If they close the gyms...

[chocolatesaltyballs22]

....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?

I totally agree, I live in the tippy top north of Scotland on the north coast. I'm not going outside in winter, I'd blow away.

I'm so impressed with my council gym. They're so strict. You have to book in for a slot, max of 10 in the gym at any one time. Classes stopped because the studio was too small.

I love going to the gym, it gives me a nice natural break of working day then my evening. Before I was literally moving from the dining room table to the couch. This breaks up my day a bit and makes me feel like I've been a bit more productive.

@chocolatesaltyballs22
my comment was more aimed at @garlictwist to seems to forget that many gym attendees are NOT fit and well
they WANT TO BE fit and well

There are plenty of ways to stay fit without gyms. People managed it for centuries.
Yup, folks died younger.
And office jobs did not exist
My friend who waited 18 months for an essential leg operation could NEVER have rehabilitated himself without access to a gym.

@ListeningQuietly

There are plenty of ways to stay fit without gyms. People managed it for centuries. Yup, folks died younger. And office jobs did not exist My friend who waited 18 months for an essential leg operation could NEVER have rehabilitated himself without access to a gym.

I stand corrected.

There is clearly no way to remain fit and healthy without going to the gym. Nobody could manage that under any circumstances whatsoever.

The rehab I was given by the NHS for my knees required no gym whatsoever , it was designed to only require a little space , and a chair at one point , so that it was available for everyone . It was also fantastic

I'm with you OP I'd be gutted if they shut again

There is also actually ZERO evidence of transmission via gyms. Some of these senseless restrictions make me so angry.

Apologies @listeningquietly, I misunderstood your post!

I agree OP, I don’t see why they keep pubs and fast food places open and shut gyms. It doesn’t make sense.

Why not close the crappy food outlets and keep the gyms open?

I’m presuming because gyms are a much higher risk? And / or “crappy food outlets” contribute way more to the economy?

@BigBadVoodooHat

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?

There are plenty of ways to stay fit without gyms. People managed it for centuries.

If you’re serious about valuing your fitness, you’ll be able to use your imagination to come up with ways to stay fit under less-than-ideal circumstances. Gyms are not the last word in health and fitness.

People like me would have been dead by my age.

I need the support of water (I can't do any more than mini crunches in the bath, after all), ergonomically designed equipment (what should I throw out in favour of a Concept II rower - the bed or the sofa?) and equipment designed so I do not go beyond the normal range of motion (did you know it's possible to dislocate a shoulder with a 2.5kg weight?). And walking or running outside is a sure fire way to render myself unable to walk at all for around 6-22 months within, oh, about 100 yards. I can also get help from qualified personnel if somebody pings out in the gym, but at home or outside would have to hope that somebody comes along and rescues me.

The only way I can exercise safely is in the controlled environment of a gym.

@phoenixrosehere

*Are you for real? What do you think people do who can't afford gyms? Use your imagination. YABU and a bit weird.*

The gym next to me is £12.99 a month. Pretty sure most people spend around that amount on one visit to the pub or on one takeaway which usually requires a min of £15 for delivery. Priorities right..:

agree. I've started showering pretty much exclusively at my gym too so it nearly pays for itself.

Agree I will be gutted if mine closes...I don't go ANYWHERE else other than very occasionally to the shop (office has been WFH only from March until at least next year, have been in a local lockdown area for a month so haven't seen friends or family, gone to the pub etc.) honestly think I might have a breakdown if they close the gym too...Aren't people under 70 more at risk from mental health issues than dying from Covid at this point? Not to mention the long term effects of an economic collapse...

How do you know that there have been no outbreaks associated with gyms? Just because it hasn’t been in the news unfortunately doesn’t mean it hasn’t happened. And btw I’m not saying I disagree with everything that you’re saying but any space open to the public is at risk of transmitting the virus within it no matter how good the controls are.

How do you know that there have been no outbreaks associated with gyms?
Germany opened their gyms in May
and their reporting and testing system works excellently

Gyms are INCREDIBLY clean and safe at the moment
MUCH safer than the road outside a pub

I swim 1-2 miles per week. Swimming is my sanity. It's hard to describe how much better physically and emotionally it makes me feel.

I have one of those stationary bikes at home and used it religiously, yet still once the swimming and riding had gone, and probably also because my job became deskbound during lockdown and I spent large periods of time sitting on my rapidly-expanding arse, I managed to pack on a stone.

I've lost half that weight and am working hard to lose the other half, but it's less even about my health than my mental wellbeing with thinks looking as bleak as they now are. When I heard the gym (therefore pool) might be under threat again I don't mind admitting that I lost my shit and cried uncontrollably.

Allegedly this thing can't even be transmitted in chlorinated water. I'd sacrifice pretty much anything at the moment with the exception of my beloved pool. (Thankfully got an email from the gym to say that for now they're still open).

I love to swim as well @MarieIVanArkleStinks. I was so happy when the pools at my gym reopened. Swim and spin are my things. Fingers crossed they stay open.

There are alternatives and it’s really not a priority to keep gyms open.

There are aternatives to everything. Let's just shut the fucking world, why not? Fuck me, I really do not want to live like this any longer

Look. I love my classes and pool too, but we’re in a pandemic. Somethings got to give and it should be the things that are non-essentials- and whilst exercise is essential, your gym experience isn’t, however much we think it is. We’ll just have to run outside or exercise at home while things are at their peak. I get it’s shit. We’re all having to do shit things.

@ListeningQuietly I’m not saying that gyms aren’t clean. I’m almost certain that owners will be doing everything they can to keep their places clean. However my question still stands about how the OP can be sure there have been no outbreaks associated with gyms. Of course pubs can lead to outbreaks, as can various other public and private areas such as offices, unfortunately gyms are not immune.

There are plenty of ways to stay fit without gyms. People managed it for centuries.

FFS!!!!

Of course pubs can lead to outbreaks, as can various other public and private areas such as offices, unfortunately gyms are not immune.

I am past fucking caring!

My life, at the moment, is pretty much either working from home or going to the supermarket (once a week). Twice a week I do classes at a HIIT studio and it keeps me sane. I'll be very sad if that's taken away from me.

I can exercise at home and my studio did at home workouts throughout lockdown but that was in the summer. Running outdoors and jumping around in the garden are a lot less appealing in the rain and cold.

There are almost 200 thousand people employed in the UK fitness industry and about 10 million of us are gym members. They're an important part of the UK economy as well as an important part of our mental health and physical well-being.

YANBU.

I completely get your point and agree, OP. The gym is so important for so many people xx

@NiceLegsShameAboutTheFace why comment then if you’re past caring 😂😂 I was just asking a question to the op in direct response to their post

I hope they don't. I joined a woman's gy. Post lockdown- i have list almost a stone ,my physical and mental health are mych better..

Exercise takes motivation, some people have it- its not natural to me.. whilst lots of people on this thread are talking about what tgey did but statistically a huge proportion gained weight during the last lockdown..

Whilst o
I do think schools should be prioratised over gyms , i alsobthink gyms should be prioritised over pubs and restaurants, my gym feels very safe.