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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:
iamyourequal · 13/08/2017 21:28

OP. Go easy on yourself! You are working 4 days a week, have at least 2 children, one bf-ing. Forgot the formal exercise for now and just get through each day. If you can work a bit of fresh air and walking in, playing with the kids and doing chores I'd say you are doing great. I wouldn't be getting up any earlier and losing sleep to exercise. I bet the sleep will be doing you more good than anything!

Original poster
puglife15 · 13/08/2017 21:31

Ok I'm feeling inspired!

I've got the 30 Day Shred still in its cellophane somewhere, is that a good one to start with?

OP posts:
StealthPolarBear · 13/08/2017 21:35

Definitely! I'm starting back on it tomorrkw if I can find the damn thing

muggymum · 13/08/2017 21:41

Get up at 5.30 to get to gym for 6am, that what I do. Back home for bang on 7 when DH has to leave for work

ivykaty44 · 13/08/2017 21:42

I'd be really pissed off of my DP didn't do dinner three X a week or look after DC

How far is your commute? Get a cargo bike and commute with DC and get your excersise in at the same time

Mumoftwoyoungkids · 13/08/2017 21:44

When you have young children you can't do everything. It's about priorities. I exercise daily. My house is a tip.

Not exercising would impact my mental health far more than living in squalor.

For other people they would take one look at my piles of clutter and faint with horror!

LottieTheFox · 13/08/2017 21:59

Why can't you go in the evenings once your DH gets home from work? Not every night, obviously, but surely he can sort his own dinner a couple of nights a week? And get up early either Sat or Sunday morning.

I'm a single parent, work full time and managed to exercise 3 times a week even when my kids were young.

Elephant17 · 13/08/2017 22:11

30 day shred! Has a bit of everything squashed into a short workout.

Shenanagins · 13/08/2017 22:11

I do hiit three times a week and a half hour run at the weekends and it's my sanity reset after a week of work and two children especially as my dh often works away.

The hiit are maximum of half an hour including warm up/down and they really do work. At the weekend I will often do one whilst the kids eat their breakfast.

Don't be put off in thinking that they are for the super fit. I started doing them after years of not exercising and I just built up my stamina slowly.

As for the run, I used to hate it but built it up slowly and now love getting outside. I've now seen an opportunity to add in another when dc are at an activity.

It is a mindset change but it is possible and you will feel so much better for it.

Cherrytart6 · 13/08/2017 22:20

4 miles in the way home is doable daily. Start with walking it for a few months. Walk it faster when your fitter. Then after 5 months aim to part walk part jog it. Eventually running the whole distance.

Cherrytart6 · 13/08/2017 22:21

Hills are excellent for fitness

cardibach · 13/08/2017 22:35

It looks like you have from 7.30 to bedtime, OP. Eating needn't take up much of that, but you have 3 1/2 hours to play with there with your current bedtime (although if you are woken so many times, I'd go to bed earlier to make yourself feel more lively). You can easily find 10-30 minutes in that to do some exercise if you want to. Wanting to is the issue - I have these same problem. In theory I want to, but I don't think I'm committed so I tell myself I'm too busy.

Original poster
puglife15 · 13/08/2017 22:40

Cherry in theory that would be ideal but I have a 45 minute time slot in which to get home and I simply couldn't do 4 miles that quickly - unless I ran reasonably fast the whole way, which I can't at the moment due to my fitness levels, plus have to carry my laptop etc. Maybe when I'm fitter it would work - although still not sure jogging with laptop is a good idea??

OP posts:
supermoon100 · 13/08/2017 22:41

Get a cleaner

Original poster
puglife15 · 13/08/2017 22:44

Just googled it and apparently running with a laptop is a Bad Thing.

I do occasionally cycle to/from work but I'm not a great cyclist tbh and the journey is unpleasant. I think I get more exercise from walking tbh.

OP posts:
Illstartexercisingtomorrow · 13/08/2017 22:46

Lol @ supermoon

iamapixiebutnotaniceone · 13/08/2017 22:46

Incorporate it into playtime. Small children make wonderful weights! If you have older children they could come for a jog with you!

Turkeyneck · 13/08/2017 22:47

Jeez puglife go easy on yourself! I am all for making the most of the day and productivity but I know at your stage I just didn't want to fit it in, I had too much going on already. Don't feel guilty if you need to wait another year before its realistically possible without need for military planning.

Original poster
puglife15 · 13/08/2017 22:49

Yes cardi by 7.30 I'm starving so need to cook/eat, and after that I'm just knackered, have a bunch of other stuff to do and can't bear the thought of schlepping out in the dark at 9pm to exercise. I think doing it in the morning is my best bet.

OP posts:
Original poster
puglife15 · 13/08/2017 22:50

I think I will get a cleaner, with the money I save by not going to the gym

OP posts:
Illstartexercisingtomorrow · 13/08/2017 22:50

Op glad you are feeling inspired but please remember to set realistic goals so you don't end up feeling frustrated and resentful which is where I ended up (see ref: my username).
I started with 30 day shred but only 3 x weekly. Even now it's almost impossible for me to exercise 7 x weekly it's just too exhausting and achey and mostly psychologically too taxing. But I'm still fitter and lost the baby weight so anything you do will make a difference.

Original poster
puglife15 · 13/08/2017 22:52

Thanks Turkey life does feel relentless at the moment. DH and I have been out once in 18 months. TBH that feels like more of a priority than me getting regular exercise.

OP posts:
ivykaty44 · 14/08/2017 05:59

If it's four miles and you don't want to walk the entire route then how do you commute now? Can't you get of the bus earlier or park further from work to get your 30minutes walk?

If you cycled you would save on fuel and that would pay the cleaner

ivykaty44 · 14/08/2017 06:14

And it would be healthier for your DC as sat inside a vehicle is exposing them to more pollution which is causing massive respiratory problems for people - just incase you wanted another incentive for getting out of a vehicle and walking or cycling,
www.theguardian.com/environment/2017/jun/12/children-risk-air-pollution-cars-former-uk-chief-scientist-warns

NewPapaGuinea · 14/08/2017 06:24

I do exercise first thing. It's a great start to the day and if something does come up later that makes me late home then it doesn't matter as it's done. I get up at 5am, have breakfast, chill for a bit and leave at 6am for an hour.