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To push DS15 to go to the gym twice a week?

5 replies

CheckOutGrl71 · 10/11/2024 11:30

DH takes DS 15 skiing every year. Over the last couple of years DS has increasingly enjoyed skiing. There was a time they'd ski a bit and then just play Minecraft lol. Honestly, skiing has been great for DS's self confidence. DS says he wants to work in a ski resort in Canada after finishing school.

DH says DS needs to keep his fitness up to get the most out of it, if that's what he wants and they were going to the gym with DS doing 5k on the treadmill. They started this at the beginning of the summer holidays. DS was doing well and enjoying it over the summer holidays, but seems to have lost interest in the gym and stopped going, complaining of being tired. DS isn't sporty by nature and struggles with anxiety and has issues with processing (autism spectrum).

DH is trying to coax him to go, but it's like DS just can't be bothered. I think DH should let DS figure it out for himself. DS cycles to school everyday, and that's about 2.5 miles in each direction. But DH is insistent that fitness is important, even beyond skiing. DH thinks anxiety is something to do with this and is sad that DS seems to be giving up on something he's good at and that will be important later in life.

What's the best approach here? Left to his own devices, DS would just play computer games with all of his free time. That's a whole other can of worms.

We want to do the right thing but we're lost. How much do we force the fitness issue?

OP posts:
Whatamitodonow · 10/11/2024 11:35

Find him a dry ski slope where he can actually practice the skills relevant?

might even get a PT job which would help him with his Canada plans. Plus meet kids his own age rather than spending his free time with dad supervising and judging.

if he likes the outdoors and skiing then the dry exercise for exercise sake at the gym will be as boring as fuck.

or if he cycles find a cycle track for something a bit more team like.

edit- or even climbing- massive in the off season in Canada so more opportunities there.

Jessie1259 · 10/11/2024 11:35

When is DH trying to get him to go to the gym? I think after school it's too much as he already bike rides home and may have homework. So I'd drop that but encourage him to go at the weekend - or is he already only going at the weekend? It's not clear.

CheckOutGrl71 · 10/11/2024 11:39

Jessie1259 · 10/11/2024 11:35

When is DH trying to get him to go to the gym? I think after school it's too much as he already bike rides home and may have homework. So I'd drop that but encourage him to go at the weekend - or is he already only going at the weekend? It's not clear.

They've just been going on a Saturday until this week. DH used to go cycle racing two nights a week, after school at that age and thinks 30minutes in the gym should be fine one night a week. I'm not sure, but I was never sporty.

OP posts:
Cynic17 · 10/11/2024 11:42

He's 15 - does he not do sport at school?

FBE · 10/11/2024 11:45

I second the dry ski slope idea ☺

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