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.

Really fair point.

When my husband is away i switch my sessions to nights, my 5 year old comes with me, my other 2 can either be left in the house or are at training themselves.

For example im taking my older 2 to run club with me as they are active and run, on Saturday my 5 year old will come to a conditioning session with me with a pack lunch and her ipad.

My steps however dramatically drop as i cant get out my walks and if i do the 5 year old slows me down and whines so generally i dont get doing that if husband is away.

I honest to god get it, its hard, really hard, there are ways around it but again trying to put these in place is also hard, affordability can also be a factor.

If you really want to do it there is always ways.

But even people with young DC can do exercise in the house? It doesn’t need to be a run.

Does everyone have space?

I say I don’t have time to run to be polite. I also say I can’t afford to join a gym. Neither are true.

No need to worry about my level of fitness though as I get plenty of exercise quietly and in casual clothes.

For example im taking my older 2 to run club with me as they are active and run, on Saturday my 5 year old will come to a conditioning session with me with a pack lunch and her ipad.

This would not be allowed in my gym

My husband, when hes away i switch my sessions to night and take her with me.

YABVU

My AIBU is finding it annoying when people tell me they don’t have time to do any exercise.

What difference does it make to your life whether someone else exercises? Whether they make excuses, or if they genuinely have a reason.

What difference does it make to you?

Let them - Mel Robbins.
Emphasises the importance of letting others be who they are, accept situations and direct your own focus to what's within your power. Let them do what they want, rather than wasting your time, effort, energy getting stressed, annoyed or wound up because they don't match what you think they should do, when it bears no meaning on YOUR LIFE.

@Nottsandcrosses so you get why that doesn't work for everyone? My 5 yr old used to be exhausted & hungry after school/extracurriculars

Fair, I go to small group PT sessions, so still a gym but smaller scale.

There is so many places that allow (well behaved) children.

Well done for finding a way to make things work for you.

But "on Saturday my 5 year old will come to a conditioning session with me with a pack lunch and her ipad." - I'd be really annoyed if someone brought their 5 year-old to my gym class, sorry.

There is so many places that allow (well behaved) children.

Not come across it unless it's a postnatal class.

Ha yes - everyone has time. Even my friend who has three kids and a full time job works out several times a week - she runs mainly as she can literally do that whenever, doesn't need to go to a scheduled class or gym.
My late DH was one of those 80 hour a week high pressured career types - he got up at 5.30am every day to get his 30 minute swim in. He had the timings down to a science and would get very annoyed if the gym was a few minutes late in opening!
Even if stuck at home with little kids you can stick on an exercise video and have the kids join (though it can be depressing how easy they find it), run up and down the stairs for five minutes a few times a day.
Time is not the real reason the vast majority of people don't exercise.

I'd be really annoyed if someone brought their 5 year-old to my gym class, sorry.

Imagine if everyone did that, how would it work?

For goodness sake you can’t be serious?

No i think everyone can make it work if they want to, but i whole-heartily understand why people dont and i agree its so hard.

What im trying to say is to anyone that really wants to make a go of it, there are ways, alot of classes allow children, family members and friends, do it at home, get a walking pad.

How many books do you read in a year OP? Why don’t you have time to read more?

How many hours do you spend volunteering? Why don’t you have time to do more?

Running 4 x a week for 30 minutes? Hmmm at your age you really should be strength training 3 x a week for an hour as well as getting at least 1 HIIT style workout a week. Why aren’t you doing that instead of a measly 30 minute run 4 times a week? Quite pathetic. & your kids are old enough to be left alone too! Shameful.

Maybe spend less time on MN OP? What do you do after dinner if you run before? Sit on your arse and watch TV I bet. Maybe you should learn sign language instead of being so lazy? 🙄

@Brownie258 have you seen how some people live? Plenty don't have stairs & not everyone has a living room with space to exercise.

Well she sits in the corner on the couch away from everything with her ipad and lunch box, she knows she absolutely can not walk around and is always only about a max of 8 feet away from me at any one time.

My sessions are strength based training, so alot of weights.

This

It depends why you exercise. Exercise in itself doesn’t help weight loss. I focus more on what I’m eating and being healthy that wash. Plus I run around after my toddler and child everyday and I can’t leave them on their own to exercise. If I had a bit of child free time I definitely would not be using it for exercise (unless shopping counts as exercise to you 😀) So that will have to do!

Ok, you win!

I do agree with you OP that most people don't actually have no time to exercise but, as someone who does struggle to squeeze it in myself, it's more that you have other things you need/want to do in your free time that you prioritise over it. Rightly or wrongly.

I have a full-time job and a 2 year old, those 2 things take up the majority of my time. I also have a husband to spend time with, friends I want to see, shopping/washing/cleaning/tidying/cooking etc I need to do. And amongst that, when I have a free hour, sometimes I just want to sit on the sofa 🙈

So yes, I do theoretically have time to exercise and know I should prioritise it more for my health, but it really can feel tough for many people when every day just seems to fly by.

@Nottsandcrosses And I'm saying I understand why someone who doesn't have the space for a decent workout, freedom
to go for a jog or class with a kid in tow may find exercise less enjoyable & rewarding....

I schedule in gym on Mondays which is my only day off work. I have a disabled child (and a non-disabled one). Couldn't leave her alone at all.

So yeah, YABU.

Ok, you win!

Well obviously!

I somewhat agree with you OP. It’s not necessarily a lack of time to exercise as I am sure anyone can spare even just 10 mins to work out to a short video on YouTube. However, I think energy levels and motivation are the real issue and after being at work or caring for children all day sometimes people just don’t have the energy or motivation to exercise. I come home mentally exhausted from my job and even though I could do with losing a few lbs, I simply can’t be arsed most of the time. I’ll admit I’m a bit lazy. But I also find exercise such as running or yoga incredibly boring so it had to be something fun else I won’t stick to it.