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!

Where I am women defo take more care than the average man!

Yes, same where I am.

DH plays sport min 6x week but hates the gym, finds it boring and needs that competitive element to motivate him. My gym seems to be more men than women on the gym floor (cardio & weights) but much more women in classes.

The members at my gym are mostly 30’s+, i’d say.

No, I agree there are a lot of beer guts about.

I'm talking about all the threads where posters say "screw him, if he loves you he should accept you as you are." I've never understood how people don't get that sexual attraction is a large part of what draws you to a partner (although I daresay I'd fancy mine even if she was a bit portlier - but there's likely a point where I'd be a bit put off).

Not being mean and I'd probs never have the heart to tell my partner if she looked a bit fat (although thankfully she's very much into strength training and yoga so I can't see that happening aside from the inevitable love handles one gets with age).

Ah yes, the threads always say men should still be attracted to women whatever size which I think is hopelessly unrealistic, and vice versa.

I go in the daytime with the baby
He goes in the evening.

When the children are older, hopefully I will have time to go to an aerial class on a Tuesday night too.

I'm not a gym bunny but do have a regular swim habit. My swim lane is overwhelmingly middle-aged people, about 50:50 divide on sexes.

DH & I do about same hours of exercise, & always have done in spite of kids.

Also the vast majority if people I train with, are women with kids either with them or at nursery/school

I wonder if the preference for classes limits women? Like, wanting to go to a class but it's not at a convenient time?

I am baffled by the love for classes. I mean, I guess I can understand the appeal of Zumba, with the dancing or spin, for the intensity, but I don't understand the ones that just provide a general workout, like body pump. But I guess it's a preference for the social aspect.

I do CrossFit classes. I am baffled why people go to unstructured gyms. I find them boring as hell.

I’d much rather be beasted for an hour and have coaching

First year at the gym I did no classes. Then I started classes and AMA hooked and do 12 classes a week. BodyPump is amazing, has made a massive difference to my body and strength.

In my twenties, I went to the gym straight from work 4 or 5 times a week - my husband worked away a fair bit, so I had no pressure to be home/sort dinner (as in making him wait till I got home for us to commence the ‘what shall we have tonight’ convo). He never went to the gym st that stage. Ever.

I’m now in my 30’s with two much wanted young children and I don’t choose to spend more time away from them than I already do by being out at work all day. They are only little for a while, and they want me to be with them and to read bedtime stories. I’m not complaining! My choice. I can resurrect the gym when they get sick of me in a few years. Meanwhile my DH does workout 3 or 4 times a week, he clearly has less attachment issues than me 😂

My dp is 34 and goes to the gym and/or runs every day, he also does a sport hobby 1 or 2 times a week. Mostly he goes to tge gym in his lunch break or before work, it doesn't affect looking after the kids. Im 47 and sometimes go to the gym but more likely to do Pilates or walk, also do a pole class so fit in with the women doing classes thing. He is always trying to build up and mine is just for fun/health tho.

I like classes. Not for the social aspect at all but because for that hour I am directed in what to do. I don’t have to think of my own routine or waste loads of time either doing the wrong stuff or waiting for equipment to be free. I also find there is often less talking in a class as you don’t have to wait in a long queue, ask to jump in, have others jump in etc. If I could afford it though I would do all sessions on my own with a PT.

Rainbow

I find CrossFit is basically like doing a PT session but in a class? Which I really enjoy. I get the hardcore work out with the catering to my needs.

I also love the progression. obviously with any class you get progression but in 7 months I’ve gone from;

Bunny hopping on boxes to full down up burpees

Ring rows to jumping pull ups

Step ups to actual two foot jumping onto a 20 inch box

AND I’ve lost 8 inches from my ribs and waist!!

It really is awesome and I can only compare it to PT’s I’ve had. The only thing I would pay for is for my husband and I to have a boxing PT every week as it’s something we enjoy together

I think a lot of your replies will very much depend on the time of day previous posters go to the gym.

I'm 49 and go every other day, 8pm onwards otherwise it's too busy (between 5-8) with 20-35 yo after workers. At weekends it's a varied lot with more older people (50+) and they do less weights and more cardio, yoga and stretching. I'm always have a chuckle at when the Sunday paper readers come in and start their reading on the treadmill!

I was in the military, and I now don't enjoy paying someone to tell me what to do. I have a routine, and I keep records of my weights and reps, so I know exactly what I'm going to be doing - it's not unstructured. I trust myself to know how hard I'm working and when I can do a little more, how long I need to rest, etc.

That said, I learned how to lift from a PT years ago and I still occasionally check in with someone to give me feedback on my form or whatever. But I don't regularly need someone standing over me, telling me how many reps to do or whatever.

I think most PT's (understandably) want clients to be reliant on them and have regular, ongoing sessions.

We both exercise regularly but can't really afford the gym. I go running and do some kettlebells at home as well as cycle. DP cycles.

just

Well you’ve answered your own question. After many years of coached training you now know what you’re doing. A lot of people don’t. I’m a sports therapist and lots of clients hurt themselves in gyms or in boot camps run by people who have done a weekends training and nothing else. I’ve seen women cause years worth of damage to their backs by being told to do burpees 6 weeks after giving birth despite intense distatis.

So not sure there is anything to be ‘baffled’ by. Obviously some just need a tuition.

For me it’s more about the encouragement, I find the gym so deeply boring that I lose focus and interest. CrossFit is always something new and I am always finding different focus’s, there’s also a lot of gymnastics which aren’t safe to do alone, nor do normal gyms have the right equipment.

Why are you baffled by the popularity of classes? Surely you know that most people don’t have the military background that you have, and do require or prefer some direction?

I love to mix classes and my own workouts/ swim. I do spin couple x a week which is the best thing for me for cardio. Then something like a kettle bell class you get the benefits of a more pt led session. But at my gym the classes are pretty tiny. It’s not so much the social aspect but the variety. I don’t think they limit women, if you don’t enjoy your workout you’re not going to do it as much!

Husband doesn’t really like the gym. He plays squash sometimes but uses a rowing machine at home and does sit ups etc.

I go to the gym about three times a week for boot camp and pilates but also have Les Mills On Demand and all the necessary equipment at home for body pump, step and RPM.

I’ve always enjoyed the gym.

My military background didn't teach me anything about exercise - I only brought it up because I was paid to be told what to do, I didn't like it, and I sure as hell won't pay for it. I find motivation from within ("I think I can do one more.") but being told to do one more will just annoy me.

DP doesn't do anything but has a physical job where he lifts 60+kg all day so guess he doesn't need to.

I don't go to the gym too bloody expensive but go running and exercise classes 4 days a week. For me I do more stuff at home not because DP won't have DD but because I don't want to take away from time with them

Well we’re all different aren’t we!

Neither of us go to the gym...we take DS swimming most Sats and go for longish walks some weekends.

Now DS is a little older we'd like to do a swing/jive class together if my DM doesn't mind having him for an evening.