To ask if your husband/partner goes to the gym or exercises regularly?

[JustGettingStarted]

And, if so, do you?

The reason I ask is that I have noticed a discrepancy in the typical age ranges of gym goers. I see men of all ages (18-70's) at the gym at all times of the day. However, I mostly only see women either younger than 25 or older than 40. I see relatively few 30yo women at the gym, but lots of 30yo men - many wearing wedding rings.

Then, I notice on here many threads from women with younger children looking for tips on home workout videos, how to get in shape without a gym, etc.

I sometimes think that mothers are staying home while fathers feel free to take time to exercise.

Just curious to hear your annectdata!

Dh goes to the gym 5 times a week. He goes in the evening once dd is in bed, so I don't mind at all. I get the tv to myself and he isn't skipping any childcare he should be doing. I don't go because it just doesn't appeal to me. If I wanted to he would either care for dd to enable me to go or swap with me so I could go in the week after dd is in bed.

Neither of us go to the gym but dh runs and does HIIT and weights at home and I do a lot of yoga (3-5 classes per week, plus extra practice at home). I am 36 and he is 41.

I wonder if maybe women in their 30s are just overwhelmed by babies/toddlers and use their free time for a more decadent escape?

I could only face the gym when my kids were older, now I'm in my 40s and I'm at Pilates/HIIT quite a lot (out of necessity, of course).

I’m 30s. Go to gym x2/week. Dh goes running x2/week we also both run/cycle commute.

I was going to disagree with you but actually you’re right. I very rarely see anyone my age. Evening is the younger women 18-25 and men of all ages, day time is women 45+ and men 30-60 and weekend is young women and Middle Aged men.

I don’t do classes though!

I definitely notice that the classes are largely women (although spin seems a bit more equal.) I only see when I happen to peep through the door of the studio.

Another thing I've noticed: most of the people I see with a personal trainer are women. It's rarer to see male clients (although I do see it.)

I think women are more often looking for a social activity. They seem to prefer classes. And women are definitely more comfortable asking for direction, hence engaging a personal trainer.

I know that many women know they should be lifting weights but are intimidated either by the gym or by the weight room.

I sometimes use a gym famous for its strongman and bodybuilding facilities. I was a bit nervous about going the first time because I wasn't sure if I deserved to breath the same air as Eddie Hall. But of course it was fine. I'm not even the least fit person there.

Early 30s, we both go to the gym or classes regularly. Although I’m not atm as I have a 1 month old but hope to get back to it in the not too distant future.

I was going to say that re PTs op! It’s always women with PTs at the gym. Not that I’ve been for a couple of years.

I wonder why. I do find the men in the weights section a bit intimidating if I’m honest which makes me sound like a right wet weekend. I’m not, I just don’t have much confidence when lifting weights or working out tbh. Maybe it’s a confidence thing for women my sort of age (34).

I’m 25 and FH is 28 and he and I both go to the gym 3/4 times a week. I only do the classes and he does a mix of classes and gym.

Omg my dh would die if he got to use the same gym as Eddie hall! He loves strongman.

My DH and I go to the gym four days a week. I'm 36, he's 41.

My husband is a regular gym goer, I am not...I don't enjoy it, I'm slim, but try and walk as much as I can and do yoga at home. It's not because of kids, DH would watch the kids if I wanted to go.

DH and I are in ours. Neither of us are gym goers, but I exercise more than him (running).

Our 40s. Not ours.

DH is 64 and goes to the gym for 3 hours at a time on Saturday, Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday. On Mondays and Wednesdays he teaches karate. Friday is his only day off from exercise.

I'm 58 and do pilates on a Tuesday. I used to run marathons and do all the training that went with that but sadly I've been diagnosed with arthritis in hips and spine, hands and shoulders, so running is bloody agony. I've tried gyms and found them too hot, sweaty and boring.

How do you know their age?
I'm early 30's and I do (when I'm not pregnant) but I know people think I look early Ish 20's...
which in a few years would be great but right now it's fairly annoying.

DH goes to the gym 6 times a week, getting up early to go before work each weekday and in the morning on a Saturay while eldest DD is at swimming lessons. I used to go but stopped when I picked up more hours at work. I do all the mornings with the kids plus school drop offs and pick ups and work in between often not stopping for lunch. I miss the body I had when I was going to the gym and pre kids. And I look after the youngest DD while DH is at the gym on a Saturday. DH asks why I don’t go to the gym on a Sunday. Insert Knackered emoji here

Late 20s here and yes we both go to the gym equally I would say. DP tends to go after work at 6, and I tend to go in the morning on my 2 days off in the week and occasionally of an evening depending when my PT can fit me in for a session. We both go together on the weekends. Our gym has a crèche though so it's easier for me to go when DP is working and for us to go together.

We either take it in turns so one looks after the children or we'll go to the pool as a family at the weekend. I don't work Monday and Friday so will go to the gym or pool then but in the day time when no one is there. DH and I are both 38.

My DP goes every night after work and Saturday mornings, I joined a different one earlier this year as I had a baby in Jan but couldn't get into it so haven't bothered for months

DH and I both early 30's.

I do prefer doing a variety of water sports though and DH prefers running (outdoors not on treadmill) and weights.

Our goals are different, mine is to lose / stay the weight I want and to get fitter. (Less out of breath! Haha)

DH is to bulk up and get stronger and bigger muscles so we rarely do the same kinds of workout.

Plan to turn garage into a personal gym though so won't be going to 'actual' gym any more! 😁

Mothers of young DC - especially those of us who work FT - often don’t get anywhere near equal leisure time.

I know a lot of SAH or very PT mums with school age DC: they exercise during the day on weekdays. Am of that aspect of SAH! Though there are of course other drawbacks.

When DC1 was tiny DH was very into running and continued with this. I didn’t get a fair share of the leisure time. We addressed that quite early on.

Some years on I do a LOT more exercise than DH: IMO he works way too much.

DH goes to the gym 5 times a week. I run 3 times a week and walk the rest. Both 40s.

He reckons that most people in the gym are temporary. They don't commit.

I've noticed running that men often run alone and women run in at least pairs. Safety, I suppose.

DH goes every morning. 2am before he starts his work shift at 4:30am. 6 days a week.
We mutually agreed on that time as it means he doesn't miss out in family time because everyone else is still asleep.
I don't go to the gym, I hate exercise, I really wish I loved it but I really don't.
I have some exercise dvds, and there's some good fitness routines on YouTube for kettle bells and things. We do also have quite a bit of equipment at home.
I do have to work round family life (I was doing okay until DS started crawling and realised there was no chance of doing a kettle bell work out safely).
We're both 26 and I wish I had a gym body but I've always been overweight and enjoyed reading. DHs biggest hobby since we met 9 years ago has been the gym, it's weight lifting for him and he likes to feel strong.

DH is mid-40s and wakes up at 6am most mornings to run, and then does weight-based HIIT once or twice a week

I have a gym membership and go during my lunch break

When I was at home on mat leave, I would either do a circuit at home while DC slept, or in the park while they crawled around/slept
I also sometimes went to a local gym that would let me park a sleeping child in the buggy by reception while I worked out

Men in their 30s and 40s go to escape their kids, ogle the young women who are working out, and see if there's any chance of an affair

And the old MN "all men are looking for an excuse to have an affair" chestnut appears again