Would this annoy you? 25 squats every hour

[Graceey]

I’ve been unhappy with my fitness. So have very slowly started to introduce more activity. I’m literally only jogging for 10 mins a day.

I have also started doing 25 squats every hour during the day. Takes maybe a minute?

But husband has said semi jokingly, semi not that he finds it annoying. In no way has he asked me not to do it.

I obviously try not to make a big song and dance about it and try to be as discreet as possible ie in front of the kettle whilst I wait for it to boil not in the middle of a film.

Yanbu. He doesn’t want you improving yourself! It’s a tale as old as time.

I’ve seen this type of sabotage so many times. Next he’ll be bringing you calorie-laden chocolates home.

The OP says very clearly that he hasn't asked her to stop doing it, so I think this is a bit of a stretch.

Personally, I'd find it a bit irritating if someone started doing squats every hour. It strikes me as seeming a bit performative (although obviously it's not intended to be), and it's the kind of thing you can sort of see happening out of the corner of your eye when you're trying to concentrate on other things.

I would be pleased my partner was improving his fitness a bit, and I probably wouldn't say anything, but I'd secretly be thinking 'If I have to watch him do those bloody squats one more time I'm going to go silently insane'.

Every hour is quite a lot and I find it quite annoying in general when people are fidgety and keep getting up and faffing about, so hourly squats would probably irk me, on the quiet.

OP, YANBU for doing them but he is also YANBU for finding it mildly irritating.

Well done for doing something for your fitness.
My confession is that my DH has just discovered yoga, and now I come across him unexpectedly in the lounge or the kitchen, contorted into some unyoga-like positions, when I just want to catch up on Corrie or stick the kettle on. It's unnerving 😂
But I'm glad he's doing it so while I might snigger (can't always stop myself bless him he does look funny sometimes) I won't ask him to stop or do it somewhere else.
Now about those squats. Why 25? And why just squats?
Have you thought about trying couchto5k? If you are jogging for 10 minutes you will probably do it easily. Look for the NHS health unlocked website, there's an app you can download.
On the couchto5k section you'll find a lovely group of people who will support you, give advice, and point you in the right direction
There's also a sister site called strength&flex (still part of NHS unlocked) that will give you lots of different exercises and stretches. There will be guidance about how many sets of each exercise, and how many repetitions.
There's a lot of crossover between the sites.

It's a shame he doesn't want to support you improve your fitness.

I often do things like do some squats while I'm waiting for the kettle or microwave, stand on one leg when I'm brushing my teeth to practice my balance. My DH has never made a comment or given me his opinion on this. I wouldn't take too kindly if he did. What does it matter if you do some squats while waiting for the kettle to boil?

You’re welcome to your opinion.

But why is everything labelled as performative these days??

No, that's just you 😂

This!

Every hour?

If you did it in front of me I'd consider it performative and irritating. If you took yourself elsewhere not an issue at all.

Are you being a bit boring about it?

Unless you insist on doing your squats right in front of the television screen with a lot of huffing and puffing when he's watching something, or get up from the table mid-dinner to do your squats, I can't see that it would be at all annoying.

If it takes a minute, I’d go and do it somewhere else, probably. Bathroom or bedroom, whatever’s convenient. I would be irritated if you were doing them in front of me all day every day.

Why don't you just do leg day 2 or 3 times a week? You need more leg exercises than squats. And every hour?

I think most people would roll their eyes and find it mildly annoying - you probably would too

I am not sure that's going to have any benefit frankly. You are likely to get very bored of it after a few days, and unlikely to keep it up for a couple of months.
Squats are good for the butt, but not that good on their own.

You are better off starting a proper activity that you like and that you will keep. Start with a couple of times a week if you want to start slow, then up to 4 (or 5). I can't say people see much difference when they exercise only once a week.

It can be anything, keep running, as already said the couch to 5k can be a good motivation. Join a class - you will do a lot more than 200 or however many squats a day you currently do, but you won't notice and you will do a lot more than squats!

25 squats every hour IS boring very quickly, doesn't do much and that's why most people will just give them up.

I had to do a lot of stretching exercises pre hip surgery. I'd do it in front of the sink, waiting for kettle, toaster. DH didn't see it as real exercise. I ignored him. Just keep on doing it's good for you.

I mean there’s nothing wrong with a bit of self improvement!
I’d take myself off to do them somewhere without an audience, if I were in the office I’d go to the loo. If I was at home I’d go to my room or my office or bathroom if people were watching tv, it’s just a bit of a weird distraction otherwise. It’s not wrong to do it in the same room as someone else imo, I also don’t see it as performative.
But if dh and I were sitting on the sofa and the time was approaching I’d either just wait and do 2 lots when I was on my own or leave the room for a minute and do it elsewhere!

I’d jog for longer, say 20-30 mins and then do the squats in the park. When at home just go into another room..

I absolutely do my best to do when I’m not around others. Ie when I go to pee/make a coffee/empty bins

husband has said semi jokingly, semi not that he finds it annoying.

So do it out of his eyeline, if he then keeps on about it despite you removing the possibility its "performative" or tugging at his shame (i should be doing something about mine), then hes in sabotage mode.

Does it make a difference? Is it worth doing? I'll try it myself if it gives results x

I was going to say this. Bodyweight squats won't do much. You need a proper routine with resistance and increasing the weights over time.

I mean, if DH just started doing squats in the middle of a TV programme or while we were talking I'd think he was starting to lose his marbles.

But if he did them while he was in his office or before his shower I can't imagine giving a toss about it either way.

frankly, no,.

You are much better off going to the gym -or at home, but you usually will find a better range there - and lift weights (sensibly)

Keep measurements and photos, you will see a lot more difference that way - a bit at home? Not much

It IS possible to completely change your body at home, with next to no equipment, but you need to do a lot more than a few squats, even a 20 to 30 mn routine every day will be better. Consistency is also key.

Why not dedicate 15 mins every morning to a work out. If you use a band or weights it’s likely to be more beneficial. Exercise is life long and I can’t believe that this is a life long exercise strategy, it’s too cumbersome. It’s also not very balanced. If you really want to get fit, look at building a proper session into your life.

Have you seen the 100 kettlebell swings a day thing on Instagram? I'd prefer squats to that - less chance of breaking something!

That’s not necessarily true if you’re starting from a low base.

I'd laugh and tell him part of a long relationship is putting up with minor irritations. And that if you're still together by 80, it's those squats that'll mean he won't need to help you out of the chair or off the toilet. And maybe he should return the favour and join you.