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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:
ChargingBuck · 01/02/2022 16:59

If I missed a day I'd get "we're not close anymore"

@CakeMonster001 !!!!!!!
Pass me the oxygen, that is SOOOOOOO claustrophobic.
Hope OP can dodge her batshit blackmail bullet, as you had the good sense to.

PicnicBunny · 01/02/2022 17:02

“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.”

Hahaha meant to reply to this earlier! It’s brilliant. Sorry I know drama queen of the no problem problems!

Ahh xxx

OP posts:
ChargingBuck · 01/02/2022 17:02

@ImFree2doasiwant

It does sound annoying, but equally you don't sound like you like her very much.
Reckon she liked her just fine til the emotional terrorism showed its ugly face @ImFree2doasiwant

Interested in this thread?

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pictish · 01/02/2022 17:06

I agree. I get the impression she was a-ok until OP wanted to go back to the gym.

BridStar · 01/02/2022 17:07

This is completely abnormal. She's not a friend, she's a headline waiting to happen.

I'd just ghost her. What a loon.

noottersontheflightdeck · 01/02/2022 17:11

Disengage! She's an emotion vampire! Disengage!

Maybe that's a tad much, but reading all your posts at once she sounds needy, manipulative and exhausting. I would be trying to have as little to do with her as possible.

coffeeisthebest · 01/02/2022 17:12

Do you believe you have saved her life? Things literally got so bad that she was suicidal and you brought her singlehandedly back from the brink? Or you want to be beholden with the huge responsibility of another's life? She is an adult, not a child. Whatever is going on for her will continue on with or without you.

Gonnagetgoing · 01/02/2022 17:12

@PicnicBunny

I don’t mind listening to her problems. But have some respect for my goals that day. I have work, (I love my work I have my own business) and cook lunch/dinners in advance whenever I can, and have other friends I never see so often. One I haven’t seen since Xmas. Will meet her this Thursday.

(Now this has become a new problem! Why are you seeing her and not me?)

Because I see you every morning at the school gates?

I have physically not seen her. Only talked on phone.

Okay. I will read through all the replies and hopefully this will be a conscious choice I make not a random ‘fuck off and leave me alone!!!’ moment

@PicnicBunny - to be honest you've not been clear to her, she's leaned on you and yes you've been there for her (she's also been there for you with your shoulder injury).

If you really didn't like her then and now (and it sounds as if you don't like her much, with the F off stuff) then just tell her. If you ghost her she'll wonder why and it's not like she's a random guy you've dated.
Don't be rude or mean just say you want to dial down the friendship.

But it sounds like she's been irritating you and you're getting less fun vibes off her.

Gonnagetgoing · 01/02/2022 17:15

@ChargingBuck

If I missed a day I'd get "we're not close anymore"

@CakeMonster001 !!!!!!!
Pass me the oxygen, that is SOOOOOOO claustrophobic.
Hope OP can dodge her batshit blackmail bullet, as you had the good sense to.

@ChargingBuck - it looks like OP has let her get too close though. It's down to OP not setting boundaries if she hasn't clocked her friend is a bit much.

The posting pics of coffee being alone though - I can almost see friends doing this in a 'funny' way - e.g. feel sorry for me being here alone with coffee!

ChargingBuck · 01/02/2022 17:17

@Tilltheend99

Judgemental much?! You were happy with the friendship when it was all on your terms. She enjoyed having someone to confide in and that makes you think she needs therapy. What is the world coming to?!
Playing to the gallery with an invented agenda, much?

Pal was happy with the friendship when it was all on her terms.
Pal one the one to raise therapy, & tell OP that she was her therapist.
Also big sister.
Pal does not talk to OP at weekly DC football - because pal has other friends there.
OP accepts that - isn't bothered in the slightest. But pal doesn't return the courtesy, & instead uses scarily escalating language & guilt-trips to manoeuvre OP back into the slot pal has her assigned to.

Octomore · 01/02/2022 17:18

@Laiste

I was a bit on the fence until you said about the sending pics of her ''all alone''. Hmm

That's v manipulative.
She's not respecting your choices really is she?
If you enjoy her company could you pick a time one day a week to meet for an hour? Do a bit of arm's lengthing.

I agree. She's being needy, manipulative and demanding.

Yes, she might be lonely and need support, but that's not the OP's job to fix. The OP is her own person with her own wishes and needs.

OP - until you got to the bit where she was sending you photos of her alone, I was thinking "why not just arrange a coffee with her for a different time?" But the manipulative stuff changes that. This woman is more demanding of your energy than I would be happy with.

When you come away from interactions with her, do you feel boosted, or drained?

Gonnagetgoing · 01/02/2022 17:20

@PicnicBunny

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.

See this is what stands out.

The coffee is what has grabbed her and she likes it with you. It's a bit different with the kids around and her talking to other people. She can't be such a loon or else she'd be spilling the beans there and in front of kids/other people.

If it really is getting on your nerves (and you've called her too) then just cut out the coffees.

I think she does need therapy from what you've posted but she obviously thought you clicked enough to share her deep conversation with you. and is it a 2 way street or are you only hearing her problems?

ChargingBuck · 01/02/2022 17:21

@Toanewstart22

Dare I say it?

You’re both SAHMs with far too much time on your hands to navel gaze

I was there once and this was totally the kind of issue that would preoccupy me!

Clearly you do, & your faux-apology in your next so-called 'sorry but' post makes exactly the same condescending assumption.

Which, btw, is incorrect.

PicnicBunny · 01/02/2022 17:23

Honestly I was okay with her until I started going back to the gym this year.

OP posts:
NandorTheRelentlessCleaner · 01/02/2022 17:23

I could not tand being manipulated and bullied like that

Going for a coffee during the work day is such a time suck

It sounds like she’s a taker, not a giver. And you’re fed up of giving

Did that, just be clear. Don’t make future promises about spending time with her when the days get longer (unless you WANT to?), just say you don’t really do mid day coffees anymore

Enough4me · 01/02/2022 17:24

She wants the therapy 1.1 sessions back and not to evolve onto a friendship. You don't want to be a therapist.

You'll need to really step back, quick hi at the school gates or other crossing points only.

NandorTheRelentlessCleaner · 01/02/2022 17:26

And slow-text her

Never read and reply immediately, make it a habit instead to wait 2-4 hours to reply

That’s what I do with needy people who pressure me

It works

Don’t be so available Smile

Benjispruce5 · 01/02/2022 17:31

Compromise? Coffee one morning a week?

ADisgruntledPelican · 01/02/2022 17:36

Let me start by saying you don't need to be friends with her. It's fine to reduce contact and be busy.
But I don't think it's fair to accuse her of being manipulative or say that she hates you going to the gym. She hates that you've dropped her now that you're better. You used her for company when you couldn't go to the gym and now you treat her like an inconvenience. It doesn't really sound like a friendship.
Talking at an afterschool club with kids and other parents there, isn't the same as going for a coffee and a chat.
It's fine to decide this doesn't work for you but I don't think it's fair to pretend the fault is all on her side.

Octomore · 01/02/2022 17:38

@NandorTheRelentlessCleaner

And slow-text her

Never read and reply immediately, make it a habit instead to wait 2-4 hours to reply

That’s what I do with needy people who pressure me

It works

Don’t be so available Smile

Good advice. I don't read or respond immediately to messages unless I want to. Messages shouldn't function as an immediate demand that you give someone attention, fuck that for a laugh!

If people get arsey about this, I just shrug and say "Well I'm not always looking at my phone". Their need for attention and instant gratification isn't my problem.

I've always managed to avoid attracting super-needy friends, and I think my failure to respond to their demands may play a part.

ldontWanna · 01/02/2022 17:38

@PicnicBunny

Honestly I was okay with her until I started going back to the gym this year.
I'm going to be really mean here and I apologise in advance for that.

You were never her friend,you filled a need and had a purpose. Now that you are deviating from that, she's trying to put you back in your lane. That's why other suggestions are met with a no,that's why she's badgering you, that's why other meet ups aren't good enough or she doesn't talk to you much at football. Because that's not your place or your purpose.

You're angry because you look at this as a friendship and a two way street. She's supposed to care,be supportive,understand and accept you.

She's angry because her tool/coping mechanism is broken and she hopes if she bangs on you(badgers you) hard enough and long enough you'll reset and go back to normal .

If you want to keep this relationship anyways,fair enough . I'd message her "Hi x , I really love and enjoy our chats and friendship but I need this gym time for my own mental health and productivity. It helps me immensely in many ways and it's not just a hobby, but something I actually need in my life and it it very important to me. I would love to meet up at another time(you can give some examples here) but gym time is a necessary part of my morning routine. I hope you understand and accept how important this is for me. Looking forward to our next meet up/coffee."

I suspect she'll be angry as fuck anyways ,but at least you tried. I'm however hoping I'm massively wrong and talking out of my arse and you get to keep the friendship and still be happy/get to do what you want to do.

StillWeRise · 01/02/2022 17:42

OP unless I've missed it you haven't said what you think of the obvious solution, a scheduled coffee date at a mutually agreeable time, in your situation, I'd put a natural time limit on that by having an appointment about 1 hr after the beginning of the coffee

Bobholll · 01/02/2022 17:46

You both need to get jobs 🥴 I have zero brain space to be engaging in this kinda thing cos life is really busy!

Even as a SAHM, who the hell has time to sit having a coffee all morning?! Do you have younger kids or have you just both chosen to not go back to work once your kids got to school age? That seems very unusual ..

NotNowAlan · 01/02/2022 17:49

@Strictlyfanoftenyears

Why not have one day a week where you meet up, surely thats not too much of a hardship?
Several posters have said this. I would hate this. I hate routine, I hate that kind of expectation. I have some wonderful friends who I love spending time with, but I can't think of a single one I'd like a "set in stone" arrangement with every week!

OP this woman is using you to fill her time and as an opportunity to talk about herself. She sounds very dull. She'll soon move on to someone else and will drop you like a stone. You do you.

DickMabutt73962 · 01/02/2022 17:50

So the issue isn't you going to the gym, the issue is you not spending time with her.

I have a friend similar to this, also fairly new. I do enjoy her company, she is funny and we have good conversation. But she isn't very good with her own company an often tries to pressure me in to hanging out with her during any free time that I have.

Like you I don't give in, if I say I'm staying in bed then I do it (she quite often likes to ask me to meet then tries to move the time earlier and earlier) but it doesn't drop her asking the next week.

She also phones me a lot, but I don't answer if I don't feel like talking.

I agree with PP's suggestions of being less available with answering messages. My friend LOVES a voice note, which I find as intrusive as a phone call as I have to stop watching my show or listening to music in order to listen to it why can't she just send a bloody message but I just don't listen, or I send a message saying 'can't listen' and leave it at that.

If you enjoy her company, just set clear boundaries and be consistent. Designate a day and time for coffee, be blunt about not changing your plans.

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