Exercising once a day?

I seem to recall that this 'once a day' issue came up in the first lockdown and was poo-poohed into submission.

Is that all we need to do then, if there’s any law we don’t like the look of?

I must be the only one who never goes out for exercise - my husband is unable to stand for more than 10 minutes due to sciatica let alone walk anywhere. Why do we have to be made to feel guilty for not wanting to spend hours a day outside walking? A friend reckons she's walked more than 50 marathon in the last year - great - get on with it but don't keep rubbing our noses in the fact we don't want or are able to

Totally agree with Genty.
That's as bad as having to nip to the shops every day.

I suppose that they have to set the rule somewhere: saying once a day may mean people only go out for exercise twice a day!
If you live in an isolated rural location, I can't see any problem with walking your dogs twice a day: it's their needs that are being met by this.
Agreed, a common sense approach is the best one.

I haven't been out of my flat since February when I came out of hospital, apart from 2 trips to hospital for appointments where I was taken by hospital transport.

Callistemon, the fact that "There was no-one else around - my friend, her two dogs and two police officers" would have been because everyone else other than your friend was following the rules and respecting the risk that comes with going out. The police officers probably warned her that she could have been fined, rather than "threatened".

Maybe if, like me, you have to spend eleven hours a day wearing a mask, visor, plastic apron and gloves looking after C-19 victims, you and your friend might be a bit more considerate and, indeed, respectful of the virus.

EllanVannin, what a horrid thing to say about "foreign nationals". If ever you're in hospital, I really hope that no "foreign national" attends to you or cleans around your bed, while you wait for a "local national" to help you.

I think it is perfectly acceptable to walk your dog as you are doing. You are not close to people, you are choosing a rural walk. I think most dog owners would walk their dogs twice a day. Enjoy the fresh air! So good for the soul.

I don’t understand why football matches are still allowed - the players leap all over each other when they score a goal, they spit on the pitch, and I assume they share the same changing room/showers/baths. No wonder so many matches are called off because the players have the virus.

It has only become compulsory since we have all been locked down, Keeper1.

Before COVID19 and lockdowns, anyone who didn't want to exercise didn't have to.

Our little country shut the borders in March, then slowed down flights then insisted that no-one boards a plane to here unless they have a negative PCR. If only UK had insisted on PCRs before entering life would be different in UK.

Is the exercise compulsory?

Asking for a friend.....

I think the whole exercise bit is common sense. Go for your walk just don’t collapse or fall over! And try not to drive anywhere to have that exercise so you don’t have an accident! More to do with the trouble you’d cause to the nhs I impo. Anyway I’m off out, I maybe some time!

Message clear ...stay home ...the time has passed to make up our own rules .... infections 1 in 50 in London ....we all find it difficult .....

It’s clear to me that a lot depends on the area you live in. I’m fortunate to live within a 10 minute walk of some essential shops and also near to woods and a park. The pavement on the way to the shops is narrow so I try to avoid it at busy times. The park is crowded with cyclists and dog walkers and the woods are too lonely! I never ever walk in an isolated area on my own.

During the first lockdown the sustrans cycle track next to my house was rammed with people all day long. A local beauty spot, a White, Horse, was jam packed with people doing their exercise. I turned back when I saw the crowds. Clearly you would be out for more than an hour and no chance to socially distance. Some people will see exercise as going out for a day trip. I don't blame them, but by putting a limit on the number of times we go out and how long for, the government is hoping to discourage crowds at beauty spots and popular towns, which, despite being outside, means people can't socially distance. In the last lockdown there was provision for dog walking 2 or 3 times a day I recall.

So, MissChateline like an awful lot of other people in this country interprets the rules her own way. We can all say, “What I am doing isn’t strictly within the rules, but it isn’t going to harm anyone, I am intelligent, I can use my common sense” and when a lot of people take this view that’s when the risks increase because some people think they have more common sense than they actually do.....we were all horrified when Dominic Cummings went off to the Northeast and the fact that he wasn’t instantly sacked signalled to the country that it’s ok to use your own interpretation of the rules. In France (where my sister lives) you have to complete a form every time you go out, to explain where you are going and why....if you cannot produce the form when challenged by a police officer you are instantly fined. We will continue to have people “doing their own thing” as long as there is no formal structure to police the rules...and by the way, I am not perfect, I have stretched the rules myself on occasions.....

I'm allowed to travel by car to buy food but not to find somewhere level to go for a walk.

Now, if I go foraging, can I use my car? Does anyone know the difference between edible and non-edible mushrooms please?

Oh! Faffing around on here and it's sleeting now!

Fresh air is essential and it's common sense. Just don't abuse the rules otherwise we'll never get out of this mess. For all dog walkers, just changing the subject, I take the dogs for a walk daily and pass by many other dog walkers, so not isolated, but do leave lots of space between us. The reason many are choosing to walk this route and not in the lovely woodland near us, or many local parks, is because 'dog' kidnapping has recently been rife in our area, up 250%. Just last week, one lady was punched in the face when a man stopped his car next to her, got out and tried to grab her little dog. Thankfully the dog was on a long lead and she managed to hang on. In another case around the same time, a man tried to catch and steal a dog while he was being walked along a woodland path. He didn't succeed. It has also been observed that individuals who take their dogs to parks or other green spaces are often observed by gang members, who then follow the dog owner home to find out where you live. I suspect this is going on all over the country, so stay safe in every way dog people.

I totally agree with miss chatline

It’s nothing to do with anyone thinking they are more ‘special’ than anyone else surely?
Some posters like Miss C are simply describing their exercise routine and don’t deserve all the vitriol aimed at them.

We ALL know what we have to do to beat this virus- avoid mixing with others and it sounds as if Miss C is doing just that.

Lucca I agree with your comment!

MissChateline- I completely agree with you. By walking from your front door onto the moors, you are putting nobody at risk. I do exactly the same, here in the Forest of Bowland. My mental well-being is really important, and whilst I’m hurting nobody, I will prioritise it. If I thought I was putting anyone at all at risk, I wouldn’t do it. I can wander for four hours and not see another human- how is that wrong?

Lucca

Sorry but I’m not staying “cosy “ at home if I can get out in the fresh air to exercise.

I could, of course, disobey the rules; put milk, veg and potatoes in my boot, drive past the shop to go for a level walk in the woods, then, when the police stop me, just say I was taking a detour on my way home from food shopping.

I am not joking about the police here btw, as last time they threatened a friend with a fine when she went by car to walk her dogs in the woods. There was no-one else around - my friend, her two dogs and two police officers.

So if you go for a hike and fall or become ill, I hope you will not be calling on emergency services.

MissChataline How do you/did you fit that in when working? Do take care on the moors especially when so isolated. In Scotland you can exercise more than once a day but it must be locally, no trekking off for hours. Endorphins are raised making you feel good, then when the cause of the rise stops or is reduced you feel low so it has to be repeated to obtain the same "good" feeling.Ever heard of exercise junkies!

Lucca
“Dare I say there is a bit of competitive “careful “ behaviour on GN? Who is the most careful ? Who sanitises and cleans the most ? Kind of reminds me MIL used to talk of competitive laundry days, who was first to get their washing pegged out on a Monday ! (A great compliment when talking about Mrs Macsomebodydownthestreet “she does a lovely wash “)”
Agree Lucca!