Anyone going to the gym?

[GymQ123]

I stopped going to the gym last year due to lockdown, and even though I am double jabbed now, and young and healthy, I am still a little hesitant to re-join. My fitness has suffered, as I find it hard to summon the motivation to work out at home. Anyone else in the same position? Anyone re-joined and happy? I am based in London and my local gym can get pretty busy.

[WeAreTheHeroes]

To you it may not be. For others it may be different. And I'm someone who has been going to the gym at every opportunity in between lockdowns and as the rules are relaxed.

[WouldBeGood]

But it’s not actually a risk 🤷🏻‍♀️

[WeAreTheHeroes]

Really? After all this time and information, you have a "genuine question"? Seems obvious to me. Yes, they might be worrying unnecessarily/over anxious, but it may not be a risk they are happy to take.

[WouldBeGood]

Genuine question, why are people scared?

[NeverDropYourMoonCup]

It's a fresh air system, thanks.


And I wouldn't care if it wasn't; I hate the heat that much that I'm more than happy to be in there, compared to a crowded bus full of teenage boys.

[catfunk]

@NeverDropYourMoonCup

We're going. I've had both jabs, DP one.



It has aircon, everything is clean, everybody cleans the equipment after use, it's all spaced out - I have no worries about the gym at all.

@NeverDropYourMoonCup FYI air con isn't safer. In fact if it's not a fresh air system it can increase risk

[inmyslippers]

Yess! Soon as it opened I was in there

[Floraflower3]

I’ve been back both times when re-opened. I’m young and fully vaccinated (hospital worker) but I don’t feel fully comfortable in my gym(s) tbh. The gym is always rammed whether I go early or late even with the social distancing measures put in place. I also didn’t know about the ventilation requirement and don’t think there’s been any changes tbh :/. People are relatively ok at wiping stuff down at least.

[NeverDropYourMoonCup]

We're going. I've had both jabs, DP one.



It has aircon, everything is clean, everybody cleans the equipment after use, it's all spaced out - I have no worries about the gym at all.

[Sarjest]

I go to my council gym and pool. It’s great to be back and getting that post exercise high/ smugness. Everyone follows the rules. Benefits definitely outweigh the risks. I’m double jabbed and way over 40.

[GroggyLegs]

Every other machine is taped off, markers on the floor in the weights area, loads of spray and tissue paper to clean equipment which most people seem to be using and I spray mats etc before and after use. I feel it’s fine

Same here. Plus pre-booked sessions so numbers are reduced.
I take responsibility for cleaning my own equipment well before I use it & follow the guidelines. Not seen anyone be taking the piss, but naturally some people are more lax than others - I feel safer there than a supermarket.

I'm over 40

[woodfort]

Hadn’t been a member of a leisure centre for years pre Covid but I joined and went the 12th April when they re-opened! I’m mainly there for the swimming though. It’s wonderful. No timed slots at our one so it’s very relaxed and I can turn up when I want and stay as long as I want.

[ShanghaiDiva]

@GymQ123

Thanks all for replying!

We know covid transmission occurs mostly through the air and gyms are saying they are more ventilated than before - is this your experience?

I’m not fussed about spacing out or wiping down so much as you’re more likely to catch the virus breathing in it through the air

Doors are open at the gym i attend so some air movement.
I am over 50, healthy and fully vaccinated so went back as soon as they reopened.

[BogRollBOGOF]

I only casually use indoor fitness classes/ swimming on a drop-in basis so the pre-booking is the turn off rather than the virus.
I've been to a few trail races too.
Back volunteering every week with junior parkrun and desperately hoping the 5k starts back pronto...

Also weekly hanging around the swimming/ spectating for the DCs' swimming. At one point in the autumn, this area had the highest rate in the country, far higher than now. All fine.

The consequences of a young, vaccinated person stopping exercise are far higher than the risks of going. All studies I've seen relating to indoor exercise and the virus have been positive.

[ferneytorro]

Not under 40, under 59 (just). Our gym is back to normal apart from giving you a bottle and cloth to clean the machines and there is a big door (it’s in a business unit) that’s kept open but I’d assumed more because it’s hot but perhaps it is covid related. As someone else has said, the way the machines are spaced makes you distance. I’m more bothered at ours about the young men who spend their time rummaging In their trousers and then touching equipment!

[WouldBeGood]

National Study Confirms It's Safe To Work Out At The Gym: Current Data Shows No Evidence of COVID-19 Spread in Gyms
Of More than 49.4 Million Health Club Visits, Only 0.0023 Percent Tested Positive for COVID-19 - More than 500 Times Less than the Current Estimated U.S. National Average

This American study shows the same as the European one. Perfectly safe to go back.

[HouseyHouse21]

I've been back since the doors opened. I follow all the precautions re masks, wiping down equipment & machines etc (because I'm a rule follower) but like you, I don't feel especially at risk.

[catfunk]

To add I'm only going back to mine as they've done a lot of work to ensure adequate ventillation since Covid. Of all the Covid measures that one isn't negotiable for me.

[catfunk]

Yes for a few weeks now since first vaccine has had time to take effect
It's pretty small and crowded as it's a class, but tbh I've put on so much weight and felt awful with no exercise, the risk is worth it for me

[elizabethdraper]

I started back today. The gyms in Ireland only reopened last week.
My gym hasn't had any cases of covid, neither has my husbands

As far as I know not cases have been recorded in gyms

[GymQ123]

Thanks all for replying!

We know covid transmission occurs mostly through the air and gyms are saying they are more ventilated than before - is this your experience?

I’m not fussed about spacing out or wiping down so much as you’re more likely to catch the virus breathing in it through the air

[GymQ123]

Youneverknowwhatyourgonnaget because the vaccine isn’t fully protective and it’s not known when antibodies start to decrease

I’d be signing up to another 12 month contract and I’m not certain we will avoid going into another lockdown

[Youneverknowwhatyourgonnaget]

So you’ve had 2 vaccines and are young and healthy yet you are still scared? I honestly don’t understand this at all!

[AuntieMarys]

skinnytailedsquirrel you assumed wrong. I'm in my 60s and go 3-4 times a week plus a couple of spin classes.

[MrsJBaptiste]

I've been back in the gym since the day they re-opened. I could not wait to get back and have been there nearly every day since.

I have to say that our gym isn't socially distanced at all though, the machines haven't been moved apart and the weights area is busier than ever with extra machines squashed in. You do have to wipe down all the machines after each use and there is hand sanitiser everywhere but other than that, it's back to normal.

It's a mix of ages in there too and I'm over 40 unfortunately!