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Original poster

Why do many of most men like watching sport for hours?

107 replies

Successgirl2022 · 26/02/2023 12:31

I know many women like watching different kinds of sports too.

I watch it occasionally but I am definitely not addicted as I have my other more important things to do.

I make sure I keep fit and exercise regularly instead of just passively watching it like my DH.

Before we met 18 years ago (married for 17 years) and for 1 year after that, my DH went to the gym 1-2 times a week while working full time. He was 37 then, and I was 25.

Has anyone else had this happen DH stopped going to the gym (if he went previously) after you had a child/children.

We go for walks, and he does gardening, cleans & polishes his (some sports) car(s). That's his exercise:).

Fair enough:)

OP posts:
Original poster
Successgirl2022 · 27/02/2023 21:10

Those players who play those sports, stay fit and never waste so much time watching it FOR HOURS because they are busy staying fit.

OP posts:
UsingChangeofName · 27/02/2023 21:11

At the beginning of our dating and married life, my DH showed nearly the same interest in fitness as me and it looks like he was PRETENDING he was into it too and that it was our common interest.

But that was nigh on 20 years ago.
Most of us evolve and change over 20 years. Hmm

Original poster
Successgirl2022 · 27/02/2023 21:13

Of course, I spoke to my DH about it.

He has excuses of 'laziaites'.😊 I am never lazy.

OP posts:
cassiatwenty · 27/02/2023 21:14

Successgirl2022 · 27/02/2023 21:10

Those players who play those sports, stay fit and never waste so much time watching it FOR HOURS because they are busy staying fit.

Ok I have to agree with this 👟🚶‍♂️👍

cassiatwenty · 27/02/2023 21:16

Far better to have your BF play footy with his mates rather than play FIFA on PS5 🤐

UsingChangeofName · 27/02/2023 21:17

Successgirl2022 · 27/02/2023 21:10

Those players who play those sports, stay fit and never waste so much time watching it FOR HOURS because they are busy staying fit.

Absolute baloney.
As the match I was watching on Sunday morning ended, all the players were talking about where they were watching the matches that afternoon.

You really are talking absolute rubbish.

I use my time wisely doing important useful things.

This makes you sound utterly ridiculous. Even more so as you aren't saying what all these "important useful things" are.

BitOutOfPractice · 27/02/2023 21:25

Successgirl2022 · 27/02/2023 20:54

At the beginning of our dating and married life, my DH showed nearly the same interest in fitness as me and it looks like he was PRETENDING he was into it too and that it was our common interest.

I like FIT men!

Show quote history

Who says he was faking? Maybe at the time he enjoyed it / wanted to do it. Now he doesn’t.

did you only marry him for his abs op because it sounds like you really don’t like him now.

I think he deserves better than you, you sound very shallow.

Theeyeballsinthesky · 27/02/2023 21:47

If I’m understanding the dates right, (together 18 years, he was 37, you were 25) your DH is now 55 And you are 43.

at 55 his energy levels may not be as high as they used to be & he just doesn’t want to go the gym as much as he used too

DanseAvecLesLoup · 27/02/2023 22:26

Successgirl2022 · 27/02/2023 21:03

I never do.

I use my time wisely doing important useful things.

Show quote history

Like posting on Mumsnet?

AlmostaMamma · 27/02/2023 22:45

Successgirl2022 · 27/02/2023 21:09

Instead of watching it for hours, isn't it better for everyone's health to watch it in moderation and DO some fitness yourself?

Show quote history

You don’t appear to have understood my comment.

sciencedoesntlie · 27/02/2023 22:49

My dad watches any sport. His particular passion is football but he will literally watch anything. He played football, cricket then bowls. He's just passionate about it and it's lovely. (Luckily my mum loves sport too but not to the same extent) I love live sport too and I find men who love sport really attractive.

Starlia · 27/02/2023 22:57

You sound weirdly controlling OP. If I was married to someone who demanded I go to the gym and that I spent my time on “wise” activities that presumably kusbe pre-approved…well, I wouldn’t stay married to you for long.

Marineboy67 · 27/02/2023 23:56

I enjoy playing and watching darts which can extend for a few hours on TV. I also boxed as kid/teenager and I'm quite in to watching boxing! I think it's about enjoying and supporting someone's individual skill or that collectively that as a group eg: football or rugby, cricket etc. Many women also enjoy and support those sports! It's fantastic how women's football is finally now getting the recognition and support.

Moser85 · 28/02/2023 02:46

So he used to go to the gym when you met, was previously fit etc and now he's not so you're making out he was pretending.

Most gym goers I know have had extended periods where they stopped training, plenty of previous gym goers stop going.

It doesn't mean they were pretending.

crew2022 · 28/02/2023 03:14

To get out of doing anything useful ?

WandaWonder · 28/02/2023 03:48

Starlia · 27/02/2023 22:57

You sound weirdly controlling OP. If I was married to someone who demanded I go to the gym and that I spent my time on “wise” activities that presumably kusbe pre-approved…well, I wouldn’t stay married to you for long.

I hear when women do this 'it's showing concern, it is releive my anxiety, it's being romantic'

When men do it 'it's a controlling red flag alert'

To me it is just plain weird

GobbieMaggie · 28/02/2023 04:44

It’s not just my husband and especially my 14 son who are keen on sport but both my daughters will join them on the golf course and will sit watching Match of the Day too. Cricket is more a boys thing with both husband and son playing on a Sunday however the girls will watch if it’s nice and sunny. I think men are generally more competitive than women and sport is part of that. Women go to the gym but relatively few actually play in a competitive sport. Football is tribal of course. You belong. Men and boys will improvise goal posts and battle will commence. Football was banned in medieval England because of hooliganism. But to understand is to recognise Bill Shankly, who famously said, football isn’t a matter of life and death, it’s more important than that.

Notcreativeatall · 28/02/2023 05:08

You are very judgmental!
my DP doesn't watch sport - he likes doing things like swimming etc- more solo activities- i really miss having someone to watch sport with - both live and on TV- Its a bonding experience, its social - even if just watching in the pub with someone - let alone at a live game. Most people I know who like watching sport did/do play it as well.
Interestingly most of the sporty people i know are dismissive of the gym - sports to them is about a shared activity/competition - not about getting fit. Being fit is a requirement to play sport - not a goal in itself for a lot of people

Original poster
Successgirl2022 · 28/02/2023 09:07

UsingChangeofName · 27/02/2023 21:17

Absolute baloney.
As the match I was watching on Sunday morning ended, all the players were talking about where they were watching the matches that afternoon.

You really are talking absolute rubbish.

I use my time wisely doing important useful things.

This makes you sound utterly ridiculous. Even more so as you aren't saying what all these "important useful things" are.

Show quote history

My useful things are:

  1. my fitness
  2. my online & offline studying (to progress with my career and increase my income)
  3. basic housework catch up on weekends and days off
  4. sometimes grocery/food shopping if needed
  5. my planning (holidays, days out, important things for me to do and achieve)
  6. my life goals review - short-term (up to 1 year), middle-term (3-5 years), long-term (5-10 years).
  7. having my daily fresh air on my weekends off and days off
OP posts:
pizzaHeart · 28/02/2023 09:08

Successgirl2022 · Yesterday 21:03
I never do.
I use my time wisely doing important useful things.
Amd what are these things? Would you be ok with him sleeping on the sofa for hours/ watching news/ reading poems? It seems it’s only watching sport you have problems with .

DanseAvecLesLoup · 28/02/2023 09:16

Successgirl2022 · 28/02/2023 09:07

My useful things are:

  1. my fitness
  2. my online & offline studying (to progress with my career and increase my income)
  3. basic housework catch up on weekends and days off
  4. sometimes grocery/food shopping if needed
  5. my planning (holidays, days out, important things for me to do and achieve)
  6. my life goals review - short-term (up to 1 year), middle-term (3-5 years), long-term (5-10 years).
  7. having my daily fresh air on my weekends off and days off
Show quote history

Christ, you sound like some Poundshop life coach.

Sunshineandflipflops · 28/02/2023 13:07

my planning (holidays, days out, important things for me to do and achieve)
my life goals review - short-term (up to 1 year), middle-term (3-5 years), long-term (5-10 years).

See, you sound boring to me.
I do all of the other thigs you list, work full time, am a single parent AND exercise regularly. Yet I still also enjoy watching tv in the evenings too. Not everything has to be 'interesting' and 'important' to be enjoyable and maybe your partner is just getting older and enjoying relaxing a little more. He is almost 20 years older than when you met him and already quite a lot older than you to begin with.

CoinsinaJar · 28/02/2023 13:11

My DH (retired and in his 70's) can - and does - sit and watch sport all day long. It's his choice, but it would bore me tears.

BitOutOfPractice · 28/02/2023 13:13

@DanseAvecLesLoup i am totally stealing “pound shop life coach”. It’s genius!

cassiatwenty · 28/02/2023 14:28

Successgirl2022 · 28/02/2023 09:07

My useful things are:

  1. my fitness
  2. my online & offline studying (to progress with my career and increase my income)
  3. basic housework catch up on weekends and days off
  4. sometimes grocery/food shopping if needed
  5. my planning (holidays, days out, important things for me to do and achieve)
  6. my life goals review - short-term (up to 1 year), middle-term (3-5 years), long-term (5-10 years).
  7. having my daily fresh air on my weekends off and days off
Show quote history

OP, that's a great list, you seem like a confident person who has a life outside your relationship.

You don't need anyone's approval on how valid or invalid your life choices are to people you don't know. You do you. If you want a fit guy, then it's your goal. Nobody knows you better than yourself and what makes you happy 👍

P.S. I loved your affirmations on another thread 🥤😎