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.

I look on here when I have five minutes because I’m drinking my morning tea, or brushing my teeth. That doesn’t equate to having suitable time to do a run or a workout.

I didn’t get the “not enough time” when I was a kid and my mum said it, but I do now. Going out or doing dedicated exercise does require extra planning and time to make sure you’re physically ready, and that you also get time after to eat, shower, and sleep- what use the exercise if you are cutting your sleep back to 5 hours a night? It’s really not as simple as some people are making out, and if you have multiple professional and domestic responsibilities they are often quite all-consuming.

Well I presume a portion of these people who have no time to exercise have a poor dog in the house or yard. And they probably don't have the time to walk these poor creatures. Don't take everything so personally.

I do find it curious how many people don’t make their health and fitness a priority as without it, especially as we age, is debilitating. This is why I’m such an active travel advocate. Build it into your life and you don’t even need to make time, you’re just swapping it.

You hear people say they “hate” exercise. Find something you don’t hate, you won’t stick to otherwise.

😇

It’s possible that when someone says ‘ I don’t have the time to exercise’ they mean ‘Sod off and leave me alone.’

OP I'm not sure what you're trying to achieve from your post besides having a good old gloat, but I'll bite.

My partner works away. So I have my DD2 and DS3 month old ALL the time. As in 0 time on my own.
At best I could do a home work out which admittedly I don't. My 3 month old is breastfed and in the cat nap phase where I get 20-30 minute periods of him sleeping. In that time I like to prioritise things like having a cuppa, something to eat or god forbid use the toilet.

Edited to add for the condescending mum bridgade- I have time to write on here instead of exercising as I'm.stuck sat down breastfeeding. Sue me.

omg that is an amazing weight loss! Well done 🌺

I suspect you are both right.

What business is it of yours op? Bravo, you go running!

I get up at 5.30 to take the dog for a walk. I get dressed and get on a train at 7.00. I arrive at work at 8.30. I don't have time for lunch or any kind of a break.
I arrive home at 7.30. I eat. I go to bed at 9.
The only time to 'exercise' is the hour I have to myself to relax at 8-9pm. The last fucking thing I want to do is exercise as I'm exhausted.
I guess my exercise is the 25 minute dog walk. But thanks for the smug post.

I don't think she is talking about nursing Mums. You burn enough calories breastfeeding , well done! But in the future if you wanted to, you could look at getting a walking pad? It's been a game changer for me.

You could go for a walk with a pushchair, upping the pace as your fitness levels rise. Put in additional weight in the pushchair. I think there’s a mindset that exercise is either “all or nothing”, when “something” is better than nothing.

you don't mention any weight training OP. Do you not have time to do any? Or did you forget to mention it. As you are clearly a woman of a certain age, I'd understand if you forgot to mention it but if that's not the case, you really need to find the time 👀

You can do exercise in the home … no planning required.
Now check your daily average screen time on your phone and tell me you don’t have time!

Well, I agree with the first post - why do you care so much?

FWIW, there will definitely be people who literally cannot find the time for it. I couldn’t do four times a week. On a really good week, I manage x3. Usually manage x2.

I personally would love to do some exercise and have some me time. However my whole day revolves around looking after my 5 and 2 year old and working seen as it is frowned upon for me to leave them by themselves and no one is forthcoming with any kind of childcare it is not an option. You are clearly in a lucky position to be able to have some time for self care some of us are just trying to keep ourselves mentally together seen as there is no village coming to save the day. I would absolutely love the chance to go for a swim or do a class I am incredibly jealous. After doing everything alone all day and keeping two humans alive and mentally stimulated and clean as well as maintaining their environment and juggling work and childcare forgive me if sometimes I fall asleep with exhaustion with them both most nights. I suppose I'm just lazy.

I dont have enough time in the literal sense, only sit with my am coffee and will go on mumsnet. Sometimes in bed scroll. Dont even mumsnet daily btw. Otherwise on the go morning to night. I don't exercise but often take care of kids (not mine but my kids friends), run errands and help my elders on top of life. I kept losing weight and my bloods came back not great. Turns out I need a way above average amount of calories which I now have fully healthy type only, have way above average muscle mass plus my bio age or whatever they call it is 20. The weight loss was because keeping to 2k calories was too little for my lifestyle (which is too busy for working out may I add).
I ate sugar because my body craved it and I never got fat, I struggled to keep weight on. Bloods noticed and I changed my life and knowing I need a dumb amount of calories means I'm now very healthy. Without exercise 🤔 although my day to day life is active with 18k steps average hitting up to 22k. All day on the go. But no, I don't run. How shocking. And judgemental of op.
Although if you saw me irl you'd think I go gym. It's all just helping elders shopping and gardening, house work in multiple properties and cooking for an army in cast iron 😂 ohhh and the stairs, the amount of stairs I do in a day 😭

I take care of my kids in general haha I have extra kids varying from 2 extra to 6! After schools or during holidays

The point being I don't allocate any specific time to exercise, mainly because there isn't any. Lots of people do not have 40 mins to themselves to go for a run or exercise. Having time to sit on the sofa at 10.30 at night doesn't mean they should be out running instead

Exercise in the home is somewhat limited by floor space. Also much easier in a house than a flat depending on sound proofing levels...

A Joe Wicks routine would be impossible above a grumpy neighbour/too close to a light sleeping child. Same for weights.

I have no excuse other than time to fit in more exercise. I already do a sport once a week for 2 hours one evening plus weekends we are not away and gym the other weekend day.

Weekday slots are tougher around kid ferrying and running is the hardest to add in. I'd do more if I could get them in the same place at the same time more often. Swimming lessons are offset by 15 minutes and other classes are sequential for their age group.

I do have space in the house but can see why someone living in a smaller house or flat or with younger kids who don't sleep well would find it impossible - in COVID times I couldn't exercise in the house during the day because there was one bit of floor large enough to do Burpees and it was the main route to the kitchen and that was a 3 bed house.

The thing is, even if exercise was genuinely fun like going to a trampoline park or the swings, if you don't physically have time... you don't have time!

The most exercise I every did was when I was on mat leave. One in a sling and one in the pushchair. I walked for milesand was probablythe slimmest I've ever been, mainly because it was easier than dealing with the baby in the sling at home. But I had all the time in the world then.
I love going for walks now, but when?

People saying looking after children is reason for not exercising, do you not take them to parks or playgrounds? You could use that as an opportunity to do family exercise. Get the children involved. Do races, use apparatus to jump, climb etc.

I work full time nightshift have 2 kids one young primary age , an elderly father to support , I do manage an hours swim once a week if I'm not to exhausted hth

Because there are other things that have to be priority.

Work (to live).
Kids (so they don't end up messed up)

For me, I literally live to work. I have health conditions that mean a full work day absolutely wipes me out. I used to gym 3x a week, run 2x, running events were my favourite thing to do and miss it all with all my heart. But I do not have the health or energy to do any of it anymore. I have to save that for working.

If I stopped working completely I could use my time and energy do what I love again... But I need to work. To live.

People who judge people who don't exercise are being very short sighted and cruel. You don't know soneones circumstances either. It's not like people always choose this.

I think that busy people may not be prioritising exercise above one of the many other jobs/ commitments they have. I used to do long walks, daily yoga etc but then injured my knee, returned to the office and long commutes and the kids ramped up their after school activities (random chance scheduling changes) and just can't figure out a way to fit it back in now. Most days I leave the house at 6:30 return at 6 then usually back out with the kids to their clubs back at 7:30/8. At this point I eat, do dishes, do laundry, have a tidy up etc. My free time is probably 9-10 but honestly I need to have quiet for a bit to recharge. I have chosen to prioritise my kids health over mine I guess. Am ok on that as won't be for many years. I do try and do something on the weekend.