People who are too busy to do exercise

[Hollyandivygoout]

I run about 4 miles, 4 times a week. I’m in a routine and force myself to do it even when I can’t be arsed. It takes me about 30-40 minutes each time I go for a run and I squeeze it in early morning, before dinner, just whenever I can really. I work full time and have 2DC who are admittedly at secondary school now, but this is something I’ve always done.
My AIBU is finding it annoying when people tell me they don’t have time to do any exercise. It’s like they’re so busy and important and I’ve got all the time in the world. I honestly don’t believe that the vast majority of people can’t squeeze in half an hour a few times a week.

This is a good point, does your job involve sitting down for 8 hours a day op? If so then I probably get more exercise than you

I think OP is a goady thread starter who won't be back.

So what? It's none of your business.

Oh bugger off, I bet you’re a nightmare in real life.

I work 8am until 5.30 5 days per week and I can only get a childminder to take my child from 7.30 til 6 so I’m rushing as it is to make drop offs and pick ups fit. I am then in the house all evening watching my child as I am a single parent.

I then have my child all weekend every weekend.

there are no gyms near me that offer childcare/crèche facilities.

So no not every bloody person can go for a 4 mile run 3 miles a week. I can do Pilates in the house and keep active walking at the weekend but actual proper cardio (which I miss like mad) I do not have the time for right now. Hope that helps.

You are being unreasonable and judgemental yes. Exercise can be a luxury if you don't have a decent support system.

I was alone with my 2 young children for months when my partner was ill in hospital- was a struggle to get even a few minutes to myself and I usually only got that because I had family to help and often needed to use that time for things like shopping.

I'm glad to have reached my 60s as quite a few of my peers have not. I spent 40 years teaching infants which was exhausting. I never had time to exercise then and now I'm retired, the last thing I want to do is take up running or going to the gym.

Awful as it may seem, I actually enjoy getting up late, meeting friends for coffee and lunch, lazing about reading or watching shite on the telly.

This.

I despise almost all forms of exercise. So when I have 'free' time in the evenings, I prioritise other things and other hobbies. I do hike, but that's an all day/ all morning event requiring planning so not possible multiple times a week. I do walk the dog every lunch time but that doesn't get me my 10,000 steps.

I can't do a regular exercise that would take me out of the home as I can't leave my kids unattended, but I could do a in home class, I just really really dislike it so don't. (I go through periods where I do, I just don't keep it up).

When you think of other people's lives, do you think of them as being basically like yours? And when you hear people say they don't have time to exercise you don't believe them, because you have the time?

I think it's a human thing to think that other people's experience of the world is the same as yours but it often isn't. When people say they don't have time, sometimes they really don't. They can be caring for children and elderly parents while working full time and find every hour of their lives accounted for. But sometimes what they mean is that they don't have the energy for it. They use all their energy elsewhere and don't have any left. Somewhere between 30-50% of adults in the UK have some sort of persistent pain and even more have long term health conditions. These people might have to pace themselves and will feel quite unwell if they overdo it.

The vast majority of people struggle to get the WHO recommended amount of exercise a week (which is incidentally 150 mins of moderate intensity cardio and 2 sessions of strengthening exercise so you could think about adding a couple of sessions of something like weights or pilates to meet them yourself).

We are wired to find it easy to do things that have a quick return and exercising for vague future benefits to your health for as long as possible is really quite hard to convince yourself to do. Arguably, conserving energy has an evolutionary advantage so the fact it's hard work to make yourself want to go and waste a load of energy running round the block makes a lot of sense.

Whilst I think some people do use lack of time as an excuse, I do think there are some people who really do struggle to find time. When I had young children I couldn’t just disappear out for a run or to go to the gym if DH wasn’t around. I have more flexibility now as they are old enough to be at home alone for an hour or so. If someone is a single parent, exercise is something I imagine is difficult to fit in.

I have small children and a DH out the house 12+ hours a day. I'm lucky to have a home gym (second hand equipment in the conservatory) so I can exercise, and I walk a lot, but I can well imagine how someone else couldn't. Realistically, there's no way I'd be off for a run, or to the gym at 4am or 9.30pm if those were my only options.

Everyone should try to make time to be active, though it doesn't have to be running or going to the gym. I've always considered being active a basic component of looking after yourself. Particularly as many of us have to sit a lot at work. It's not a guarantee that you won't become ill or disabled but if you are in good health, it's a good idea to try to preserve that and be as fit and healthy as possible for as long as possible as it makes everything else in life so much easier. Also as I have two DDs I have tried to model a healthy lifestyle to them to take forward into adulthood.

Asking me how I find time to exercise is a bit like asking how I find time to eat or sleep. It's important so I have to find time.

This is my approach as well. Weights left over from lockdown and online workouts. Mixed in with long walks with the double pram

I have 3 young children (6,2 and 4 months). I get up at 6am to get the eldest ready for school before taking all 3 of them on the school run, I then spend my day with the youngest 2 which includes keeping them entertained, cooking tea and making sure the housework and washing is kept ontop of. When my husband comes home at 4pm after collecting my eldest, I leave for work cleaning offices until midnight.
When would you suggest I fit a 40 minute run in?

What an absolutely entitled, holier than thou attitude to have OP.

How would you fit exercise into this day?

Wake up at 6.30 and get myself and baby ready for the day.
Leave for work at 7.30.
Collect baby and get home at 6pm (I'm a teacher).
Get family dinner ready for 7pm
Bath and into bed by 8 (if lucky!).
Do house tasks - washing up / laundry / tidy up / by 9pm
Make sure I'm ready for next day of work (sorting lessons on the laptop, washing my hair, making tomorrows lunch) by 9.30.
Fall into bed exhausted.

I am on my own diet, not just for weight loss but also for medical reasons. I exercise in my own way which is pretty restrictive with being disabled. I don't bother with SW or WW because I can't be arsed with the way it is structured. However, I don't condemn anyone that goes to either or exercises in their own way because that is their business!!

This! It is not about them feeling more important and too busy to exercise it is just their preference to give it priority and sometimes people just don’t feel like working up a sweat instead they prefer relaxation.
Exercise is a matter of personal taste, not one for discussion- everyone to their own.
Well done you for being so active👍

Yeah I used to think that and then made a kid who doesn't sleep.

Going for a run when I got 4 hours of INTERRUPTED sleep last night as my baby woke at 11, 1, 2, 4, is kind of impossible.

Na she watches Salish on youtube, absolutely loves her.

Didn’t realize how invested you were in my parenting choices! Thanks for the unsolicited advice, though. She's clearly learning more than just screen time, she’s learning how to mind her business while I get my workout in 😎

I think you deserve a medal 🏅 🏅 🏅.
For smugness.

Why do you think everyone has the same opportunities as you? Some people are just busy,or tired or have a lot on their plate. When my partner was working I managed twice a week, now he isn't working at the minute, I am doing more because he has more time to do things at home I would have done. Having two parents working FT and young kids does make it really hard, and probably impossible if you work FT as a single parent.

They probably just don't want to be judged, fitness people can be quite judgy. I just say I can't be bothered if anyone asks, ppl can judge me if they like😁

Here’s a gold medal for you 🥇
I used to run regularly, things change. Circumstances change and now I don’t have time… not because I’m important but other things in my life have become a priority.

Who looked after your kids when they were little and you were out jogging? And do you honestly believe everyone has the same luxury to either have the help with childcare that you had or be able to afford to pay for the childcare?

Not good enough. You should be teaching on a treadmill. 😂

When I had that sort of routine when the kids were little the answer was that DH did bedtime or the morning shift a couple of times a week while I went to the gym, and looked after them while I ran with a group on a Saturday morning. For a few years I had a job I could cycle to so that was good exercise. And I always thought about exercise when applying for jobs and where I could fit it in - one place had a shower and nice countryside to run in so I could run at lunch time. When I have worked in London there is always about half an hour a day of walking on my commute.

As a teacher I guess you already clock up a fair few steps during your day.