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AIBU?

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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:
naturalbaby · 12/08/2017 22:41

First thing in the morning, lunch time or evening.

Me and DH go out to the gym 7-8 or 8-9 2 or 3 evenings each during the week and Saturday morning if we can't fit it in the week. I go to classes so you have to book and be there for a set time - and exercising with a group of people is much more fun so it's easier to stick at it.

ceeveebee · 12/08/2017 22:41

20-30 mins workout while your DH cooks?
Or your DH collects the DC once or twice a week so you can go to a class or to the gym
And all weekend

SuperBeagle · 12/08/2017 22:43

Wake up earlier
Use your lunch break to walk
Work out on weekends/days off

MumIsRunningAMarathon · 12/08/2017 22:46

I don't think op will be back!!Grin

Usernamegone · 12/08/2017 22:47

What's your DH doing between 6-11 whilst you are doing childcare/cooking/cleaning? If he is sat on the sofa relaxing maybe he could clean/cook dinner to free up some time in your schedule?

BarbaraofSevillle · 12/08/2017 22:49

How fixed are your DHs working hours? You are sorting out everyone else and he only has to think of himself. Any chance he can do the school/nursery run a couple of days a week, or come home earlier to do DCs tea/bed while you exercise then?

Make sure you do an active family activity every weekend. Swimming, walk in the woods where you run as much as the DCs do, find a park with those exercise frame things and do those while DCs play next to them/do them with you?

AssassinatedBeauty · 12/08/2017 22:50

@SonicBoomBoom I think the OP is simply making it clear from what time she is on her own with the children. Presumably she's showering etc between 6.30 and 7, rather than helping her DH get dressed!

Mysteriouscurle · 12/08/2017 22:50

I dont think youre unreasonable OP. Unless youre superwoman and can survive on 4 hours sleep a night. There has to be downtime. Do what you can at the weekend and walk sometimes if you have time. Sounds like your life is pretty busy

Amammi · 12/08/2017 22:51

If you don't make the time your body will take that time by becoming unhealthy OP. I know this as I was you and am now recovering from a minor but painful health issue which exercise could have helped me avoid.

Vonklump · 12/08/2017 22:53

Agree, MarathonMum.
OP, who has really busy lifestyle.
"I don't think I have time to exercise."
MN
Of course you do. Get up earlier, work faster in the evening, go for a jog at lunchtime.
OP
Passes out with exhaustion thinking MN is actually trying to kill her.

OP, I think the demographic who responded, (self included) might not be representative of the general population.

When I used to get up at six, my work colleagues were like :
You don't? You're kidding. You actually do this. Are you mad? You're mad.

Xmasbaby11 · 12/08/2017 22:54

Yanbu. Your routine sounds similar to mine and I rarely exercise.

However I'm overweight and very unfit so you definitely do not want me as a role model!

littlebird7 · 12/08/2017 22:55

Oh my god, don't do it!

For all the posts about excuses....if you are running around from dawn to dusk any way, you don't actually NEED to do more.

It already sounds knackering.

Lovely walks and bike rides with your kids at the weekends would be ideal.
I can't believe people are telling you to wake up at 5am....ridiculous. No, sleep in, get your rest, play with your kids and relax with your dh in the evenings. If you feel like you need to do more, then build it into your work day...tummy clenches, under the desk bike. Give yourself a break, your life sounds so full on as it is, your kids are more important than your abs!!!

00100001 · 12/08/2017 22:56

There is always time exercise.

You are just choosing to prioritise other things.

Sara107 · 12/08/2017 22:57

Florence Nightingale spent the majority of her life in bed with some mysterious illness, I don't think she is a very good role model for excercise. Also, being a well off upper class woman, cooking dinner and doing chores would not have featured on her to do list! I also struggle to find time for excercise and partly it is energy and motivation rather than actual time that is limiting. Plus excercising within a couple of hours of bedtime is one of the things advised against if you have trouble with sleep, so that curtails the available time in the evening.

MongerTruffle · 12/08/2017 22:57

To think I don't have time to exercise?

Then make time.

littlebird7 · 12/08/2017 22:58

Oh and by the way, you are perfect as you are. You don't need to constantly work out or improve. Why would you?

FFS we need to get past this...if you are already flat out every day in every conceivable way, you are the LAST person that needs additional exercise. If you are not perfectly toned, well, that is called real bloody life. With a real body. It is yours and love it for giving you the good job you have, the children it has produced and the life it gives you every single waking day.

littlebird7 · 12/08/2017 22:59

Watch the shooting stars now - 2300 - and remember we are small part of something great. Look outside.

EccentricPickle · 12/08/2017 23:01

There are LOADS of 10 minute cardio workouts on YouTube. A shit tonne.

There are also loads of 5 min abs, 5 min arms, 5 min legs etc. You can alternate between just doing one for 5 minutes a day or do all 3 for 15 minutes. They can get you seriously toned.

30 day Shred is great. It's 20 minutes!

You have to WANT to do it though, that's the thing.

MumIsRunningAMarathon · 12/08/2017 23:01

littlebird

Being busy all day is not exercise

Modern day humans have so many labour saving devices, we just don't move enough

penstemon · 12/08/2017 23:03

My schedule is similar to you OP and I really struggle to fit exercise in. I will go through periods where I get up at 5.50am to go for a run or do the 30 day shred at 11pm and, whilst it is sustainable for a couple of weeks, I then collapse in an exhausted heap. Yes, sometimes I do watch crappy TV or MN and I could be exercising then but the problem is that sometimes all I want to do is lie on the sofa and do nothing. I know exercise should release endorphins & do all sorts of other amazing things but I swear it doesn't with me. I have a cleaner, I have a gardener, DH does his share of the domestic/childcare stuff & the DC are pretty good for their age. There is still a lot of stuff which i can only do in an evening and the evenings available to do personal stuff are reduced by the fact I will usually have to work one or two evenings a week.

HungerOfThePine · 12/08/2017 23:04

I used to excercise while dc was in the bath or a soon as I put her down to settle into bed. I didn't start with 30 minutes though.

I had a goal and set targets and slowly through time I just kept pushing it and not counting the minutes but 30 ish tops.
You find once you feel motivated you really will grab any moment you can to do it.

It does sound like you are busy, could you start with squeezing in 15 minutes max a day or every other day.

WorraLiberty · 12/08/2017 23:06

If you are not perfectly toned, well, that is called real bloody life. With a real body. It is yours and love it for giving you the good job you have, the children it has produced and the life it gives you every single waking day.

The OP didn't mention being toned, let alone 'perfectly'.

Some people wish to exercise to keep their hearts healthy, and to try and reduce the risk of developing stroke or coronary heart disease...

It's not all about body image.

NotInMyBackYard1 · 12/08/2017 23:10

I get up at 545am to go for a run most mornings, back in the house by 7am, showered, dressed, get 2 of 3 kids ready and off to school for them and me for 830am. Its not impossible at all and actually I really value that hour to myself first thing in the morning. Once the mornings are dark again I will do an exercise DVD or go on my spin bike at 6am instead.

littlebird7 · 12/08/2017 23:11

Mumsrunningamarathon...

does your name not say it all??

Give up on the guilt trip. You have NO idea what op does for a living, so it a pretty bold statement to conclude she does nothing!! Anyone with that schedule is clearly alive and moving....!!

The sad cult of constant improvement is demoralising and misplaced. Women should be free to exercise in any way and in any shape they see fit around their own lives. Not dictated by the likes of you,

I have just had a hip replacement at 40 for doing TOO much exercise for decades. I am now due to the have the second full hip replacement, with two young kids and a job. Stop dishing out advice that is ill advised. The best possible exercise over a certain age is walking and soft gentle exercise. Your bones are weakening and waning and need looking after.

Nancy91 · 12/08/2017 23:11

Agreed with Worra, this isn't about looking good, it's about staying healthy. In my opinion exercise is more important than hoovering every day or whatever so I'd make time for it.

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