WE GET IT. YOU EXERCISE. YAWN
Talk to me about your exercising. Except, please don’t.
If I have to read one more tweet or Facebook update about the run you just went on, I think I may throw this can of Diet Coke at the screen.
Now before you wipe off your sweaty brow and come-a-hating over on my ever-expanding arse, hear me out.
I understand that you must exercise to maintain the temple that is your body and that organic quinoa must be delicious because you keep banging on about it, but really…
Can you do it without spreading your shining, glorious goodness to all that are forced to listen?
I understand that you have downloaded apps on your iPhone to track your progress that is then linked to your Twitter account so you can smugly share it with the world but I have to ask, apart from yourself, do you really think that anyone else is that interested?
The thing is, change rooms are at the gym for that very reason. To change out of your gym gear into normal clothes so we do not have to see you at the café later ordering a skim soy chai late in your Lorna Jane ensemble.
We get it. You exercise and look fabulous.
Perhaps it’s time to fight fire with fire – squat with chocolate block, stair master with white wine. You just ran 10km? Fabulous, I just ate a pizza. Guess who had more fun? I don’t understand the need to Preach the gospel of push-ups.
Is exercise the new religion? I mean I never hear people starting a conversation with “I went to mass today and man, I am tired. But I feel really focused and beat both my own and Jesus’s personal best in the kneeling stakes…”.
If being virtuous is a competitive sport, then apparently sport is the most competitive virtue.
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52 Responses to this article
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divert June 19, 2012
So aptly put. From someone that has I’ll fated attempts at exercise I hate others banging on about it. Although out of the four blog posts I ever wrote, the one about me running go the most comments.. I felt like I lured them under false pretenses.
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Reannon June 19, 2012
I agree!! Please, I’d rather us not talk if all you want to go on about is your exercise regime, especially if your just starting out!!! I’m pleased your getting fit & healthy but you should be pleased I’ve just found a new cookie recipe because it means that at least when you come to my place there is always something good to have on your ” cheat day”….
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kim at allconsuming June 19, 2012
I’m hanging my head in shame.
But, but , but…
It’s just such a miracle that I’m doing it at all. It’s the incredulity of it that makes me shout it from the rooftop.
I’m also an eater so perhaps I am redeemed. Just a little?
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Vanessa June 19, 2012
This reminds me of a comment I read yesterday from a West Australian complaining about eastern staters giving away footy scores or The Voice results or whatever online 2 hours before they’ve been able to see it for themselves. I say take responsibility for what you read! Get away from the damn computer if you don’t want to know the result. Unfollow the tweeter who tweets too much about exercise or simply scroll past the offending tweet/status update.
Like ppl who complain about receiving texts too late at night. Turn your phone on silent before you go to bed! Don’t want to get notifications about someone’s top score on Cafe World or how many crops another ‘friend’ has on FarmVille? Change your options so all those updates are hidden.
Take responsibility for what you read online!!! You have the power.
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Lisa B June 19, 2012
Hmmm, I’m guilty of both. I eat those delicious chocolate chip cookies from Woolworths (a lot of them) and run. I feel the same as you do when people tweet what they’ve baked and post pictures. I hate baking and cooking with a passion. But I made a pavlova once for a Masterchef competition (a show I have never watched) and it WORKED. I Facebooked it and stuff. So proud. I guess that’s how I feel about running, I cannot even believe that in my mid 40s I can even put one foot in front of the other.
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Veggie Mama June 19, 2012
Oh my god the linked app. Can’t stand it.
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jillU June 19, 2012
If you don’t want to hear of their life, don’t read or befriend them. I absolutely HATE the almost daily ones that tell me someone has a red wine (or similar) – you’re a lush, good on you!! The exercise ones at least are doing something positive, I know my friends who live away have inspired me to keep going (or get started) on the long journey to health.
Sorry to disagree Mrs Woog but you must feel something or you wouldn’t be banging on about it, really crap read today, maybe a run would clear your head!
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Mrs Woog June 19, 2012
Can you recommend a good ap for that?
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Valerie Parv June 19, 2012
Is gym one-up-womanship the only culprit? Do we really need blow by blow accounts of the minutae of everybody’s lives? Don’t we have enough trouble managing our own? I tweet, blog and Facebook because authors are expected to have an “online presence” and I love Twitter because it’s so quick. But I rarely post about my daily life – that would bore even me. And Vanessa, you’re so right about turning off. It;’s an often-overlooked option. Exercising mine now (not my bod) so I can get some writing done.
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Fiona June 19, 2012
I’m gonna keep posting my runkeeper to twitter and Facebook :p
Seriously though I have many people and we comment on each others unkeeper updates and cheer each other on
I love it.
And fitness is one of my blog topics according to my header anyway
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VRog June 19, 2012
I’ve been guilty of posting gym statuses in the past but recently stopped because I realised how boring it was! For me and my Facebook friends. And I just don’t think I could take the inevitable comments when my statuses from the gym started to dwindle along with my motivation LOL.
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Parental Parody June 19, 2012
Nail. Head. ‘Nuff said.
Bravo Mrs Woog, as always you have nailed it and tested my poorly pelvic floor muscles. The ones I never exercised.I admit, I’m a bit partial to a treadmill or the pool – in my dreams, while tucked up in bed at 5am and not donning lycra for a gym session.
I can live with my tuckshop arms thank you very much. The wingspan provides a nice backdrop to a dramatic raising of the wine glass.
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Michaela C June 19, 2012
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. I love you Mrs Woog.
I get that part of setting a goal is making it public (harder to give up if there’s shame involved I guess) but yeah. Yawn. Pass the bubbles please…
x
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bigwords June 19, 2012
Exercise updates are so boring. Carbs on the other are not x
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Mum of Adult Kids June 19, 2012
I don’t talk about my exercise regime, mostly because it is non-existant! But I do talk about eating pizza, and drinking wine, mostly because I do that alot.
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Ladylikestodance June 19, 2012
I agree Mrs Wong, wow me upon your entrance.
My pet hate is just as the besties are all together about to eat, someone mentions that dirty, four letter word – diet.
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Eloise June 19, 2012
Isn’t the whole point of social media sharing things about your life? Why not share things that might actually positively influence others?
How is tweeting or facebooking about exercise any more boring than hearing about how many times someones baby has pooed or how many glasses of wine they have had, or how annoying their husband is?
Why shouldn’t people be proud about their achievements? Not everyone is gloating, not everyone is some pretentious socialite tweeting about their macro vegan gluten free diet and whatever exercise trend it hot right now…
some of us are just normal people, starting out for the first time, or recovering from an injury, or just doing something POSITIVE and taking accountability for improving their life and health. For many people, twitter is a great way of connecting with like-minded people and staying motivated. Why should they be shot down?
it’s good that people are taking responsibility for their health. And considering the state of Australia’s public health, if this has a positive effect on others and encourages them to do the same, well thats fantastic.
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The Huntress June 19, 2012
I am personally very suspicious of people who exercise, it’s like they belong to some weird cult who believe they have ascended above all other mere mortals. They have a lofty superiority, as if to say that because they ran however far, in a terriblee outfit, they are now a deity and I am supposed to worship the concrete they pounded.
Yeah, um, sure. I guess there is a reason all my friends are hard drinking, chaotic, amoral wenches. They’re way more fun to hang out with.
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Tara June 19, 2012
I used to be a fat, miserable, jealous and unhealthy person. I didn’t exercise, I didn’t care about my weight and my career as a nurse was being threatened due to severe pain and back injuries. Then I found a group of women on twitter that encouraged me to become healthy and join a gym. Initially I wasn’t into it. I was still eating too much, I hated my personal trainer and going to the gym was the most frightening thing I could think of doing.
Now through the support of many people I have never even met on twitter- I have managed to lose 6 kgs in weight, drop a dress size, eat more nutritious foods and feel happier in myself.
I choose to be healthy. I have a career that requires me to be fit and strong, I have a major colon cancer risk and I don’t want to die young from obesity related disease.
Tweeting and talking about exercise has greatly improved my whole life. I am very proud of my weight loss and exercise efforts and will continue to tweet about exercise.
And as Eloise says, there are numerous other users I follow on twitter that tweet about things that bore me like when being intoxicated, their boring photos of dumplings and child related tweets- totally boring but these people also have other things to say that I enjoy hearing about.
I am glad I am not one of those people that have a problem with others celebrating their efforts.
Enjoy your carbs and pizza ladies.-
Michaela June 23, 2012
Go you, Tara! *internet hi-5*
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edenland June 19, 2012
Mrs Woog, on the weekend I went for a two-hour walk. It was EXTRAORDINARY. And beautiful. And I feel better for it. But I didn’t tell anyone about it, only because I was mainlining some macaroni cheese a few hours later so they cancelled each other out. (It was maths.)
You know who is a huge culprit of this? Russell Crowe. Oh my lord I had to unfollow him from twitter. He’d say things like, “Three sets 100X pushups, 5k run, squats.”
What kind of a tweet is that, Rusty. WHAT?!
I really, really need to go for a jog now. *Lifts cakie to face*
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Claireyhewitt June 19, 2012
I am guilty of such tweets. Not even automated! Last week, I managed to send one because it had been a year since the last one and I was able to run for 4 minutes. Sorry, I know, it isn’t much, but 4 minutes non stop running it is a big deal to me.
However I have a list of tweets that I hate reading about, I have unfollowed many people at times for the following:
STAR SIGN Tweets – I don’t care what Gemini is getting tomorrow.
Cats – I hate cats, I don’t want my Instagram filled with foul furry disease carrying feral pests, some are ok, not hundreds.
Check ins – I don’t need to know exactly where you are, unless you are in my driveway for an unorganised catchup.
I also dislike anti Delta tweets, there were many last night, I don’t get it, I think the world needs more talented, tall, amazing voiceed, cancer fighting, good hearted, beautiful people. But hey, that’s just me – I can’t unfollow every one though, I might have no one left.
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Caz Makepeace June 19, 2012
I think really live and let live. Let people do what they want to do and quit judging and talking about them.
I love you Mrs Woogs and I get your point but these sort of posts just cause division and open up a space for people to spew forth more venom at others who are different to them. I know you’ve been on the receiving end of it enough in the past month to understand what its like, which is why I’m surprised and I am trying to find the jest in it.
I’ve been exercising a lot lately and changing my eating habits. I don’t really talk much about it socially but I have written a couple of blog posts because I know it will help people.
After just going through my fourth surgery this year last week and suffering right now, I know if I don’t get my health in order life will become pretty boring for me.
I exercise but I sure don’t think I’m boring and I could out drink almost anyone!There are so many tweets and updates I see that I’m not interested in, in all sorts of topics. Just turn the ignore filters on and let people do what they want to do without trying to poke fun at them or tear them down. It’s just different perspectives, no one is right or wrong.
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Maureen Steele June 19, 2012
How true!!
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Lisa Aherne June 19, 2012
An FF and I work out with a personal trainer twice a week and I absolutely love it. It makes me feel good and is whittling cms off my frame. I also love my food and enjoy cooking, though not baking. Baking has me bluffed, never been any good at it. Chocolate will do just fine thanks (but not tooooo much). Bubbles are a part of my life, as is a glass of red. Don’t see why we can’t have it all. And never mind about what anyone else does, that is up to them!
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Lexi June 19, 2012
As always, you mange to make me laugh Mrs W.
But,
I agree with both Tara and Eloise.
My life was in jeopardy at my old weight and lifestyle, since following and interacting with others who keep me accountable I have lost 28kgs in just over a year.
I still have a fair way to go but after spending time with these people and them cheering me on, it’s not about weight loss anymore – I don’t want to be skinny, I want to be strong and fit.There are too many obesity related conditions now, not just physical problems, but mental ones too. So, yes, I may over share to those I think are my friends, but if one of my tweets encourages someone else to get off the couch and help themselves than I think it’s worth it.
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Mrs Woog June 19, 2012
Serious kudos for the weigh loss Lexi, and for giving me a different perspective xx
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Lexi June 19, 2012
Thanks Mrs Woog
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She's Sonic June 19, 2012
I don’t bother posting my exercise updates because I’m the most inconsistent exerciser out!! That, and who cares if I have or haven’t exercised. If I have or haven’t had a glass of wine. If I have or haven’t washed my hair in 5 days*. Social media is all about sharing as much or as little as you want. Take it all with a grain of salt…on a nice thick crusty piece of bread!!
* I currently don’t have a bathroom thanks to our renovation.**
** Yes I do shower everyday somewhere other than home. -
Tink June 19, 2012
Its also a pet peeve of mine, that while trying to better yourself, extend lifespan, raise money for charity, and push yourself, that anyone thinks that’s a bad thing.
Yes, I ran a 10k and I’m bloody proud of it. It wasn’t easy and I’m not a goddess ramming it down anyone’s throat. I do have an app for that, but how is telling anyone I just ran 5 miles any different to blogging your opinions.
I congratulate and support anyone doing anything to better themselves however that may be, and if it’s not excercise related, I don’t care. If my news feed is clogged with stories of Mr Grey, or tv shows someone’s watched, I don’t complain.
I’ve found in my new world of exercise, which I do btw to escape the stress of a job, 3 kids all with special needs, as well as many other things, that my friends are now split in to two categories.
Those that are infinitely better than me and don’t see my achievements as much, and those that don’t exercise and never say anything because they assume I think I’m better.
I think it’s sad that you can’t better yourself by exercise, or anything else fir that matter, without others thinking its wrong.
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Tina ~ Tina Gray {dot} Me June 19, 2012
Mrs Woog, I love you. You know that. I am currently on a mission to lose over 50kg. I have lost almost 15 so far and I find that not only does putting my goals and little achievements out there for the interwebs to see keeps me accountable, but it also has encouraged others to take that first step to doing something for themselves, if the emails and messages I have received are anything to go by.
I skim over many tweets and fb statuses about stuff that bores me or doesn’t interest me but each to their own.
Looking forward to those Vodkas
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Dorothy @ Singular Insanity June 19, 2012
Don’t like it, don’t read it. Pretty simple?
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Mrs Woog June 21, 2012
Totally get that… A bit like this column?
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Mummy_Blogger June 19, 2012
Lots of things annoy me on twitter, hell even I annoyed me on twitter thats why I closed down my account. Endless photos of kids in tutus annoy me, begging tweets asking for sponsorship annoy me, masterchef annoys me. SO Many Of The Things Annoy Me. There is an unfollow button for a reason. #useitfreely
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SD June 19, 2012
Do you remember when people could write an amusing opinion piece about a non threatening topic and people just had a laugh. Those were some good times.
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Mrs Woog June 19, 2012
Oh those were the days! X
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kelli June 19, 2012
oh so true, so true!
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@ladysmaggle June 19, 2012
I have to say I’m totally guilty of this but with good reason.
I use the NIKE Plus app and when I post my run to facebook, I CAN ACTUALLY HEAR CHEERING IN MY EARPHONES WHEN SOMEONE LIKES MY RUN! It’s so motivating and I literally do a little jig of joy every time I hear the cheers.
I’m like Tinkerbell, Woog! I DIE without applause.
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Mrs P23 June 19, 2012
I think the chronic over-sharers of just tiny, itty bitty details in their day are far worse Mrs Woog. Must we? Honestly?
I don’t need to know about your freaking papercut and see a photo about it on Facebook. And then have you update us with your papercut numerous times.
I know you can cut this stuff out of your feed, but that aside, it just feels so self indulgent. Get over yourself peeps.
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Lee-Anne Grosvenor June 19, 2012
How sad the sisterhood can’t stick together and support each others journeys whether cooking exercising or feeding your face or whatever…Working or staying at home yada yada Sorry if my journey tracked on run keeper from exercise no where to a few state titles at 40 is offensive. Don’t feel sorry for me it’s actually an uplifting and empowering part of my day. surely it takes a millisecond to simply skip to
The next tweet…-
Missjane June 19, 2012
Well said Lee-Anne. Mrs Woog, your article was really negative
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Mrs Woog June 19, 2012
I agree. Sometimes I am all not sunshine and lollipops an rainbows. X
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Natalie @ MummySmiles June 19, 2012
Live and let live eh? Can’t say the bazillion photos of wine glasses held by beautifully manicured nails or the bottles of oh-so-posh Moet are any more enthralling but it’s people’s lives and I appreciate that they want to share it with the world.
Have to agree with Eden about Rusty though – I unfollowed for the same reason. Too much Russ, just too much. -
Benison O'Reilly June 19, 2012
I was at lunch the other day with one of these very people. She was going on and an on about how she was now running in her work lunch hour & had built up to 7km and was working towards City to Surf blah, blah..
Because I didn’t know her well I listened politely, until her friend interrupted her to pour some more wine and said, ‘We don’t want to listen to you going on about your training. It’s boring.’ Priceless!
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Mrs Woog June 21, 2012
I would love to have lunch with your friend. She sounds sublime. Xx
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Mary Longford June 22, 2012
Ooooh I loved this article and I am a six day a week exerciser. I don’t feel the need to share my physical activities with the rest of the world and when I see those updates come through on friend’s pages I actually think…”You ran 3.5kms…is that all?!” Hahahahaha. Who cares if you ran 2 or 10……and i hate regular people referring to their exercise regime as “training”
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Seana Smith June 22, 2012
A good topic for taking the mick, because people who exercise can take themselves far too seriously. I should know as I am one!! But like allconsuming above, I am just AMAZED that my old body can move at all and so a 15 minute shuffle is a deep thrill.
But I’d never link an app to my social media wotsits… how vulgar!
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Rex June 23, 2012
Oh my god, yes…..
And those annoying instagramers. Posting photos of lattes all day and boring shit of cute kids and…. Photos of holes in the ground where they are about to burry a dead hen….. Oh hang on, that’s me!
I laugh at myself every day, cause I annoy myself so bad.
It’s kinda good to laugh at yourself. Remember…
And I am one of those annoying ones that don’t DO twitter or FB, beyond my brain capacity really… But having updates of everyones movements would drive me mental!
Great read Mrs Woog. X
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Ruth June 28, 2012
I exercise, and I tweet and Facebook it. Runkeeper, fitocracy, give me a good bragging forum and I’m there, baby!
I started living healthy in August last year, with major health issues and staring down the barrel of 100kg. I’m now in the low 70s. And I feel (and look, may I just say!) Fabulous, baby! I’ve been obese since I was 18 and now, at 43, I’m not.
Tell you what, Mrs Woog. How about when we’re in our 80s, I’ll bring my slightly saggy but skinny arse (and a good bottle of red) down to the nursing home, in my Lorna Jane leggings, and we can drink it while reminiscing about the old times? I’ll lift myself up out of the chair without using my arms, and pat you patronisingly on the arm, and leave you there in your recliner. What do you reckon?
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Melissa P June 28, 2012
Too funny! Couldn’t agree more Mrs Woog! I actually own a snazzy Lorna Jane number but have a phobia of being seen in public in exercise gear so it never leaves the house. I copped a similar amount of abuse on a fb post recently when I asked why people can’t throw a track suit on after exercising. I love reading about the minitiae of my friends daily life but to be honest the exercising stuff bores me to tears.
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NoComment of Nunawading December 16, 2012
Mrs. Woog, I know this is an old article, but I’ve just read it and feel compelled to comment… I’m with you 100%! I just don’t care about anyone’s exercise regime – I’m not overweight, I’m just right actually, but I won’t boe you with how I got that way
However, just have to share with you a couple of experiences with “boot-camping, Bikram yoga devotees”… On and on and on they went, until finally (just after reaching breaking point – oh how I wish I’d leave the conversation “just before”), I burst out laughing, uncontrollably laughing. When I calmed down and answered the inevitable “what are you laughing at”?, I blurted out my total disbelief, accusing this “former” friend of either trying to wind me up, or getting seriously ripped off… ‘Cos it sure as hell didn’t look like she’d lifted a finger, let alone a weight, in decades… clearly not working, I said.
Good-bye old friend, hello joyous days totally free of “world championship exercise bragging”.
Honestly, unless the results are as clear as the bloody nose on your face, wouldn’t it be a better idea to keep that particular failure to yourself?
Cheers Mrs. W, another great read!
