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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

DH going to the gym on Christmas Day!

467 replies

Wifetobe21 · 22/12/2025 22:11

For about 1.5 hours mid morning. A couple of his mates usually go and have roped him in.

He is into his fitness but surely people can give it a miss for one bloody day?!

OP posts:
Xkk · 22/12/2025 23:04

Pearlstillsinging · 22/12/2025 22:32

Which poor souls will be working on Cristmas Day to keep a gym open? It's hardly an emergency service!

Our gym is 24/7 you just let yourself in with a code punched in keypad at unsociable hours/days.

MrsSkylerWhite · 22/12/2025 23:06

Xkk · 22/12/2025 23:04

Our gym is 24/7 you just let yourself in with a code punched in keypad at unsociable hours/days.

Fair enough.

ByQuaintAzureWasp · 22/12/2025 23:07

Owners if said gym should give their staff the day off!! Miserable buggers.

Fupoffyagrasshole · 22/12/2025 23:07

I always go Christmas Day morning

it’s a long day and il Have been up early with the kids so I like to pop out for some time to myself and a bit of a breather.

come back in much better form and ready for the rest of the day.

Zov · 22/12/2025 23:08

Whaleandsnail6 · 22/12/2025 23:01

My gym is open 24/7 with unstaffed hours.

I guess there is maybe staff on call as there is help points where you can press a button/intercom and also defibs/first aid boxes available.

I suppose if you were the only person there and you had a medical emergency then you know the risk and agree to using the gym in unstaffed hours (there is a big sign when you go in stating its unstaffed)

Blimey, that's a bit of a safety risk. Didn't know any of this. Thank you.

Zov · 22/12/2025 23:09

Can you tell I've not set foot in a gym this century? Grin

Xkk · 22/12/2025 23:09

Whaleandsnail6 · 22/12/2025 23:01

My gym is open 24/7 with unstaffed hours.

I guess there is maybe staff on call as there is help points where you can press a button/intercom and also defibs/first aid boxes available.

I suppose if you were the only person there and you had a medical emergency then you know the risk and agree to using the gym in unstaffed hours (there is a big sign when you go in stating its unstaffed)

This! You sign yourself in and out and you sign a contract specifyng that going when is not staffed you are taking a risk. You have first aid kit and an emergency number to call.

GlobalTravellerbutespeciallyBognor · 22/12/2025 23:10

theunbreakablecleopatrajones · 22/12/2025 22:55

In which case I think he'll find he is not going, due to the childcare / cooking / PIL entertaining to be done

Not if he wants to enjoy 2026 anyway

This.

I don’t know where to start tbh

AorticValve · 22/12/2025 23:10

Not all of us are into cuddling up watching crap Christmas movies and getting on the booze by breakfast time. If I hadn't had surgery recently, I would be doing a Christmas run. For us, fitting in exercise is an important part of Christmas. I will be encouraging him to go if he wants to even though I cannot join him this year.

But then, my husband has always done the Christmas lunch and pulls his weight all year so there is none of the associated sex-based stereotyping.

MeouwKing · 22/12/2025 23:10

What gym opens Christmas day, curious?

Dontgochasingrainbows · 22/12/2025 23:11

CaffeineChaosandCuddles · 22/12/2025 22:45

Gosh, people are so ‘Lardy darrr, let him do what he pleases’

that’s okay, 99.99999% of the time - but id be miffed being left on my own for 1.5 hours on Christmas morning, that’s time to be cuddling up watching a film, or eating breakfast with Buck’s Fizz… not being left on your todd while he goes off. I’m on your side. You are NOT unreasonable!

Cudding up and watching a film after being in bed all night?

If DH suggested it (and he's a lazy sod so he would), I'd hide the remote!

Dollybantree · 22/12/2025 23:11

Xkk · 22/12/2025 23:00

Yes, bloody gym goers are cheaters, bastards! Give it a break!

“Gym” is no.1 excuse for cheaters IME.

Ive been around the block a bit - don’t be naive.

Hopefully OP’s Dh is just a regular, selfish run of the mill male who prioritises his own wants on Christmas Day and lets the wife just suck it up.

Daygloboo · 22/12/2025 23:13

Wifetobe21 · 22/12/2025 22:11

For about 1.5 hours mid morning. A couple of his mates usually go and have roped him in.

He is into his fitness but surely people can give it a miss for one bloody day?!

Thats a bit pathetic

Wifetobe21 · 22/12/2025 23:14

The gym is part of a national hotel chain and open for a few hours only.

OP posts:
Xkk · 22/12/2025 23:15

Dollybantree · 22/12/2025 23:11

“Gym” is no.1 excuse for cheaters IME.

Ive been around the block a bit - don’t be naive.

Hopefully OP’s Dh is just a regular, selfish run of the mill male who prioritises his own wants on Christmas Day and lets the wife just suck it up.

No1 excuse? Where did you get your statistics from? I'm not naive, just have a healthy trusting relationship and I don' t paint everyone with the same brush.

Autumnlife · 22/12/2025 23:16

My gyms open 24/7 365 days of the year. I go really early in the morning always have done.

Xkk · 22/12/2025 23:17

Dollybantree · 22/12/2025 23:11

“Gym” is no.1 excuse for cheaters IME.

Ive been around the block a bit - don’t be naive.

Hopefully OP’s Dh is just a regular, selfish run of the mill male who prioritises his own wants on Christmas Day and lets the wife just suck it up.

You don't know this. You just assume.

Eenameenadeeka · 22/12/2025 23:18

This wouldn't work for me, because if I'm busy preparing all the meal he can play with the toddler rather than just do what suits him and then show up when the foods ready.

Xkk · 22/12/2025 23:20

If the relationship is healthy and balanced I don't see a problem with it, OP. Many people exercise, is their way of feeling better and if they want to do it on Christmas day why not? As long as he is there to help you during the day, you have your parents over, let him go is not for a long time.

Dollybantree · 22/12/2025 23:21

Xkk · 22/12/2025 23:15

No1 excuse? Where did you get your statistics from? I'm not naive, just have a healthy trusting relationship and I don' t paint everyone with the same brush.

From the Study of Life! You only have to have been on here for a few years to know it’s a very popular excuse for cheaters. It’s nothing to do with having a healthy relationship - I’ve been married 20 years to a fantastic man but have seen many other relationships crumble in that time, often bc the man can’t keep it in his pants (and comes up with all kinds of excuses for his strange absences along the way). One friend during Covid had her husband going “on long walks as his mental health was suffering”! In reality he was shagging a woman half his age he’d met online. Not saying that’s what’s going on here - I’m sure it’s easy enough for the op to check.

But it never hurts to be informed..and sorry but going to the gym on Christmas Day is suss as hell and id definitely be checking if that is exactly what he’s doing. Actually I wouldn’t bc my dh wouldn’t be so self absorbed as to even suggest it.

Just say no, you’re not ok with it OP and you can all go for a nice family walk instead.

theunbreakablecleopatrajones · 22/12/2025 23:22

AorticValve · 22/12/2025 23:10

Not all of us are into cuddling up watching crap Christmas movies and getting on the booze by breakfast time. If I hadn't had surgery recently, I would be doing a Christmas run. For us, fitting in exercise is an important part of Christmas. I will be encouraging him to go if he wants to even though I cannot join him this year.

But then, my husband has always done the Christmas lunch and pulls his weight all year so there is none of the associated sex-based stereotyping.

The OP said nothing about pouring Baileys on her cornflakes and watching home alone.

She did say she had a toddler plus parents staying. From this anyone would surmise she's like to split duties with her partner - one cooks while one looks after the baby and entertains the olds.

Good for you if you and your husband are happy to juggle this with a run, but she isn't and that is reasonable - it's Christmas she wants to be able to chill out as much as she can. He can always go for a half hour run.

Are you normally this insufferably smug or is it a post surgery issue?

rwalker · 22/12/2025 23:24

With kindness you always view your own parents differently to others
sounds like it’s an excuse to get out the house for an hour

as fir DD at 19 months Christmas is a confusing non event

LemaxObsessive · 22/12/2025 23:24

TooManyAnimals94 · 22/12/2025 22:17

I'm riding my horse on Christmas day. Is that any different?

As wonderful as that sounds, I’d be worried about the chances of an accident, albeit slim and the ramifications on emergency services on Christmas Day but a Christmas hack does sound very nice and festive!

LemaxObsessive · 22/12/2025 23:27

I’m with you, OP. Surely to god his body will cope with missing ONE sodding day of the year! Christmas Day is supposed to be about family and celebrations, not securing workout number 359 of the year. Imagine if you said you were off for a drink and leaving him alone in the pub? I expect he’d be trotting out the “but Christmas is meant to be about family….”

MyCatStoleSausages · 22/12/2025 23:27

I'll be going for a run on Christmas day. I don't 'need to' but it's something that I enjoy doing and I always come back from a run in a better mood than I left in. There's loads of time to slot it in around present opening, making dinner, etc. and there'll still be loads of time for us all to chill together.