Despite my complaints, I loved the shutdown. I was able to take long walks, run and re-discover the beauty of the Lehigh Valley's many trails. I am actually working my way up to a century ride along the Delaware and Lehigh Trail. My overall fitness has actually improved. But the gym is useful for weight training and cardio on ugly days. So once we turned green, I've been there three times so far.
Here's what I've noticed. No one does a temperature check when you enter. You must wear a mask and are supposed to keep wearing it when traveling from one area to another, but no one does. Although the gym was clean before the pandemic, none of the staff seems terribly excited about enforcing the mask rule.
People there must observe social distancing at the cardio machines because every other one is disabled. But in areas where people work out with dumbbells or free weights, there is no social distancing and no masks.
People without masks talk loudly to each other across the common areas, which means they are exhaling droplets that could include virus.
Staff is busy doing what they always do, and have no time to enforce rules.
Much as I love it there, I believe it is too risky at this time. I'll go there if it's pouring down rain and I am unable to squeeze in a workout any other way, but I honestly feel like I'm playing Russian roulette every time I go.
Have you been back to your gym? What do you think?
30 comments:
I don't belong to a gym, but I can not imagine it being any safer than a bar in terms of risk of catching the virus. People breathing heavily, sweating. Just seems like it would be a risky place. Totally unscientific and uneducated analysis.
Nope, will keep walking/running outside and lift a few free weights at home along with push-ups. People are NOT being safe.
In pursuit of the Common Good, it would appear that that Americans of today are not willing to pay any price or bear any burden if it is an inconvenience.(yes, liberty taken with the words for all you keyboard historians)
I have been back twice. However, I am a night shift worker who goes to a 24/7 gym with key card. So I go off hours, when I’d normally be at work and it’s deserted. Very low risk. One other person was in the gym with me each time. I sanitize before and after just to be extra safe.
I think you have developed a wise plan. And you can change it as circumstances change. Although I frequently, and correctly, disagree with what you write, we need you and you blog. Alright, darn it, I sometimes agree with you. Now I have to put a cool rag till I recover.
Bernie
Cab you find out one thing. Gold's Gyms. Are they permanently closed?
Much as I love it there, I believe it is too risky at this time. I'll go there if it's pouring down rain and I am unable to squeeze in a workout any other way, but I honestly feel like I'm playing Russian roulette every time I go.
This sounds terrible. Thanks for telling us. Dr. Fauci says it's the drooplets to worry about.
" Gold's Gyms. Are they permanently closed?"
So far as I know, it is open.
If someone doesn't want to wear a mask when they are near others, they should stay home. Period. You it's-a-courtesy types are better than the never-maskers, but you're still contributing to the problem.
If you want things to open up more, then get serious about suppressing the virus. At this rate, we're going to see things close down more, not less.
9:44. Absolutely right!
I'm not surprised to hear that masks also protect the wearer. Anything that keeps aerosol droplets out of your nose or mouth makes sense.
" People breathing heavily, sweating."
Sweat might be disgusting, but contains no virus. Heavy breathing does.
"feel like I'm playing Russian roulette"
Has anyone anywhere died from contracting Covid-19 at a reopened gym?
Why go by a feeling and make dangerous analogies when you can go by the numbers.
Statistics show that while the overall number of bicycle accidents in the country is declining, the number of fatal bike accidents is on the rise. In 2015, there were 45,000 reported bicycle accidents in the United States, down from 50,000 reported accidents in the prior year.
https://www.peoplepoweredmovement.org/bicycle-accidents-in-the-united-states/#:~:text=Statistics%20show%20that%20while%20the,accidents%20in%20the%20prior%20year.
I really miss indoor cycling, group fitness, and yoga.
There is no way I will return to the gym for these until there is a highly effective therapeutic or vaccine. Every public health expert interviewed on gyms says the risk of enclosed indoor spaces is just way too high, and made worse by people breathing hard. Plus, the gyms that have re-opened in my state have barred use of showers and I have zero interest in driving home drenched in sweat.
So I'll work out at home with weights, a spin bike, and streaming videos in the meantime. Some yoga has resumed outdoors, with 6' spacing and masks. I've done that a few times and it feels safe, although the mask is annoying on warmer days.
OnePeloton.com offers a 90-day free trial of their extensive library of streaming strength, cardio, spin, and yoga classes. They are very good, there are varying lengths and skill levels, and they're designed to be done at home with zero or very basic equipment. I think there are even some strength classes that just rely on body weight. I don't think I was even required to give a credit card to get the trial. After the 90 days free if I want to continue it's like $13/month. I believe this is the next best thing to a group class at a gym, as the videos create structure and pace for my workouts, plus there's good music.
I'd resume group fitness and yoga with no masks if it were outdoors, with 12' spacing. That is likely too conservative, but better safe than sorry.
Others may have different risk tolerances and that's fine. I'll be guided by the scientists and experts until there is a therapeutic and a vaccine, or new evidence that changes the common view of the safety of gyms.
I absolutely get anyone and everyone's need/want/desire to get back to a normal routine. I dearly miss sports, eating at restaurants, etc.
Hitting the gym is a great habit, and many people can't seem to get motivated or simply lack to equipment to workout at home.
I get some people are more risk tolerant than I am, but going to a gym in this current environment is putting a lot of trust, not just in the owner/employees of the gym, but every single one of its customers and everyone within those customers social circles.
Little off topic - but I have developed an unhealthy enjoyment of watching videos of people having full on meltdowns and adult tantrums in stores about having to wear a mask.
They are called Kens and Karens.
"Why go by a feeling and make dangerous analogies when you can go by the numbers."
I am going by what I see and what I know. I see that the social distancing and mask etiquette at my gym is not being observed. I know that in an indoor environment like that, droplets linger in the air. The virus is very real, and I have a healthy respect for it. Also, I very rarely cycle in a gym. It is just not the same and has nowhere near the same benefit unless you are spinning. I will still go there, but will skip if I can get the same workout in outdoors. I just got a nice bike ride in and burned more calories than I would have at the gym. Yesterday, I power walked. The day before, I ran.
As for bike accidents, I know it is very dangerous, and that is without involving cars. I have at least one good spill a year. During the shutdown, I cycled on roads a lot. But I mostly stick to trails bc I am aware of the data.
"So I'll work out at home with weights, a spin bike, and streaming videos in the meantime. Some yoga has resumed outdoors, with 6' spacing and masks. I've done that a few times and it feels safe, although the mask is annoying on warmer days."
That's an excellent routine. A spin bike kills me, lol.
I will cancel my membership when my gym opens. Too much risk not enough reward. Much like you Bernie I have re-discovered the outdoors. I used to treadmill and binge Netlix. Now I love walking and hiking outside. Don't even mind the rain and the tranquility has helped my mental health. Plus I will save $40/month.
Beware of random Karens,
July 1, 2020 at 11:16 AM
"I'll be guided by the scientists and experts until there is a therapeutic and a vaccine"
During controlled scientific studies there is a placebo group of individuals that are given a "sugar pill" and as a result have a low 6% cure rate, this is known as the "placebo effect".
In the absence of any therapy or vaccine convincing yourself the virus is an election year stunt and not at all real is a "sugar pill" and statistically more advantageous than swallowing the media generated narrative.
It's actually 6% healthier to believe the government/media is lying until they cure you by injecting you with the virus as immune therapy.
12:57, I have no idea what you are saying, and doubt you do either.
1:23pm
Are you saying you've never heard of the placebo effect?
Although not well understood the placebo effect was discovered through the scientific process.
Despite your doubt, it's nevertheless a reality that "belief" alone for 6% of untreated patients is anecdotally curative.
Many seemingly strange elixirs were enough to instill that belief during 1918 flu, while evidence that any of these measures had any positive effect was anecdotal, they were in keeping with the belief that doing anything to fend off influenza was better than sitting idly by, waiting for a cure or to become another death statistic.
https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/influenza-searching-cures/
Believing the government is full of shit is an easy elixir to swallow with little side effects.
"Beware of random Karens,"
Lol.
"Are you saying you've never heard of the placebo effect?"
Sure I am, but your comment as written is very unclear.
Your second comment makes more sense.
I'm intending to go back for weights and spinning, but will be mindful of the anxiety many have. I have found that without "the gym" I'm not nearly as motivated to exercise. Hopefully, all will be well.
A gym definitely motivates me on those dark and dreary winter days. But nothing can eclipse the feeling of a good hard run outside, or the beauty of a bike ride along our trail system. I do, however, know plenty of people who prefer the gym. I love the arc trainer.
I love being outside and have done a lot of walking since March, but my running days are long over and I’m just getting back on the bike after a nasty fall, but I’m determined to conquer that demon. As I have said before, YOU a big motivator for me, so I thank you for that.
I'm no motivator, lol. I thought my running days were over, too. Well, I guess they are, but I can do something akin ti running about once every three or four days. The bike is more gentle, to be sure. I'm pretty sure you are the fellow I spoke to at the courthouse. You are the motivator. A few years ago, you had no job and no prospects. You turned that around all by yourself.
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