Welcome to Debate Club! Please be aware that this is a space for respectful debate, and that your ideas will be challenged here. Please remember to critique the argument, not the author.
We are pleased to announce that as of March 4, 2025, an updated Rich Text Editor has been introduced in the MyFitnessPal Community. To learn more about the changes, please click here. We look forward to sharing this new feature with you!
Finding time to Exercise
Replies
-
Christine_72 wrote: »
I've never seen a second of game of thrones, I heard it's more soft porn than anything, plus i'm not into medi- evil type shows/movies.
I really didn't know what it was about so looked it up. I'm more sure than ever I'm not missing anything.0 -
Packerjohn wrote: »
I really didn't know what it was about so looked it up. I'm more sure than ever I'm not missing anything.
Ha, me neither!
0 -
Christine_72 wrote: »I've never seen a second of game of thrones, I heard it's more soft porn than anything, plus i'm not into medi- evil type shows/movies.
You heard right. There's some violence thrown in for good measure, though.
My honey read the books and enjoys the show. She expects me to watch with her. When she introduced it, it was "you'll like this show, there are a lot of breasts." That was an understatement.
Of course, we started it while I was recovering from a car vs bike accident, with a minor concussion (I was on the bike), so I found the plot somewhat difficult to follow.
Personally, I'd rather be outside.3 -
NorthCascades wrote: »
You heard right. There's some violence thrown in for good measure, though.
My honey read the books and enjoys the show. She expects me to watch with her. When she introduced it, it was "you'll like this show, there are a lot of breasts." That was an understatement.
Of course, we started it while I was recovering from a car vs bike accident, with a minor concussion (I was on the bike), so I found the plot somewhat difficult to follow.
Personally, I'd rather be outside.
Precisely why i'll never watch it, and especially not with my husband!
0 -
I went and looked at the details of that Nielson report. "Screen time" was not limited to off-work time, it included time on the internet at work. It also oddly included all time listening to radio no matter where you go. So today I had a total of 40 minutes commuting. The radio was on the entire time. Therefore, that was 40 minutes of "screen time" according to this study. Radio alone accounted for more than 20% of the time Americans spent consuming media. They also included time listening to online radio and music through your PC, television or smartphone. All of this makes the study make a whole lot more sense and be dramatically less alarming.
Overall they said the "average time" spent watching TV or movies or browsing the internet was about 4.3 hours a day, not 7, which was really the "time spent consuming media in all its forms", and even that wasn't exclusive use of media (whole attention). Talk about misleading headlines.
In fact, if you walk listening to a radio or streaming audio, or even listening to mp3s on your cell phone; or work out in a gym with a TV or radio on, congratulations, 100% of that time was "screen time" the way this silly news article was written.
8 -
I went and looked at the details of that Nielson report. "Screen time" was not limited to off-work time, it included time on the internet at work. It also oddly included all time listening to radio no matter where you go. So today I had a total of 40 minutes commuting. The radio was on the entire time. Therefore, that was 40 minutes of "screen time" according to this study. Radio alone accounted for more than 20% of the time Americans spent consuming media. They also included time listening to online radio and music through your PC, television or smartphone. All of this makes the study make a whole lot more sense and be dramatically less alarming.
Overall they said the "average time" spent watching TV or movies or browsing the internet was about 4.3 hours a day, not 7, which was really the "time spent consuming media in all its forms", and even that wasn't exclusive use of media (whole attention). Talk about misleading headlines.
In fact, if you walk listening to a radio or streaming audio, or even listening to mp3s on your cell phone; or work out in a gym with a TV or radio on, congratulations, 100% of that time was "screen time" the way this silly news article was written.
Ohhh wow, when you put it that way that's 2 hours of "screen time" per day for me as I listen to my podcasts on breaks, on lunch, in my car, and on my runs!0 -
I went and looked at the details of that Nielson report. "Screen time" was not limited to off-work time, it included time on the internet at work. It also oddly included all time listening to radio no matter where you go. So today I had a total of 40 minutes commuting. The radio was on the entire time. Therefore, that was 40 minutes of "screen time" according to this study. Radio alone accounted for more than 20% of the time Americans spent consuming media. They also included time listening to online radio and music through your PC, television or smartphone. All of this makes the study make a whole lot more sense and be dramatically less alarming.
Overall they said the "average time" spent watching TV or movies or browsing the internet was about 4.3 hours a day, not 7, which was really the "time spent consuming media in all its forms", and even that wasn't exclusive use of media (whole attention). Talk about misleading headlines.
In fact, if you walk listening to a radio or streaming audio, or even listening to mp3s on your cell phone; or work out in a gym with a TV or radio on, congratulations, 100% of that time was "screen time" the way this silly news article was written.
Well, that's just ridiculous.
TIL that 100% of my exercise time is also screen time.0 -
I went and looked at the details of that Nielson report. "Screen time" was not limited to off-work time, it included time on the internet at work. It also oddly included all time listening to radio no matter where you go. So today I had a total of 40 minutes commuting. The radio was on the entire time. Therefore, that was 40 minutes of "screen time" according to this study. Radio alone accounted for more than 20% of the time Americans spent consuming media. They also included time listening to online radio and music through your PC, television or smartphone. All of this makes the study make a whole lot more sense and be dramatically less alarming.
Overall they said the "average time" spent watching TV or movies or browsing the internet was about 4.3 hours a day, not 7, which was really the "time spent consuming media in all its forms", and even that wasn't exclusive use of media (whole attention). Talk about misleading headlines.
In fact, if you walk listening to a radio or streaming audio, or even listening to mp3s on your cell phone; or work out in a gym with a TV or radio on, congratulations, 100% of that time was "screen time" the way this silly news article was written.
I believe the article said not work related.
Still don't think 4.3 hours of screen time a day is anything to be proud of, especially since 80% of Americans don't spare the 30-40 minutes a day needed for the exercise recommended by the CDC.
0 -
@Packerjohn that time was nor exclusive, though. Having the tv on in the morning while getting the kids ready for school, packing lunches, eating breakfast etc counts. Even though most wouldn't be vegged out on the couch.0
-
You either make time or you don't, simple as that. Everyone is busy. You either make time or make excuses. I've been guilty of making excuses before, it doesn't get you anywhere.
Everyone's schedule is different, but you should be able to find 1-2 hours a week at a minimum that you can do something like walk, jog, yoga, weight lifting, etc. My wife and I both work, we have two little kids, and we still find time to exercise.
It's not always easy and some weeks you don't get much in, but it's either that or give in and just accept being fat and out of shape.2 -
lemurcat12 wrote: »
Me too, with 6 being what feels good to me, 4 what I've learned to get by on, and under 4 when I feel awful.
I am trying to sleep more because I think one issue is that you start thinking something is normal and don't realize that sleeping more would make you feel better, but it's tough for me. Right now I'm just really focusing on trying to regularly get 6, and I am amazed that I feel better (and eating well is also easier and I tend to react less poorly to stress).
Oh I KNOW it's not normal. It's sucks but it's just where I'm at right now. I'm working towards being able to retire from my day job in the next 5 years and being able to do my other job full time. That would be much healthier for me for so many different reasons, including seeing sunshine more lol. I'm like you though, 6 is doable, 4 is passable, less I feel like absolute crap. On weekends i try to get more sleep though to help my body out a bit.
1 -
Christine_72 wrote: »
I've never seen a second of game of thrones, I heard it's more soft porn than anything, plus i'm not into medi- evil type shows/movies.
Hahaha yes there is sex but no it's not soft core porn. It's wonderfully complex, but I also read the books long before the tv show came out. But yeah, if you're not into historical fantasy then it's understandable it wouldn't be your thing. Like, I'm not a RealHousewives, or Kardashians type person so I've never watched those shows because I'm not into that kind of drama, but I know they're insanely popular, just not for me. *shrug*
5 -
MsHarryWinston wrote: »
Hahaha yes there is sex but no it's not soft core porn. It's wonderfully complex, but I also read the books long before the tv show came out. But yeah, if you're not into historical fantasy then it's understandable it wouldn't be your thing. Like, I'm not a RealHousewives, or Kardashians type person so I've never watched those shows because I'm not into that kind of drama, but I know they're insanely popular, just not for me. *shrug*
Historical fantasy books are my jam, but I found those hard work and just couldn't read them. That's why I've never been interested in watching the show.0 -
Packerjohn wrote: »
I believe the article said not work related.
Still don't think 4.3 hours of screen time a day is anything to be proud of, especially since 80% of Americans don't spare the 30-40 minutes a day needed for the exercise recommended by the CDC.
I spend well over 2 hours a day engaged in some sort of activity and that would also be included in those screen time figures, though because I'm also listening to either the radio or podcasts.
Also, as tomteboda noted, I'm someone who has the tv on in the morning to hear the news and weather while I'm making beds and breakfast for the family. I'm hardly parking my butt on the couch.
I don't think those figures are a totally reliable metric for automatically assuming that screen time = sedentary time.2 -
MsHarryWinston wrote: »
Hahaha yes there is sex but no it's not soft core porn. It's wonderfully complex, but I also read the books long before the tv show came out. But yeah, if you're not into historical fantasy then it's understandable it wouldn't be your thing. Like, I'm not a RealHousewives, or Kardashians type person so I've never watched those shows because I'm not into that kind of drama, but I know they're insanely popular, just not for me. *shrug*
I'm with you on all of this. Its also nice to have a show that others watch to talk about, since common shows are less common now than they used to be. (Also agree on Housewives, etc., except even though they are popular no one I know watches them -- they do watch some other shows I haven't gotten to yet, like Fargo and Saul).
Game of Thrones is what, 10 hours of a year, so I can't imagine it is anyone's reason for not exercising, although it personally would not be my choice for treadmill watching! ;-) We always have a Game of Thrones themed meal at least once during a season too -- there's a restaurant here that does one that I'd like to go to this coming year if they redo it, but I'm a geek. I read all the books on the L when going to work, so did it by multitasking!
I'm really not sure what the point is of the "Americans have a lot of screen time so have time to exercise." I haven't noticed one person in this discussion, not one, claiming that he or she lacks time to exercise the recommended amount per week. Didn't it start because someone said her TDEE was reasonably high for her size and then what struck me as judgy comments were made about the time she must spend on exercise.5 -
GottaBurnEmAll wrote: »
I spend well over 2 hours a day engaged in some sort of activity and that would also be included in those screen time figures, though because I'm also listening to either the radio or podcasts.
Also, as tomteboda noted, I'm someone who has the tv on in the morning to hear the news and weather while I'm making beds and breakfast for the family. I'm hardly parking my butt on the couch.
I don't think those figures are a totally reliable metric for automatically assuming that screen time = sedentary time.
My parents have the TV on 24/7 (well, not when they are in bed, but my dad will get up in the middle of the night, go into the living room, and go back to sleep with the TV on). I always wonder if stats like that get included in these.
They don't sit in front of the TV. My mom is mostly multitasking -- she's not terribly mobile due to health problems (not weight-related), and among the activities that she does while their TV is on are her physical therapy exercises, and practice walking around the house and up and down these three stairs. They cook with it on. It's on when my father is in his office learning Spanish and painting (they are retired) or doing the work-related projects he still takes on. (He also goes out and runs and rides his bike and recently did a half marathon at 73.)
The TV thing drives me up the wall (especially since it's often Fox, although sometimes old movies, and they like basketball), because I really dislike it being background all the time, but I don't live there, not my business, it has 0 to do with their exercise time (both of them exercised regularly when I was growing up).0 -
lemurcat12 wrote: »
I'm with you on all of this. Its also nice to have a show that others watch to talk about, since common shows are less common now than they used to be. (Also agree on Housewives, etc., except even though they are popular no one I know watches them -- they do watch some other shows I haven't gotten to yet, like Fargo and Saul).
Game of Thrones is what, 10 hours of a year, so I can't imagine it is anyone's reason for not exercising, although it personally would not be my choice for treadmill watching! ;-) We always have a Game of Thrones themed meal at least once during a season too -- there's a restaurant here that does one that I'd like to go to this coming year if they redo it, but I'm a geek. I read all the books on the L when going to work, so did it by multitasking!
I'm really not sure what the point is of the "Americans have a lot of screen time so have time to exercise." I haven't noticed one person in this discussion, not one, claiming that he or she lacks time to exercise the recommended amount per week. Didn't it start because someone said her TDEE was reasonably high for her size and then what struck me as judgy comments were made about the time she must spend on exercise.
Yes it started with jealous people taking someone down for having time to exercise, lol.8 -
Yes it started with jealous people taking someone down for having time to exercise, lol.
I missed this but that's sad and a damn shame. Smh.2 -
GottaBurnEmAll wrote: »
Historical fantasy books are my jam, but I found those hard work and just couldn't read them. That's why I've never been interested in watching the show.
Oh good, I'm not alone! I tried reading the first book after my aunt raved about it a few years back. I think I started it about 6 times before I finally gave up
0 -
"I tried to be kind in going back and clarifying my position but you don't want to bother. You seem to be projecting and feel the need to attack others. That's on you. You seem to still be stuck on the assumption that I exercise three hours per day; I'm not rehashing that again. Never once did I write that anyone who doesn't walk 8 miles per day is lazy. I wrote the following:
I work full time and have a busy life but I make the time. Most people find the time to watch TV or sit at their computers/on their phone for hours a day but claim not to have time to exercise. Most people aren't as active and that's okay. They drive everywhere and have desk jobs. They can lose their weight on 1200 to 1500. I prefer an active lifestyle."
@Maxematics Stop apologizing. If people only want to read what suits them, that is up to them.
You do what you do, and it works for you. Amazingly well I might add, if others want to bring it down to hide or justify a possible lack of commitment, that is their loss.
4 -
I went and looked at the details of that Nielson report. "Screen time" was not limited to off-work time, it included time on the internet at work. It also oddly included all time listening to radio no matter where you go. So today I had a total of 40 minutes commuting. The radio was on the entire time. Therefore, that was 40 minutes of "screen time" according to this study. Radio alone accounted for more than 20% of the time Americans spent consuming media. They also included time listening to online radio and music through your PC, television or smartphone. All of this makes the study make a whole lot more sense and be dramatically less alarming.
Overall they said the "average time" spent watching TV or movies or browsing the internet was about 4.3 hours a day, not 7, which was really the "time spent consuming media in all its forms", and even that wasn't exclusive use of media (whole attention). Talk about misleading headlines.
In fact, if you walk listening to a radio or streaming audio, or even listening to mp3s on your cell phone; or work out in a gym with a TV or radio on, congratulations, 100% of that time was "screen time" the way this silly news article was written.
Including radio/music would definitely sever any link between screen time and lack of exercise. I suppose the statistic would still have some value but it would say nothing about time for exercise.0 -
GottaBurnEmAll wrote: »
I spend well over 2 hours a day engaged in some sort of activity and that would also be included in those screen time figures, though because I'm also listening to either the radio or podcasts.
Also, as tomteboda noted, I'm someone who has the tv on in the morning to hear the news and weather while I'm making beds and breakfast for the family. I'm hardly parking my butt on the couch.
I don't think those figures are a totally reliable metric for automatically assuming that screen time = sedentary time.
Maybe music 'screen time' does prevent me from exercising.
Saturday we hauled a full size pickup bed full of compost to the garden gate and then spent the day shoveling it into 5 gallon buckets and carrying it to fill the new garden beds. It took almost 2 hours of constant shoveling and carrying dirt. The radio was on the whole time. I did have time for exercise later but since I could barely lift my arms to wash my hair I did not. If only I'd turned off the radio!!
9 -
heiliskrimsli wrote: »
A lot of people spend upward of an hour a day commuting each way to a job that involves spending hours in meetings and the rest of that time trying to do the work that gets talked about in meetings. There went 12 hours of my day already. Inside the other 12, everything else has to happen. There are only 24 in a day, after all. Out of the 12 that are not part of either being at work or getting there and back, there's everything else: do the yard work, do the laundry, cook, clean up, do the grocery shopping, take a shower twice a day (after all the sweaty stuff, and before work), eat dinner, find time to exercise, my other activities like photography, have some sort of a social life, and sleep.
That whole thing about how people find the time to watch television 3 hours a day and that's why they're not out walking 8 miles a day? I guess it's easier to think that.
I am an IT Project Manager. I have a high stress job. I am in meetings for a lot of my day plus I have my regular "stuff" to do that my job requires. I sometimes put in 12 hour days, too.
However your "other activities" while they bring great joy to your life I'm sure are what you're prioritizing over exercise. There is nothing wrong with this at all. I am not saying give it all up but that's what some of us do. If I decide to train for a race, I don't have much of a social life because my job, eating properly, sleeping properly, and I have a dog so she needs exercise lol, and my training schedule are important to me. There isn't time for anything else and that's the choice I've made. I am not saying everyone needs to make that choice but we all prioritize what's important to us. We have to - there isn't time for everything we want to do in life.9 -
lemurcat12 wrote: »
I'm with you on all of this. Its also nice to have a show that others watch to talk about, since common shows are less common now than they used to be. (Also agree on Housewives, etc., except even though they are popular no one I know watches them -- they do watch some other shows I haven't gotten to yet, like Fargo and Saul).
Game of Thrones is what, 10 hours of a year, so I can't imagine it is anyone's reason for not exercising, although it personally would not be my choice for treadmill watching! ;-) We always have a Game of Thrones themed meal at least once during a season too -- there's a restaurant here that does one that I'd like to go to this coming year if they redo it, but I'm a geek. I read all the books on the L when going to work, so did it by multitasking!
I'm really not sure what the point is of the "Americans have a lot of screen time so have time to exercise." I haven't noticed one person in this discussion, not one, claiming that he or she lacks time to exercise the recommended amount per week. Didn't it start because someone said her TDEE was reasonably high for her size and then what struck me as judgy comments were made about the time she must spend on exercise.
That's so cool about the meal! For the show premier my husband and I made this huge date night of it and we cooked meat and potatoes (hearty food) and made proper mulled wine, and found chalices to drink it in while we watched episode 1. It was awesome, lol. When we first started dating he said to me "These are my favorite books so you have to read these books otherwise we are breaking up." Hahaha so I read them and ended up loving them. We are both HUGE book nerds so I found the threat hilarious. I haven't convinced him to read Outlander yet but he's agreed to watch the tv show.
4 -
MsHarryWinston wrote: »
That's so cool about the meal! For the show premier my husband and I made this huge date night of it and we cooked meat and potatoes (hearty food) and made proper mulled wine, and found chalices to drink it in while we watched episode 1. It was awesome, lol. When we first started dating he said to me "These are my favorite books so you have to read these books otherwise we are breaking up." Hahaha so I read them and ended up loving them. We are both HUGE book nerds so I found the threat hilarious. I haven't convinced him to read Outlander yet but he's agreed to watch the tv show.
That sounds fun! Hope he likes Outlander too.0 -
lemurcat12 wrote: »
I'm with you on all of this. Its also nice to have a show that others watch to talk about, since common shows are less common now than they used to be. (Also agree on Housewives, etc., except even though they are popular no one I know watches them -- they do watch some other shows I haven't gotten to yet, like Fargo and Saul).
Game of Thrones is what, 10 hours of a year, so I can't imagine it is anyone's reason for not exercising, although it personally would not be my choice for treadmill watching! ;-) We always have a Game of Thrones themed meal at least once during a season too -- there's a restaurant here that does one that I'd like to go to this coming year if they redo it, but I'm a geek. I read all the books on the L when going to work, so did it by multitasking!
I'm really not sure what the point is of the "Americans have a lot of screen time so have time to exercise." I haven't noticed one person in this discussion, not one, claiming that he or she lacks time to exercise the recommended amount per week. Didn't it start because someone said her TDEE was reasonably high for her size and then what struck me as judgy comments were made about the time she must spend on exercise.
Just hoping there's no Red Wedding themed meals...although that could be interesting. Steak tartare, blood pudding, blood orange mojitos...5 -
Christine_72 wrote: »
I've never seen a second of game of thrones, I heard it's more soft porn than anything, plus i'm not into medi- evil type shows/movies.
The books were really fantastic, but there are over 1000 characters! I've never bothered with the series because so much has to be cut out that it doesn't seem worth it.
More on topic:
I don't get how people can commute for a long time, sit at a desk all day, and NOT work out. Lifting after working all day is the key to sanity and not feeling like crap.3 -
Just hoping there's no Red Wedding themed meals...although that could be interesting. Steak tartare, blood pudding, blood orange mojitos...
Heh.
Actually, here's one of the restaurant ones: https://www.eater.com/2015/4/30/8520477/elizabeth-chicago-menu-game-thrones-video
I couldn't do a Red Wedding one, since I knew it was coming, but not everyone did!1 -
@Packerjohn that time was nor exclusive, though. Having the tv on in the morning while getting the kids ready for school, packing lunches, eating breakfast etc counts. Even though most wouldn't be vegged out on the couch.
It's fine if you question the time in the analysis. My point is, IMO, Americans are spending a significant amount of time in front of a screen doing nothing other that watching it (or interacting with it via a keyboard, game controller, etc).
Also IMO, the vast majority of people who say they don't have 30 minutes for exercise a day could carve that out of their exclusive screen time.3 -
Again, no one here is saying they cannot find time to do 30 minutes a day, are they?0
This discussion has been closed.
Categories
- All Categories
- 1.4M Health, Wellness and Goals
- 394.5K Introduce Yourself
- 44K Getting Started
- 260.5K Health and Weight Loss
- 176.1K Food and Nutrition
- 47.5K Recipes
- 232.7K Fitness and Exercise
- 444 Sleep, Mindfulness and Overall Wellness
- 6.5K Goal: Maintaining Weight
- 8.6K Goal: Gaining Weight and Body Building
- 153.1K Motivation and Support
- 8.1K Challenges
- 1.3K Debate Club
- 96.4K Chit-Chat
- 2.5K Fun and Games
- 4.1K MyFitnessPal Information
- 16 News and Announcements
- 1.3K Feature Suggestions and Ideas
- 2.8K MyFitnessPal Tech Support Questions