To think that we need to Reopen Gyms

[Coconut1978]

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.

Also, I spent some of my saved gym membership money on some kit to use at home and in parks and that has really helped and been great value.

While I don’t think they should open now (because frankly more should close right now) I do think gyms should be amongst the first things to reopen. Transmission rates are much higher in schools vs gyms. I’m not saying schools aren’t important or shouldn’t be prioritised but clearly something needs to be done to open them safely.

@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.

In a gym you are in an enclosed space, no doubt breathing very heavily or panting. If you, or anyone else, had COVID it would spread around quickly.

Outside the virus is dispersed.

It's not about whether you are low risk from complications or if you are immune for a while, it's about passing the virus on (this can be done by people who are immune) and increasing rates in the community - eventually that virus is going to passed on to people who are going to die as a result.

My gym is a vaccine centre for the foreseeable future!

Totally disagree. There’s lot of other things that should be opened first

@Chloemol

Totally disagree. There’s lot of other things that should be opened first

Schools I can think of.

What else?

Outside exercise places should be opened before indoor gyms like riding schools for 1:1 lessons , golf courses etc .

No sorry there's no way gyms should be open again yet. I returned to my gym in July after lockdown 1 but by October, with cases increasing, windows shut "because it's too cold for the weightlifters" and people not keeping 2m apart (because they thought Boris said it's 1m now!) I'm afraid I stopped going and won't be setting foot in the place again until this has all died down and/or I've been vaccinated twice.

You can absolutely exercise anywhere and in a 1 bedroom flat without any equipment. No gyms should not reopen at this time. Pretty sure the parks aren't packed at 7am or 8pm. In the space you've got in your bedroom where you get dressed you can easily do a very effective fill body cardio and strength workout if you're committed to it

It’s not gym bunnies who are making the parks busy round here. It’s people out for a social walk. I know we’re allowed to meet one other person for “exercise” but it’s the friends having a social walk, not to mention families meeting up (4 adults plus 4 kids, I’m pretty sure they’re not a household or bubble) who are really making the paths busy, not runners on their own.

And you’re definitely not exercising if you’re having a cigarette on your way round!

Pretty sure the parks aren't packed at 7am or 8pm

Not sure it’s a good idea to encourage women to exercise on their own in a park after dark...

I'm out of places to run.
The hills are calf deep in mud.
The valley is chest deep in river water.
The pavements are a tedious game of dodge the traffic/ pedestrians and buggering up my legs while I don't have access to an osteopath.
The house is a minefield of Lego, inappropriate flooring and constant distractions from being hemmed in with the rest of the family.

By the time my outdoor exercise classes are allowed to resume, I'll be a hell of a lot less fit than I was a year ago.

When restrictions ease, there's normally just enough weeks to get back feeling like you're making progress back to where you were then it all shuts up again.

Lockdown is very bad for public health. Oh the irony.

YANBU. Transmission rates of Covid are very low, is what I recall reading somewhere a few months ago.

I wonder what this lack of exercise is doing to us, generally, for our physical health? I think obesity rates are going to skyrocket, and diabetes rates, and lack of exercise is a cause of some cancers. There is also the toll it’s taking on people’s mental health.

The NHS truly is fucked and is probably going to be privatised soon anyway.

Totally disagree. There’s lot of other things that should be opened first

Schools I can think of. What else?

I suspect the mental health of the majority of the country would be improved by being allowed to see the occasional friend/family member. So if we are saying gyms should be open to improve health (rather than considering the economic benefit), there are definitely other preferable things that would impact more people.

I work at a gym. A lot of ppl think its for meeting friends rather than serious work outs. especially when it was one of the only things open.

That’s another point - opening gyms puts their staff at unfair and unnecessary levels of risk.

You only need 2m by 1m for most video workouts

What level are you and maybe we can find some recommendations.

I'd have to say no and I love the gym. Go every day normally.

I agree they were being scrupulous at my gym about distancing and wiping stuff down. But that isn't to say all gyms or gym goers are/were. I heard one covid denyer in the gym mouthing off about how he wasn't wiping weights down before/after use. Only takes a few like that, not bothering social distancing, etc, a gym floor worker who turns a blind eye and stuff spreads.

I get the evidence didn't support gyms as a hotbed of trnsmission but it's possible the actual gym users being fit were catching it, but being asymptomatic and spreading it to people they live with, work with, sat on a bus with....no way of telling.

I'm walking and cycling every day. I've got barbell and a cheap step and have signed up for Les Mills online, you only need a 2m square to do BodyPump or lift some weights or do bodyweight exercises.

How can you not have room to exercise in a one-bed flat? How much room does it take?

@Dongdingdong

I work at a gym. A lot of ppl think its for meeting friends rather than serious work outs. especially when it was one of the only things open.

That’s another point - opening gyms puts their staff at unfair and unnecessary levels of risk.

Yes, dd works at a gym. I don't want her there.

Yabu the cases are so high the schools arent open = exercise at home or outside!!
Personally i think it's excess food rather than exercise thats the issue. People tend not to run off a whole pack of biscuits

It’s not just about replacing the exercise though. Those of us working from home are just generally very inactive at the moment. General activity has a huge impact on calorie burn. I’m going to be knackered by a day in the office when that finally happens!

Schools first

Not sure how people dont understand--- anywhere indoors is a risk.
Even with a mask even with distancing.
Hands FACE space.
If you notice with almost all indoors shut the numbers are dropping.

As a commuted gym goer and NHS consultant do we hell as like

@JabbyMcJabface

It’s not just about replacing the exercise though. Those of us working from home are just generally very inactive at the moment. General activity has a huge impact on calorie burn. I’m going to be knackered by a day in the office when that finally happens!

And I think that's why you have to make adjustments for that lack of activity. Even if its getting up every hour and spending 5 mins marching on the spot.

Yesterday I did 15,000 steps working at home. OK. 7000 were on a dog walk but the rest was pretty much bimbling about and nipping to the corner shop. But I walked the long way to the shop. :) Because otherwise I knew I wouldn't have done enough.