Balancing self-care with family life is tough enough without past trauma sneaking into the mix.

Things began unraveling for one couple when one gym goer’s morning gym routine made his partner suspicious he was having an affair.

Suddenly he found himself defending his workouts instead of celebrating them.

Read on for the full story.

AITA for going to the gym in the morning

So my partner (35F) and I (30M) have been on and off with the gym throughout our relationship.

She has previously competed professionally in a bodybuilding competition.

Lately, he’s been hitting the gym pretty hard.

Recently, I have been going to the gym consistently for the last 12–16 weeks in the morning before work.

I’m enjoying the process, including early starts and meal prepping, and it’s starting to become an “issue.”

It’s tough to fit it into his schedule, but he’s making it work for the most part.

Due to the nature of my work, I need to be at the gym before 5:30 a.m. to get a workout completed before I go to work or come home and get our two young children ready (6 and 3 years old).

I do pick-up and drop-off twice weekly after conversations around sharing the load, as we both work full-time.

His partner isn’t too happy about these new developments, though.

This morning turned into a full blowout with my partner crying as I came home from the gym at 6:15 a.m. to get the children ready.

They are concerned the only reason I go to the gym is because I’m in or wanting an affair.

He gets where she’s coming from, but isn’t sure how to help.

I understand in previous relationships she has had unfaithful partners.

I have no motive to be unfaithful and genuinely enjoy the gym, but I want to know if I am being unreasonable or unsupportive.

AITA?

This definitely isn’t any easy situation to be in.

What did Reddit think?

This commenter wonders if there are some important details of the story being left out.

Maybe his wife’s frustration is about something else entirely.

It could be that his partner simply needs a little more attention.

This commenter doesn’t think his partner is really thinking clearly about this.

Cancelling his gym routine isn’t the solution that’s going to help here.

Better communication is what this couple really needs.

If you thought that was an interesting story, check out what happened when a family gave their in-laws a free place to stay in exchange for babysitting, but things changed when they don’t hold up their end of the bargain.