

Another who’d find this really weird. What you do with your time is your business, I was a sahm for a while and people I hung out with would go back to work/start the gym whilst I still had younger children. I didn’t manipulate them into hanging out with me.

Mol1628 · 01/02/2022 16:17

Oh dear. I would have to cut her off. How dare she send messages like that claiming ownership of your time.

It’s nice to have friends but this doesn’t sound like it’s working for either of you so I would just back off. Be pleasant when you see her. Don’t respond to messages or respond very late.

Toanewstart22 · 01/02/2022 16:18

Does she have much going on in her life?

Work??

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