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Covid

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Original poster

To think that we need to Reopen Gyms

228 replies

Coconut1978 · 22/01/2021 13:04

With the weather this time of year it’s so horrible to exercise outside and the parks are packed making it difficult to run.

It’s really hurting my mental and physical health not being able to adequately exercise.

I’m at a low risk of covid if I was infected and have already had the virus and recovered.

We know that obese nations like the US, UK and Mexico have done worse with the virus than nations like Japan and the Netherlands who are healthier.

I think as long as numbers are managed you should be able to book to use the gym and social distance and clean in there.

There are so few cases linked to gyms and they are a really low infection risk but are so beneficial to many of our mental and physical health.

Aibu to think gyms should be included in our daily exercise given our climate and poor health.

OP posts:

HappyFlamingo · 22/01/2021 13:07

I do agree with you regarding both mental health and obesity.

However, I can't support reopening gyms while the schools are still closed. I think education (and the mental health issues associated with school closure) has to be more of a priority here.

Howshouldibehave · 22/01/2021 13:09

Even a a non gym goer, I completely agree, OP. It is very easy for gyms to be made clean and safe and for social distancing to be maintained.

Boredofthiscrap · 22/01/2021 13:09

I'm sorry but I think YABU. People can exercise in their homes and outside. There are umpteen YouTube channels dedicated to exercising indoors and people have been doing exercise outdoors including some PT sessions. Sacrifices needed to be made to keep the infection rates, and ultimately deaths, down. As for thinking you're not going to be at as much risk because you've had it once I think you're being naive. People who have no underlying conditions have died from this. Just because you've had it once doesn't mean you couldn't get it again and then it be worse. I don't wish for your mental health to suffer. I just think there are alternative options available to you and you need to make sacrifices like everyone else, for now.

PurpleDaisies · 22/01/2021 13:11

I doubt the gyms will be filled with obese people needing to lose weight. My own experience of this is when I went back to the gym when my area was in tier 2, it was full of regular gym goers who broadly looked a normal bmi.

Gyms should be open as soon as possible and I agree that they’re important. Exercise is possible at home though, and diet makes a much bigger contribution to weight loss. It’s hard to see that gyms could be open while schools are closed in my view. People hate inconsistency.

It’s gloriously sunny here today. I’m off out for a walk...

TheKeatingFive · 22/01/2021 13:12

Well there are a lot of things that need to be reopened and I certainly wouldn’t prioritise anything above schools.

However, I agree that the benefits for physical and mental health should be taken into consideration. The fact that fitness/weight management results in better Covid outcomes should mean they are prioritised over activities that have similar capacity for spread.

KatherineJaneway · 22/01/2021 13:13

Completely agree OP

CovoidOfAllHumanity · 22/01/2021 13:13

I love the gym and I really miss it but I still wouldn't say they should reopen now.

I am managing Ok at home. I've got some dumbbells, kettlebells and bands and a mat and I just do you tube workouts plus my gym are doing Facebook Live classes.

Gyms don't news to open for people to exercise much as I would love them to.

Lovemusic33 · 22/01/2021 13:14

I know how your feeling OP, I am missing the gym, haven’t been since March, was fine during the summer as I could walk, swim and paddleboard but this time I’m struggling, walking restricted due to the amount of mud everywhere, I have been walking around my village but it’s not the same and gets boring quickly, I have bought an exercise bike but it hurts my bum and is pretty rubbish compared to the bikes at the gym. I feel like my health is suffering as well as my weight.

I would love to go to the gym but I do feel it’s not safe right now.

AliceinBunniland · 22/01/2021 13:14

YABU

You could exercise at home or outside, you just don't want to.

Not sure why other people should be at risk and the nhs overloaded so you can exercise indoors in the winter.

Original poster

Coconut1978 · 22/01/2021 13:15

Not everyone can exercise at home. I personally don’t have the space to be able to exercise in a 1 bed flat.

I go out for a run however the amount of people I have to pass in our local park means I would probably be in less contact should I go to the gym and go on a treadmill.

OP posts:

RedskyBynight · 22/01/2021 13:15

The trouble is that there are lots of things that are "lowish" risk but we need to cut down on them to allow more valued "high" risk activities to take place (e.g. keyworkers going to work).

My suspicion is that the people who normally go regularly to gyms will have found other ways to exercise anyway. And people who don't regularly go won't bother with a booking time slots in advance system. So I would think the benefit to physical/mental health is not that great - other than the benefit of a change of scene which would apply to anything else opening up.

doireallyneedaname · 22/01/2021 13:16

Yes YABU.

PurpleDaisies · 22/01/2021 13:16

I go out for a run however the amount of people I have to pass in our local park means I would probably be in less contact should I go to the gym and go on a treadmill.

Outdoors the risk is absolutely tiny compared with indoors.

dreamingbohemian · 22/01/2021 13:17

Exercise is important but you don't need gyms to do it

There are so many things that are good for people's mental health that are not open, we all have to make sacrifices

ComDummings · 22/01/2021 13:17

YANBU

Sillyduckseverywhere · 22/01/2021 13:21

@Coconut1978

Not everyone can exercise at home. I personally don’t have the space to be able to exercise in a 1 bed flat.

I go out for a run however the amount of people I have to pass in our local park means I would probably be in less contact should I go to the gym and go on a treadmill.

I'm the same, but I can't run due to an injury. I already walk, it's not enough. The transmission rates in gyms are low and the message is that good health = better fighting chance. I feel so unfit, I need them to reopen.

RJnomore1 · 22/01/2021 13:21

I completely agree. Jolly good for all of you who manage to work out at home or online. Aren’t you great.

Mentally it doesn’t work for me. Gyms are safe and there is no reason to have them closed. It’s a pile of massive wank.

HappyFlamingo · 22/01/2021 13:24

It's not just about the risk to you OP, it's also about the overall message it sends to people, who tend to think "well, if it's ok for me to the gym then it must also be ok to do xyz which is also fairly low risk" so it undermines the whole concept of lockdown.

Sirzy · 22/01/2021 13:24

I love and miss the gym but can’t agree with the idea of them opening now.

The problem with “but it helps me” is that argument could be applied to most places that are closed. For now we all need to just get on with it. The more things that are opened soon the longer this will go on

Original poster

Coconut1978 · 22/01/2021 13:25

But exercising outdoors is not enjoyable given the weather and sheer volumes of people out. It means I cannot really run because I’m constantly stopping and moving into the road or grass.

OP posts:

Original poster

Coconut1978 · 22/01/2021 13:28

Also I don’t feel entirely safe walking in the area I live as a single female. Especially when it’s quite and as dark as it is this time of year.

OP posts:

Delatron · 22/01/2021 13:28

I agree that exercise is hugely improved for mental health. I can’t support gyms opening before schools but think they should be high up the list.

Our gym had just built a big outdoor area to run classes there. Think they had one day and then shut.

I think outdoor kids sports should also be prioritised.

I personally love exercising outside but understand many don’t. Swimming pools were also shown to be safe as long as people didn’t use changing rooms. So much has been taken from us.

PurpleDaisies · 22/01/2021 13:29

@Coconut1978

But exercising outdoors is not enjoyable given the weather and sheer volumes of people out. It means I cannot really run because I’m constantly stopping and moving into the road or grass.

I’m sorry you feel that way but that’s by no means a universal view.

Newbreadsmell · 22/01/2021 13:30

Lovely idea, just not realistic...

Hairwizard · 22/01/2021 13:32

Yes!!!! Along with everything else!!! Fucking madness keeping businesses shut.

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