All the people suddenly desperate to do daily exercise

[Cinammoncake]

Do you normally exercise every day? If not, then just surely exercise as normal, maybe jog on the spot or do some star jumps at home
Okay if you live in a flat and want fresh air, but if not then just go in your garden surely.

It's not forever.

I think it's reasonable that people who don't normally exercise are going to start going outside once a day. It doesn't matter if they didn't before - it will be really good for their mental health. And if they stay 2m away from other people they'll be fine.

The problem is if they don't follow the rules...if they don't, we might have a full lock-down like in Italy, where people can only take their dogs within 200m of where they live.

It's worth bearing in mind Italians don't typically walk their dogs much, like we do here. Once a week is typical, unless you're in an apartment.

‘ I don't have a dog but don't most people walk them twice a day?’

Yes. So they will need to cut back. I am thinking of one ‘proper’ walk which also counts as the human’s exercise, plus really brief toilet trips when needed

On a pet related note, BBC said that vets are allowed to remain open for urgent care and the supply of veterinary medicines

I usually leave the house with the kids by 10 and get home around 5 in time to make dinner. They are 3 and 1 and usually do 1 or 2 active classes a day - swimming, dance, gymnastics, playgroup etc. Outside of those we are at the park on bikes, scooters, swings. The only time we stay in is when it's pouring with rain. The winter is very hard for me as we can't go out as much and I get very low.

Now don't misunderstand me, we have been following the guidelines to the letter. We are lucky to have a garden, though its very small. We will be staying in apart from our one permitted short walk a day. We are not putting our desire to go out above anyone else's health. But I wish people would stop minimising how hard staying in is for lots of people. I understand that lots of people live incredibly sedentary lives and can't understand why the idea of sitting at home watching TV sucks for a lot of people. But lots of people depend on daily exercise and socialising to maintain mental health and wellbeing. This idea that staying in is easy because everyone actually hates exercise and is now only pretending to want to go out to be a dick is just false. For lots of people being asked to stay home 24/7 feels like a prison sentence. That doesn't mean they shouldn't do it, but I wish people would stop sneering at those who are finding it hard.

People need to stop thinking that their temporary mental health is more important than other peoples lives. I'd also like to add (before someone starts guilt tripping with suicide) that one persons life isn't as important as multiple other lifes in society. And I say that as someone who has dealt with suicidal depression in the past.

I exercise every day. Plenty of at home workouts though (did Les Mills last night- excellent). I would like to run a couple of times a week, but also want to get DS out for a bike ride- so I reckon I’ll stop running for now.

Dogs can go out with different memberships if the household if there are more than 1.

What people are finding hard is that popping down to Tesco used to be included in getting some fresh air but now going to the supermarket is a stressful experience

Members of

I love the UK and I'm a massive patriot but I think that the UK is, as a society, totally unprepared to deal with a crisis that will only be mitigated when working collectively. I feel desperately sorry for many people who will have their lives shortened by this virus, directly and indirectly, and also made miserable, new parents, people who suffer with mental health difficulties, older people, medically vulnerable people, people stuck in flats, people with violent and abusive partners. I am not sneering at overweight people who want to exercise, I am overweight. I'm only saying exactly what the people in charge are saying. hopefully society will be stronger after this, it will pass after all, and we can prioritise the people who this has shown are really important - rubbish collectors, shelf stackers, delivery drivers, scientists, and of course medical staff, and equip them and the hospitals properly.

@ByGrabtharsHammerWhatASavings I think you've expressed it really well. That's exactly it. My BF has severe MH challenges and exercise is one of the things that really helps keep her well. Of course she is following all the rules and is now going out just once a day to walk her dog but that doesn't mean it isn't a genuine challenge for her.

In my case, I'm an introvert. I adore my DH and DC. But getting time alone is really important to me and usually I do that while walking the dog or going to the gym and just sitting in the cafe or using the spa or, if the weather is nice, sitting outside in a park somewhere with a good book. I spend time in libraries because I love the quiet to read or work. Now, I can't even walk the dog alone as DC also need to get out. I am following all the rules but that doesn't change the fact that I'm chafing with not being able to get any time completely alone.

But you are supposed to keep travel to a minimum.How is a 1 hour cycle ok for a car journey that could be a fraction of that if we’re supposed to keep being outside to a minimum? How is an hour cycle ride ok but not an hours walk that included a 5 minute car journey,We have keen cyclists in the family. My Dh used to cycle 18 miles to work, ludicrous to do that, he has come off a few times and never have cars been involved.

Quite clearly cycling is exercise and driving a car isnt.

It’s probably all a conspiracy to beat the obesity crisis

Absolutely bling. I think what some people aren't getting is that people experiencing an isolation induced breakdown or suicide attempt aren't just going to be left at home to quietly die, they're going to be taken to hospital and treated like anyone else. Protecting our mental health isn't trivial or indulgent, it's part of making sure our medical resources don't become overwhelmed. And for people who are struggling it's not something that they can just stiff upper lip their way out of. That's why people need to follow the guidance we've actually been given, not the guidance they're making up in their own heads, which means taking you one form of daily exercise and making self care a priority. We need people to get through this alive, but if we want a society to go back to once lockdown is over we also need it to be made up of people not ready to snap and harm themselves or others at any moment.

They're normally at a gym or running near work so you don't see them...

Anyway, I'm going to carry on following the PM's instructions, which allows for one period of outdoor exercise a day, whilst maintaining a safe distance from other people. If it gets tightened up then I'll obey the new instructions

Absolutely

I won’t go to the park...and I won’t go to the beach unless it’s quiet and I won’t go out of the village

I think when there's nothing else to do then yes a lot more people will want to get outside. It's a stressful situation.

Personally the only reason I'm taking up this one outdoor exercise thing per day is because of my dog. He needs a walk, he usually gets more than this but at least I can still get him out once a day.

Exactly at every stage I have followed instructions - the problem is those of us who wish to go for a run or a cycle everyday by themselves away from everyone else at all

I love going out for walks but quite honestly working 12 hour days everyday in NHS due to constant staff sickness means I don't have time for any walks , all I get is a drive home with the windows cracked open.
We can't all have what we want, if you continue to break the rules siting anxiety and mental health for absolutely everything the army will be called in and you will be made to stay at home.
It's not much fun watching people die either.

Dh was like "oh I will start taking Ds for a walk around the block every day". My response was that we have up until this point, never been for walks around the block. We have a garden we have access to outdoor space at home. Stay at home is the advice, now is not the time to start going outside for walks around the block just like everyone else who feels like starting to go for walks around the block. We will be using the garden and doing indoor exercise every day. Thanks to Joe Wicks.

if you continue to break the rules siting anxiety and mental health for absolutely everything the army will be called in and you will be made to stay at home.

I can't see anyone on the thread intending to break the rules.

I've always had a daily walk. Whilst it's still allowed I will continue to do so responsibly.

if you continue to break the rules siting anxiety and mental health

Exercising once per day outside on your own or with your household is perfectly within the rules that have been given.

And people can say what they like about mental health and excuses however, it's a problem. People's mental health will suffer because of all this, it shouldn't just be ignored.

If people are being told they can go outside once a day to exercise then they will. So long as they are staying away from others and are alone or with their households then they are following the advice the government has given.

Yes, I walk the dog.

Decided this week was the week to start jogging. Not going to be shamed about it - it’s the equivalent of those memes around January of “gym bunny’s” taking the pi** out of others trying to use “their gym”. Why should you be allowed to use the streets to run and I can’t? Behave yourself.

Thanks for all the replies on this thread, interesting to hear all the different viewpoints.

Imo peoples mental health will be affected by this anyway. The fewer people that die the better and the more we stay in the more we can try to reduce the spread.

What I was saying is if you've got a garden you can go to for fresh air, and exercise indoors, why not do that. I do think people in flats and people with dogs should be prioritised. If you run a lot, that's important but maybe those people could reduce the number of runs. This is only for a period of hopefully weeks.

I like walking and being outdoors myself. FWIW I don't think now is a good time to start couch to 5k maybe those people could start a different form of indoor exercise instead. Sit in your garden if you have one for fresh air/vitamin D. The more each of us can do individually to stay in the better.