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.

Good for you. Now if you want to find me a non impact sport I can do that fits in with the times I need to give my kids lifts places and that doesn't break my stupid body then please go ahead.

But why does it matter?
Structured exercise is not compulsory.
I don't do any and can't think why I'd need to because I am very active, healthy by all parameters and feel energetic anyway. I always join in with sports activities on holidays and manage to 'perform' very well, but I do it for enjoyment and being part of a group activity not because I want to prove my fitness levels.

What I would say might be useful in modern society is to make sure our children take part in sports or have an active outdoor lifestyle for physical development, stamina, team engagement and general good health.

Going to the gym or running regularly is not mandatory and your opening post sounds very dismissive of those who don't or can't find the time/energy to do what you choose to do for your own reasons.

Try finding time to do that with a breastfed 1 year old and a a 3 year old and working full time 😂

I go for a run with the double buggy once or twice a week. But it’s vary variable. If someone’s ill or work is busy then I really do have no time or extra capacity.

People who have zero self esteem do this, they take other people's flaws, life choices, no choices as a reason to big themselves up.

My mother was like this, if she saw someone overweight she would literally puff up with pride and then berate them ( to me) for hours
Miserable

I don't have 2 hours spare without the DC. It's a struggle to fit everything in already. However part of being busy means I get over 10k steps done a day anyway. I can see that people would struggle if they have an office job. There generally would be time in the evening, but that depends on them having money and transport for the gym, having energy to do so, and not needing to use that time catching up on housework.

Bur do you WFH at all during the week? Many people still go in every day, with a hefty commute either side of their working day. That's 8hrs + 2 on top, 10 hours out of the house every day, sometimes in physically/ mentally demanding roles and when they get in they want to collapse. The weekend is just about enough time to recoup some energy before the onslaught of work begins again. I honestly don't blame them.

I think it’s because your children are at secondary school, you quickly forget the (very rewarding but!) slog of young children.

You do you and don’t spend time judging others.

Bully for you. I don't have time to do anything for myself - anything - most of the time with two young DC and a job with long hours. Day is get up with kids, get them sorted, rush to nursery, rush back and start work, work all day with no break (rarely time to shovel a sandwich in), then race off to get kids from nursery and sort them out - dinner, bath, bed etc. Then do more work. Go to bed exhausted, get up with kids through the night, rinse and repeat.

I've been told by two doctors not to go running. Even walking too much can lay me up for days. I used to be fit enough to do inverted sit ups and 10+ km runs.

Put yourself in other people's footsteps before your self serving criticism.

Maybe they can, maybe they can't. Maybe they don't want to.

Are you bothered by how much free time you have? I can't imagine anyone else cares, really.

What's it got to do with you? Seriously if people don't want to exercise then leave them to it

Well good for you OP and very well done but please don’t be so judgy, preachy and condescending about others.

They maybe single parents, have health conditions, have no family support or what's more have no interest in running the streets and parading themselves in lycra.

When my children were babies and little I always put them first. So by the time DH got in having been out over 12 1/2 hours, with no family support whatsoever ever and living with a couple of zapping energy health conditions including long term anaemia I was literally ready to drop. Later at primary school I was dealing with squabbles, snacks, making dinner, washing, reading, supervising homework and prepping for the next day etc etc. Secondary school brought different worries, energy zapping tasks, arguments and responsibilities.

To be fair it’s only now that my children are at Uni that I feel I have some energy, inclination to finally spend some time on myself and do some exercise but have zero interest in running.

Sometimes people are just too tired ... Don't judge until you have walked in someone else's shoes.

Fully agree with this Togglebullets! It's a privilege to be able to move your better for physical and mental health. Some people have other priorities and or capabilities. Its important to be and feel proud of yourself and to celebrate that but OP reeks of superiority. Thumbs down.

It's not just 30-40 mins though- what about showering snd changing afterwards? What if your exercise isn't running-and you have to drive somewhere to do it? Add on journey time. What if it can only be done at certain times of day- lane swimming, gym classes etc.
I exercise 5 times a week but each time requires a block of 2 hours. More if I want to go in the spa/ steam/ sauna afterwards.
It's much more difficult than you make out, even if you prioritise it above time with your kids.

I do a tonne of exercise, but don't have kids.

I have friends with young kids who fit exercise in however they can - weighted walks around the block with the pram, Kettlewell workouts in the garage at 5am before everyone else is awake, gym sessions on their lunchbreak etc - but I think you've got to be very driven, and kind of enjoy it, to do so.

I was very active and loved to exercise before I had kids. But with two under 3, I’m sometimes too exhausted to take a shower by the time they’re both in bed. People’s lives are different and they have different priorities. I hope that when the kids are older I’ll start to exercise again, but atm I’m one of the those ‘too busy to exercise’.

Personally I can’t understand why more people don’t slob on the sofa, binge watching Slow Horses while stuffing a box of Maltesers in their mouth. Far more character building.

I want to exercise more. Literally can’t find any time in my schedule. May be, if I gave you my daily routine you can let me know if when I can do it?

Why is this a topic that comes up so much? Why do you care what exercise other people do?

I suspected you are a sanctimonious exercise-bore and these people are either defensive or trying to get you to shut up.

And I’m not being defensive myself - I don’t run because I don’t think it’s a brilliant form or exercise but I work out several times a week and play sport. I am wholly uninterested in what exercise other people do, I doubt they would bother to tell me anyway.

To be fair Slow Horses is great 😄

The majority who claim not to have time don’t because it is not on their list of priorities not because they actually can’t find the time. And there can be any number of reasons for that - it is not our place to judge someone who finally wants downtime sitting down after working all day and then battling with housework/cooking/young children in the evening.

Those who love exercise will find the time in the day but we have to see that everyone does not love it the same way

It would be far more beneficial to look at society as a whole and see how we are set up for failure with our current lifestyles and economic environment where exercise is concerned. But no government is truly invested in prevention rather than cure….

Keeping fit and well can be painful, there's no denying, but if you want it that bad then you'll find a way.

This was me too and I worked part time but everything was a rush. The OP is prob a teacher, also works part time or has a very supportive DH who either works from home and or has parents or IL’s at her beck and call. Well lucky OP.

I don't really love exercise, so I don't prioritise it.

However, I do have a spotless house, fully planned cooked from scratch healthy nutritious meals, all home maintenance jobs completed straight away etc - which many people don't. I prioritise what's important to me.

I don't go to the dirty/untidy/poorly maintained houses of people who prioritise exercise and say they don't have time to clean or to meal plan and judge them because they waste time running rather than keeping on top of household chores or meal planning or doing the other things that are important to me. Because I understand we're all different and have different priorities.

Horses for courses. You feel good if you prioritise running/exercise. Other people don't and have other things that are more important to them.