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AIBU?

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Original poster

If they close the gyms...

138 replies

chocolatesaltyballs22 · 12/10/2020 15:07

....how the hell do they expect us to stay fit and healthy in order to give us our best chance if we get the virus? Wouldn't this be counter productive?

I'm a member of a big gym chain who have gone to a huge effort to be Covid safe. They were closed during the original lockdown and when they reopened for outdoor classes in June I honestly could have cried with relief when I went to my first class. The gym is what is keeping me sane.

Exercising outdoors is unpleasant in the winter, so I'm worried my fitness will suffer if the gyms close again. I'm waiting on the news later with dread.

Is anyone with me?

OP posts:
Kazziek · 12/10/2020 15:37

As someone who now has a problem caused by lack of exercise over lockdown, I am completely with you. I can't exercise properly at home and need the equipment in the gym. Gyms are clean and safe. They should not be closed.

dementedpixie · 12/10/2020 15:37

I am miffed that classes got stopped but not the gym. We were only allowed 12 in a class but you can have 55 in the gym! The studio was marked out into boxes so you were distanced from everyone. I don't know of any outbreaks associated with fitness classes

MrsGrindah · 12/10/2020 15:42

It really annoys me how many assumptions are made about the space people have to do things like work from home, exercise at home, home school etc. Many people ( me!) simply don’t have the space and I certainly couldn’t do all three! Even things like going to the park aren’t that easy as it’s a bus ride away. It’s my problem , not anybody else’s but it’s the glib way a lot of people say “ Simply....xyz” as if you hadn’t thought of it that annoys me

PilatesPeach · 12/10/2020 15:52

If gyms are closed under Tier 3, the government have talked about helping employees with 2/3 of their salaries (although this may still leave some in difficulties).

The overwhelming majority of instructors at gyms however, are self-employed - that is the way it is at all the clubs I teach at so how do they pay rent/mortgages bills etc in the event of a shut down? Fabulous social distancing ime in both classes and gyms - ime it is the post exercise activities such as the coffee shop where there is an issue - went to teach earlier and a group of 8 ladies all sat together, none masked, maybe a couple having coffee, all chatting and all maybe 0.5m apart - leave the gyms & classes alone but crack down on the socialising in the clubs that have bars & brasseries etc.

Many people do not have the room or equipment to exercise at home, some don't even have internet to do zoom or stuff from you tube.

Hopeful201 · 12/10/2020 15:55

I love the gym, I missed it so much. I run, cycle, walk etc but it isn't the same. I swim, I managed to swim in lakes all summer but it is too cold now. It is so unfair that pubs are seen as important compared to a gym. We have big swimming clubs here, they have been amazing in getting back to training safely. I am not sure they would survive another lock down.

ShebaShimmyShake · 12/10/2020 15:56

Sympathies, OP. I'm lucky and have a very good cross trainer, but it wasn't long ago I didn't have the space or funds for one. You do get used to walking or running even in bad weather, almost masochistically enjoy it and the hot shower at the end feels like heaven, but it does suck. I still miss classes.

Skipping rope?

doadeer · 12/10/2020 15:58

My family run a fitness studio. We had people in tears this morning at the prospect of it closing as it's been so vital for their mental health. It's not the same to say do it at home. Our studio is on the beach and very special. We have around 300 customers a week at classes. It would be a huge blow for us

Doingitaloneandproud · 12/10/2020 15:59

It's ridiculous to close the gyms, the effort they have made to be COVID safe and its proven an incredibly low transmission. It's good for physical and mental health, if you think only the physical benefits are the only importance you've clearly never been in a gym. With the situation mental health is more important than ever.

ListeningQuietly · 12/10/2020 16:00

My gym has a separate area for vulnerable over 60s with even wider spacing

if the gym closes they become housebound again

stupid idea

cakewench · 12/10/2020 16:03

Agree with you OP. I've paused my own sub for now but this makes the first time in almost a decade that I haven't been going to the gym 4-5 times a week. I do miss it, but for now I've made up for it by walking absolutely everywhere, which will be tougher as the weather gets worse. However, I couldn't justify carrying on paying my membership fees for what they were able to currently offer (we needed to schedule sessions days in advance, and only 2 per week, among other things). Thankfully it's a gym attached to a hotel/spa so tbh us 'members' were just secondary income to their main purpose, so I don't feel too badly about pausing the membership for now. (In fact I think the limited facilities for us post covid is a result of them trying to keep them open for their other guests)

I'm rambling. I agree, gyms really improve mental health, I can't tell you how many retired people we have who clearly have this as their main social outlet. The staff keeps the place as clean as possible, I felt safer there than anywhere else when we were in the last days before lockdown.

Cocomarine · 12/10/2020 16:03

I think gyms should stay open because they’re fab and have not been a proven hotspot for infection.

But YABU to think they are essential for physical health. You might not prefer the exercise you can do at home - but you can do it.

TheKeatingFive · 12/10/2020 16:05

I agree with you OP. Some of this stuff is counter productive if we end up with a less healthy/fit population over all.

And yes, of course you can exercise without the gym. But many find it much more difficult to motivate themselves outside of that environment.

Toilenstripes · 12/10/2020 16:10

Equally I would be gutted if they close hair salons as I need regular blowouts for work and my mental health.

TheKeatingFive · 12/10/2020 16:21

Equally I would be gutted if they close hair salons as I need regular blowouts for work and my mental health.

Blowouts don't offer the same benefits for physical health Wink

I think it's very short sighted to undermine people's fitness like this. We know that being fit and a healthy weight is beneficial.

HamishDent · 12/10/2020 16:26

I run most days, but I’ve really enjoyed getting back to the gym again. I just go to the local authority one and it’s incredibly quiet. DH does a lot of classes and it gutted they have stopped (we’re in Scotland). I hope gyms stay open, but I suppose only time will tell.

LuaDipa · 12/10/2020 16:36

I’m not in a high risk area but I dread the gym closing. I have run and worked out over lockdown, have weights, a step, kettlebells but still managed to gain 2 stone. I have just returned to a small private gym as the kids went back to school in Sept and I feel a new woman. The classes are limited to 10, the equipment is spotless, the doors are left open so air can circulate and I have plenty of space to distance. This is the only thing I do, I don’t eat out etc, but the improvement to my mental health has been huge. I hope and prey it stays open.

Whammyyammy · 12/10/2020 16:36

Jogging, running, speedwalking , rambling, cycling, press ups, sit ups etc. Home workouts videos.... buy some Home gym equipment. Theres so much you can do at home, probably the same as a gym.

ListeningQuietly · 12/10/2020 16:40

Jogging, running, speedwalking , rambling, cycling, press ups, sit ups etc. Home workouts videos.... buy some Home gym equipment. Theres so much you can do at home, probably the same as a gym.
swimming?
And what about those with no space
and who like to work out near others for their own safety and mental health

A significant number of folks at my gym are elderly with past issues like metal hips
they CANNOT work out at home
and they REALLY REALLY suffered when the place was closed

Taking that away from them now will
increase
their risk of getting ill from COVID

jimmyjammy001 · 12/10/2020 16:40

Generally the people who don't use a gym can't understand why people can not work out at home or just go for a run, everyone who regularly goes to a gym will understand why it is good to exercise at a gym and the health and mental benefits that it brings.

Pugdoglife · 12/10/2020 16:44

I can't understand why they would shut gyms when there is no evidence at all that Corona virus is spreading in them.
The gym I use has put in place several safety measures and feels much more covid secure than the school I work at or the supermarket I shop in.
I do not have space at home for gym equipment and a health condition makes it impossible for me to do anything like jogging or running, cycling would be very risky too. I can however use a cross trainer and various weights that help my physical and mental health.

phoenixrosehere · 12/10/2020 16:49

But YABU to think they are essential for physical health. You might not prefer the exercise you can do at home - but you can do it.

I’m guessing you don’t have small children at home. The type that you have to hide from to get any type of exercise in or sense that you’re busy and have to interrupt you every 5-10 minutes. It’s easier to work out in a separate place away from many distractions than to do it at home.

SingToTheSky · 12/10/2020 16:59

I learned to really enjoy home exercise in lockdown for the first time - got some small weights, set up routines, used YouTube etc. Really improved my fitness!

But I’d still be absolutely gutted if the gym and pool closed again. It’s felt so good to be back there and doing classes with others, seeing the same teachers etc.

If it happens it happens but I will still miss it despite returning to home workouts.

ReneeRol · 12/10/2020 17:01

The best investment I ever made was a full set of Olympic free weights. However not everybody has the space for that. Dumbells and some kettlebells alone can be enough and they don't take a lot of space.

There are plenty of hiit, yoga, plates, kettlebells and cardio videos online for anyone who needs to workout at home.

However, it's not the same as going to the gym. The gym provides a necessary break from home and it's hard to get motivated at home with other distractions. With the gym, you just turn up and it's a habit. It's also good for mental health which is just as important as physical health as they're connected.

I agree with you that health needs to be prioritised. Covid is dangerous to the elderly, immunosupressed and just plain unhealthy, obese types. A massive public health drive would be more effective in making it less harmful as its usually harmless to healthy people and it would save the health service in preventing other diseases too.

Gyms should stay open.

AuntieJoyce · 12/10/2020 17:02

Yes all go for that masochistic minus 5 degree run in a foot of snow in December

I for one cannot wait

ListeningQuietly · 12/10/2020 17:05

SWIMMING
Swimming
Swimming

swimming lessons for kids
aqua classes for those unable to bear weight on damaged joints

If more people understood what gyms offer
this country might have less of an obesity crisis

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