Who's returning to gyms now?

[HardGainersTry]

My gym re-opens Monday. I definitely won't be there. No amount of cleaning, social distancing, etc. could make me feel safe there right now.

Gradually I'm building up my "home gym" -- dumbbells, barbell, plates, jump rope, resistance bands, yoga mats, etc. Not easy since equipment is hard to find and price-gouged to the max, but I'm managing. I miss group exercise classes very much and am finding other ways to get cardio in at home.

Anybody going back to a gym yet?

[WolfRose7]

just shop at site that don't price raise and restock.

I've got horse stall mats, plates, bumps, rack, bar that way

[CommitmentRulz]

Gyms reopened here on May 11. (This past Monday.)

I was there on day they opened. Crowds about normal. I live in a small rural town (with a 24 hour gym.) Literally 1000 in my town. We've been social distancing for years here (not many people in the gym at all at the times (6 am) I usually go.) I'm sometimes the ONLY ONE there. Haven't seen a mask in the gym yet.

COVID is not much of an issue here. 2 people dead (with pre-existing conditions; 60+ years old) in a county of about 100,000.

I have 2 sisters in a much larger city 100 miles south. One is back in the gym, the other not ready to go back yet.

If you're scared, or have an alternative to the 'public' gym, stay home. Good luck.

[TolerantLactose]

I'll be back within a day of the gym re-opening. Too many distractions at home for me.

[TAWS6]

I bought a Rogue home gym and am very happy with it. No reason to go to the gym anymore.

[air2fakie]

Even if gyms weren't one of the worst places to prevent virus spread, if you live in any sort of city or large town the setup is going to want you to work out from home anyway. Capacity and time limits, 6 ft distancing, appointment system, queues, masks, removed equipment, odd spacing of machines, people with pink dbs hogging benches, the one dude who keeps coughing, etc.

Given your concerns, best to work out at home for a few months to see if things get better or worse once everything starts to open up where you live. You can get equipment at pre-COVID prices at the big online retailers - the well-priced ones just sell out very quickly once they come in stock.

[iamdetermined]

Florida may have a reopening announcement today. I'll definitely go back but plan to go around 6am. Hopefully won't be too crowded at that time.

[DanGreen2016]

I’m just gonna buy equipment and do all my workouts at home.

[Magomed1]

Gyms reopened here on May 11. (This past Monday.)

I was there on day they opened. Crowds about normal. I live in a small rural town (with a 24 hour gym.) Literally 1000 in my town. We've been social distancing for years here (not many people in the gym at all at the times (6 am) I usually go.) I'm sometimes the ONLY ONE there. Haven't seen a mask in the gym yet.

COVID is not much of an issue here. 2 people dead (with pre-existing conditions; 60+ years old) in a county of about 100,000.

I have 2 sisters in a much larger city 100 miles south. One is back in the gym, the other not ready to go back yet.

If you're scared, or have an alternative to the 'public' gym, stay home. Good luck.

I has home gym, but my jiujitsu academy is closed.

+1 for rural living in a pandemic.

[TAWS6]

Even if you plan on returning. I would at least get some sort of rack, adj bench, barbell and plates just in case a second wave hits in the fall.

[air2fakie]

Even if you plan on returning. I would at least get some sort of rack, adj bench, barbell and plates just in case a second wave hits in the fall.

^Good advice.

Even if you go back to the gym, if your home setup is good enough, you may want to program half of your workout days to do at home anyway, so you don't have to upend your entire routine a 2nd time if things shut down again.

[Heisman2]

As a doctor I don't feel I can go to a gym as it's to high risk of becoming ill and that would be disrespectful to my colleagues/patients who I'd put at risk. So I'm not going back. I've bought a house and will move in early June at which time I'll purchase stuff for a home gym. I've been quite successful maintaining my physique (at least according to the mirror) with bands/bodyweight workouts at home so I can wait a little while longer.

As indicated above, there is a HIGH probability this is going to get much worse before it gets completely better. We may be ok during the summer but it could be truly horrible this fall/winter. It was the second wave in the flu of 1918 that was really bad; this may be the same.

[William2018]

Got a home gym in the back yard. Still miss the adrenaline I got at the gym. UK gyms are not expected to reopen until July / August, but there's talk that they could remain closed for the rest of the year, or temporarily re-opened and closed again when we approach winter.


British Telegraph

'All gyms in the UK and numerous other countries including Germany, France, Denmark and the UAE are currently closed in order to prevent the spreading of coronavirus. Beijing has shut down gyms again after reopening them over fears of a second coronavirus wave. A new 50-page Government dossier 'Our Plan to Rebuild' sets out a three-phase strategy for gradually lifting the current lockdown restrictions in the UK, but indoor gyms will continue to remain closed for the foreseeable future. Prof Chris Whitty, Chief Medical Officer, has warned that social distancing due to coronavirus will 'last for a year' to prevent second wave.'

[ECGordyn]

I'm with Taw and Magomed that I bought a home gym: rack, flat bench, 4 sqm of mats, 200 kg of plates, and 20 kg adjustable dbs for the wife. (Already owned a barbell.) Home gym is best for both of us because now she lifts more than when she tried to go to the public gym. Best decision I've ever made about my lifting hobby, second only to increasing caloric intake.

Thailand closed gyms for 2 weeks on 20 March, then extended that to 30 April, then extended again until 15 June. With second waves hitting nearby countries (China and S. Korea), Thailand could well extend that further. If I relied on public gyms, I'd just have a chain of disappointments. Thankfully they've handled this problem quite well from the beginning, but they will be cautious about opening 100% in the coming months.

[SuffolkPunch]

If our company gym reopened, I would be happy to go back. I live in a low population dense area with no vulnerable people in my household. I think I'm pretty cautious about treating all surfaces as if they are contaminated and social distancing from others (I have to attend the office 50% of the time).

It probably won't reopen for a while though. The company I work for has a pretty nannying ethic.

[hardyboysare]

I will most like be at the gym the first day it opens providing they don't introduce something silly like face masks whilst working out. Have a home gym but running out of weights and have a inflatable hot tub in the same outdoor shed so its too tempting to be lazy.

Lets hope they open in July in the UK but we will see not holding my breath.

[William2018]

I wonder if gyms will amend their insurance policies and request their clients to take personal responsibility, and sign a release form which will protect the gyms from any lawsuits and prevent them from being legally responsible for any infections e.g. If a client tries to sue the gym for sanitary negligence and claim compensation, their lawsuit would collapse immediately because they had already accepted the gym's new policy. Similar to a hotel or car park which is not responsible for lost or stolen property. The same may apply to businesses when they re-open. i.e. 'Clients - Enter at your own risk'.

[air2fakie]

I wonder if gyms will amend their insurance policies and request their clients to take personal responsibility, and sign a release form which will protect the gyms from any lawsuits and prevent them from being legally responsible for any infections e.g. If a client tries to sue the gym for sanitary negligence and claim compensation, their lawsuit would collapse immediately because they had already accepted the gym's new policy. Similar to a hotel or car park which is not responsible for lost or stolen property. The same may apply to businesses when they re-open. i.e. 'Clients - Enter at your own risk'.

Can’t speak to specifics for you, but you likely already agreed to a comprehensive release when you signed up for your membership and at best, your gym might be responsible for gross negligence and willful misconduct - which is hard to win.

[TolerantLactose]

Can’t speak to specifics for you, but you likely already agreed to a comprehensive release when you signed up for your membership and at best, your gym might be responsible for gross negligence and willful misconduct - which is hard to win.

Pretty much. I can't sue my gym for any injury definitively occurring there. I can't imagine being able to prove where and when a person is infected with a virus that's in the community.

[doza808]

nope. used the trump bucks to buy a squat rack, barbell, and plates. easy decision since i'm not really when i'm going back to the gyms.

[air2fakie]

Pretty much. I can't sue my gym for any injury definitively occurring there. I can't imagine being able to prove where and when a person is infected with a virus that's in the community.

Exactly - viruses, diseases and infections were around before this. They're covered the same way they'd have been covered if we got a staph infection from someone else at the gym. Short of having video of a COVID-infected manager licking the benches and dbs while snickering and twisting his mustache right before you use it, you're prob out of luck.

[OldFartTom]

As a doctor I don't feel I can go to a gym as it's to high risk of becoming ill ....

Worst case is if you caught it, were completely asymptomatic, and became some super-spreader

... As indicated above, there is a HIGH probability this is going to get much worse before it gets completely better. We may be ok during the summer but it could be truly horrible this fall/winter. It was the second wave in the flu of 1918 that was really bad; this may be the same.

I've been worrying exactly the same thing. Who knows how it'll go. The thing that cheers me up is that unlike seasonal flu this thing seems less affected by seasons (originally I'd hoped it would) so maybe the fall-spring season won't be as pronounced as that worst case scenario. But all idle speculation

If I could return to a gym I'd like to.
Thinking mask and gloves would be ok with a lot of cleaning/sanitising. (But would barbell knurling just rip them up? can't say I've experienced lifting while wearing disposable gloves before)

But not sure locker rooms and showers would be safe area?

Wondering if the panic buy product if there's a fall spike would be nicotine patches? About the only preventative pharma product we have?

[Millz12323]

As indicated above, there is a HIGH probability this is going to get much worse before it gets completely better. We may be ok during the summer but it could be truly horrible this fall/winter. It was the second wave in the flu of 1918 that was really bad; this may be the same.

Given the increasingly growing number of folks that believe this whole thing is a hoax, I would say that it's almost a guarantee. My social media feed is toxic as all hell right now

[ECGordyn]

So the next question becomes:
What will you do when you go back to the gym?

Assuming you could go back to 100% normal, what would your plan be?

Max out on day 1, then binge drink away the depression at how much strength was lost?

Go apesh*t like a kid in a candy store and tear it up on every machine like you did when you were a newb? Then lie in bed sore for a week unable to train?

Or some other, more sensible plan?

My plan while I was waiting for my gym was:
Go back to the main powerlifts for a couple of sessions, do a couple of sets of 5-10 reps to feel out my strength, and then go back on program once I had a real sense of my strength.

What would you do if you could go back to 100% pre-covid normal?

[WolfRose7]

So the next question becomes:
What will you do when you go back to the gym?

Assuming you could go back to 100% normal, what would your plan be?

Max out on day 1, then binge drink away the depression at how much strength was lost?

Go apesh*t like a kid in a candy store and tear it up on every machine like you did when you were a newb? Then lie in bed sore for a week unable to train?

Or some other, more sensible plan?

My plan while I was waiting for my gym was:
Go back to the main powerlifts for a couple of sessions, do a couple of sets of 5-10 reps to feel out my strength, and then go back on program once I had a real sense of my strength.

What would you do if you could go back to 100% pre-covid normal?

'Once my rack arrives (hopefully tomorrow)
I'll take 2 days to find my 1@8 on all main lifts, use that to estimate a max, and run program

[CommitmentRulz]

Given the increasingly growing number of folks that believe this whole thing is a hoax, I would say that it's almost a guarantee. My social media feed is toxic as all hell right now

I do not think it is a hoax. There is really something called COVID-19. However, I do think the dangers and panic are overstated. Look at the studies in California and New York that show the virus is much more pervasive and MANY times more have been exposed to the virus than previously thought. This shows the death rate and 'dangers' are MUCH, MUCH overstated. And as more testing is done - especially for people who just want to know if they 'have it' (and not because they suddenly need hospitalization), it shows that the 'dangers' were, again, overstated.

95% of the people who have 'died from the virus' (that's a joke in itself) in Alabama had other contributing health issues. Over 50% had MULTIPLE contributing health issues.

I believe much of what you're seeing on ******** is people realizing the media TRIED to induce panic and the dangers were significantly overstated. The media continues to use 'CUMULATIVE infections' charts. By using that chart, the numbers will ALWAYS continue to increase...

Keep in mind the original dire projections that 2 million in the US alone could die...

[Heisman2]

I want to be fully transparent; I said I wasn't going to go back above however my gym is actually going to great lengths to be as safe as possible. People are only allowed 1 hour time slots, there are a limited number per session and you have to sign up in advance, they are closed mid-day to clean for the evening and are cleaning again at night, and you have to wear a mask at all times other than when actively lifting. I actually think this set up should be safe assuming people just go in and out and avoid the locker rooms, which I will do. So I will be going back (it opens June 1) for a few brief sessions as I still am waiting for equipment to restock while building a home gym. My plan of action is to head straight for the power rack and stay there for the full workout other than dips. First day back I'll do squats, deadlifts, weighted pullups, and weighted dips, doing sets in the 5-10 rep range and calling it whenever it starts to feel heavy or painful.

[air2fakie]

I want to be fully transparent; I said I wasn't going to go back above however my gym is actually going to great lengths to be as safe as possible. People are only allowed 1 hour time slots, there are a limited number per session and you have to sign up in advance, they are closed mid-day to clean for the evening and are cleaning again at night, and you have to wear a mask at all times other than when actively lifting. I actually think this set up should be safe assuming people just go in and out and avoid the locker rooms, which I will do. So I will be going back (it opens June 1) for a few brief sessions as I still am waiting for equipment to restock while building a home gym. My plan of action is to head straight for the power rack and stay there for the full workout other than dips. First day back I'll do squats, deadlifts, weighted pullups, and weighted dips, doing sets in the 5-10 rep range and calling it whenever it starts to feel heavy or painful.

The risks are what they are, can't really get around it unfortunately - aside from the touched surfaces it's the droplets/aerosols as people breathe heavy (inevitably without masks regardless of rules) that'll linger and be circulated around easily.

We all have to make a judgment based on our own health, our gym's procedures (both the safety and inconvenience), who other than ourselves we need to protect, our own subjective views of COVID risk and the objective state of COVID wherever we are along with the risk of an uptick during re-opening and bigger second wave. Be as safe as possible and get that home gym set up.

[TurboBoosters]

The gym I go to has designated cleaners, I feel pretty safe

[Heisman2]

The risks are what they are, can't really get around it unfortunately - aside from the touched surfaces it's the droplets/aerosols as people breathe heavy (inevitably without masks regardless of rules) that'll linger and be circulated around easily.

We all have to make a judgment based on our own health, our gym's procedures (both the safety and inconvenience), who other than ourselves we need to protect, our own subjective views of COVID risk and the objective state of COVID wherever we are along with the risk of an uptick during re-opening and bigger second wave. Be as safe as possible and get that home gym set up.

Yeah, the risk of aerosols is still unclear at this point. I've actually decided not to go back to the gym since making that last post. In part because I now have the opportunity to move from my apartment to my new home in two weeks, and I don't really see a point going back to the gym for only two weeks. I also don't really think I've lost muscle during this time, perhaps a very slight amount but overall I think I've done a good job of maintaining. I have put on a couple pounds of fat though, but I do not expect I will have any trouble getting that off.