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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think I don't have time to exercise?

215 replies

puglife15 · 12/08/2017 22:09

I really struggle to see when I'd fit it in. Typical day looks like this:

6.30 wake up
7 DH goes to work
7-8 get DC and myself ready for school/nursery/work
8-9 commute/drop off
9-5 work (30 mins lunchbreak)
Get home by 6
6-7.30 play and do bedtime, DH back from work
7.30-8.30 cook and eat
8.30-10.30 clear up, chores, admin, often extra work etc
11 bed

OP posts:
MandyMarsupial · 12/08/2017 22:17

It's not that I don't have the time, it's that I don't have the energy. But I try to incorporate exercise so I take the three fecking trains to work instead of driving, walk as often as I can instead of taking PT and I bought an exercise bike and do 10/15 minutes a few times a week while I'm getting dd2 to sleep.

I'm thinking of joining a gym over winter to take up swimming but I would only get there twice a week which I still think is better than nothing.

cariadlet · 12/08/2017 22:17

I'd try getting up earlier. I used to get up at 6 on a work day, but changed it to 5.30 so I could do fit in some exercise first thing. If you're not a morning person then try and do something when DH comes in from work and have dinner half an hour later.

Could the time when you are playing with the children involve being physically active together?

PoppyPopcorn · 12/08/2017 22:18

Depends what exercise you're trying to fit in though - yes you'd probably struggle to fit in a gym class if you're working full time, apart from weekends but you could get off a station earlier and walk into work, use stairs and never lifts, or cycle, or do a 20 minute walk/run at lunchtime, or jog home, or a mixture of all different sorts of things.

Vonklump · 12/08/2017 22:18

I could never face exercise after work.

Illstartexercisingtomorrow · 12/08/2017 22:19

I have a similar schedule. But I manage to do it 4-5x weekly in the evenings. This is because:

  1. I get the kids in bed by 7 and therefore exercise 7-8pm
  2. I don't cook every night. I make enough for 2-3 nights at a time so food is ready
  3. Dh helps with the after dinner clean up
  4. I am only exercising this frequently for 2 months as part of a program. It would not be sustainable long term for me. Long term is more likely 2 x weekly whilst kids are young.
megletthesecond · 12/08/2017 22:19

Skip eating with your family once or twice a week and exercise? Less housework? Parkrun a couple of Saturdays a month?

Illstartexercisingtomorrow · 12/08/2017 22:19

Oh also key factor - I don't go out to exercise it is all dvds. So not dependent on dh being home to be with the kids. If you're interested try T25

PurpleTraitor · 12/08/2017 22:19

You need half an hour 3-4 times a week. Put it before your shower and you don't need extra time for that.

I can see at least three places you could grab half an hour. And do you work seven days a week? Half an hour on days you don't work. Half an hour in the morning one day. Half an hour in the evening another day. Take the kids.

I don't see an issue.

AtleastitsnotMonday · 12/08/2017 22:22

You have the same number of hours in your day as mother Teresa, Florence Nightingale, Margaret Thatcher, Marie Curie and Jessica Ennis.
Just saying

viques · 12/08/2017 22:23

Weekend. Join a gym that has swimming pool /kids crèche for one day, then family bike ride the other. Wii fit one night a week at home.

00100001 · 12/08/2017 22:24

How are you spending 1 hour cooking and eating every night? Confused

You can make a pasta dishes in around 20 minutes and eating it in 10.

When do your kids eat dinner?

Cook double batches of whatever you're making. Eat one portion that evening. Have the second portion another day. Saved you 30minutes or so there.

You clearly find time to come on Mumsnet. Use that time.

DancesWithOtters · 12/08/2017 22:27

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

ChardonnaysPrettySister · 12/08/2017 22:29

You have the same number of hours in your day as mother Teresa, Florence Nightingale, Margaret Thatcher, Marie Curie and Jessica Ennis.

So how much exercise do they all do? (Apart from Jessica Ennis, obv)

Genghi · 12/08/2017 22:30

Wake up at 5:30and do an hour first thing

nolongersurprised · 12/08/2017 22:32

I hour both weekend days and one 30 minute session during the week.

Illstartexercisingtomorrow · 12/08/2017 22:32

It's based on expectations too. It's not going to be easy, it's always squeezed in between other commitments. Depends how much you want to do it really.

Hobbes8 · 12/08/2017 22:33

Bung something in the oven for 30mins.
Exercise for 30mins.
Take thing out of oven and eat it.

I think you're trying to free up too much time. A 15-20 minute HIIT workout on YouTube would make a difference. I literally did one tonight whilst I was waiting for my wine to chill. Joe Wicks, Gillian Michaels, Fitness Blender all have good 15-20 minute videos.

WeAllHaveWings · 12/08/2017 22:36

You have 7:30 - 11 pm 5 nights a week where all you really need to do is eat. You could eat earlier before dc in bed. Chores can wait, or dh can do them, at least a couple of nights a week.

CallMeKate · 12/08/2017 22:36

Get up at 6 and do a Joe Wicks hiit class. Sorted!

eurochick · 12/08/2017 22:37

I have a similar schedule. It is a real struggle to fit in exercise. I manage 10-15 minute Fitness Blender workouts on YouTube while my toddler has breakfast (and asks constant questions about what I am doing). Then I try to do a cross-trainer session or run one weekend morning. It's a fraction of what I did before I had my daughter, but to do more I'd have to sacrifice sleep or time with my daughter (already limited). There are not enough hours in the day.

SonicBoomBoom · 12/08/2017 22:37

6.30 wake up
7 DH goes to work

Teach DH to do his own tie and cereal and TA-DA! 5km run each morning, no problem.

MrsPinkCock · 12/08/2017 22:38

I woke at 6, got home from work between 6 and 7, and had to fit in my 4 DC and a degree, so I get it's hard to find time.

Of course you could find half an hour here and there - but something has got to give, as you can't do everything. Some people choose to compromise on housework or family time, and some on cooking or exercise.

For me, exercise is the first thing to go out of the window, until I put on weight and really need it, at which point I reassess my priorities and juggle life round a bit.

If you took the particularly harsh view you could argue that if you have 30 minutes to sit and watch tv then you could spend that time on exercise, but realistically you need to build in relaxation time too!

EyeHalveASpellingChequer · 12/08/2017 22:39

Surely you aren't doing this seven days a week?

00100001 · 12/08/2017 22:40

You could also do a few small things to get your heart rate going.
Run up and down the stairs a few times
When you do all that housework, do some dancing with it.

You could do exercise with your kids in the evening when you play with them.

Run round the Garden with them.
Do skipping together
Use them as weights (depending on age) the kids will love it
Do jumping jacks together
All jog to the shops.

Do these 10 Minute Workouts

StealthPolarBear · 12/08/2017 22:40

Get up at 5.45