UK gyms reopen maybe July?

[TooTallOver40]

So glad i have my own home gym setup, didn't anticipate this but I’ve never like gyms for weights, I want it done and hate waiting around.

Working and training from home hopefully forever as my boss is considering making it permanent.

[OldFartTom]

Tom,

For some serious advice, just do pin presses, if the gym has a power rack there. It's just as good as benching, as long as your not training for a power meet, I don't think you'll miss out on much just doing them.

The gym is huge and has 3, but because I train (weekdays) 06:00 in the door as it opens I'm there with the serious-face crowd, you know the people with little notebooks and pencils who don't smile much and they all squat. In fact I organise my workout on the basis of if/when I can get near a rack (sometimes squat done last due to waiting for a rack). There just aren't enough racks to pin press, that would be really antisocial, might get in arguments. All the big commercial gyms I've been to are like that. They love people who go to spinning classes, pilates, Les mills (or whatever) and don't like people that squat press deadlift, those people aren't the right crowd, they wear scruffy gym clothes and definitely they're not the "cool kids". Although I dress scruffily, I'm a misfit even with the serious-face crowd because I smile sometimes.

[xTeTe]

They finally opened my gym for a second time today... But only because half of the gym is outside.

Felt good to get a barbell in my hands again.

[LWW]

The gym is huge and has 3, but because I train (weekdays) 06:00 in the door as it opens I'm there with the serious-face crowd, you know the people with little notebooks and pencils who don't smile much and they all squat. In fact I organise my workout on the basis of if/when I can get near a rack (sometimes squat done last due to waiting for a rack). There just aren't enough racks to pin press, that would be really antisocial, might get in arguments. All the big commercial gyms I've been to are like that. They love people who go to spinning classes, pilates, Les mills (or whatever) and don't like people that squat press deadlift, those people aren't the right crowd, they wear scruffy gym clothes and definitely they're not the "cool kids". Although I dress scruffily, I'm a misfit even with the serious-face crowd because I smile sometimes.

Gosh, I honestly don’t know what you mean because I’ve not set foot in a big commercial gym in many years.

In our little strength studio we have one bench literally a bench if someone wants to do benches they gotta take that bench over to the power rack, and some folks have, there is always someone wiling to spot also whether the owner or a trainer.

[OldFartTom]

In England, things are calming down a bit. Still all sorts of Covid procedures but last time I went to the gym they had stopped taking temperature of everyone entering the building. One small step closer to normality..

[SuffolkPunch]

My work gym just opened. No changing rooms, 2 showers which you have to clean before and after. Booking system 1 day at a time, can only train for 1 hour.

Forget that, I'm happy running a powerlifting routine at home. No waiting for equipment (not even sure if sharing would be allowed), no time limit (my sessions seem to last around 1.5 hours ATM).

[Richy P]

My gym has been open for a while now - 1.5 hour slots. Seems to be working ok, just means you have to make a rush for the squat rack as there's only one which is a pia. Squats as the last leg exercise suck.

[OldFartTom]

...you have to make a rush for the squat rack... Squats as the last leg exercise suck.

Yeah, last night I didn't get any squats and a couple of workouts before I did them last. It's a pain!

[OldFartTom]

NOOOOOO!!!! There's talk there might be a local lockdown where I live. If that goes ahead that would make it illegal for me to go to the gym.

Not again!

[gym62richard]

NOOOOOO!!!! There's talk there might be a local lockdown where I live. If that goes ahead that would make it illegal for me to go to the gym.

Not again!

Things don't look to good at the moment, even here in rural Wales the numbers are rising daily, several areas in the South Wales valleys are either in lock down or being monitored very closely.

Over the years I've invested a lot of money in my home gym, like "The Spanish Inquisition"", no one expected covid 19, ironically, much to my good ladies chagrin, my home gym turned out to be a good investment after all.

[OldFartTom]

I wish I had a home gym, even just a barbell, plates, rack (with pullups handles) and a bench in my back yard. Wouldn't need anything else, would probably want other things but wouldn't need them. Your gym was a really really good decision!

[OldFartTom]

Since they've started restricting things such as restaurants/bars opening hours and service again - I wouldn't at all be surprised if gyms end up getting restricted or closed down again. It's not looking good here

Edit: only 18 days ago I made a post (above) that things were calming down here. Not the case!

[OldFartTom]

Nobody was allowed in the gym (by gym management) this morning unless they had installed "NHS Covid-19" on phone (track and trace) app and scanned the location QR code.

I'm just happy the gym is open

[dazlittle]

Nobody was allowed in the gym (by gym management) this morning unless they had installed "NHS Covid-19" on phone (track and trace) app and scanned the location QR code.

I'm just happy the gym is open

Nothings changed a the two gyms I use, they have the QR Code at the entrance but they aren't asking people to scan as they enter (YET).

I don't think small independent gyms will survive another lockdown, I have everything crossed it doesn't happen.

[gym62richard]

Nobody was allowed in the gym (by gym management) this morning unless they had installed "NHS Covid-19" on phone (track and trace) app and scanned the location QR code.

I'm just happy the gym is open

We installed our QR code poster in our Powerlifting/Weightlifting club on Thursday, on Friday we were ordered by the local authority to cut the gym's capacity by 50%, 8 people training, instead of 16.

To think before covid there were times when 60+ lifters were in the gym on a busy session, it seems inevitable that we will be forced to temporarily close the club down again.

[OldFartTom]

Here we go again....

Gyms in England to close for 4 weeks in second lockdown starting Thursday 5th



Expecting it to be busy Mon, Tue, Wed. Better be first in the queue and run for the rack when the doors open at 06:00

Edit: not sure who was more disappointed... Me when I heard they'd close gyms. Or.. my youngest daughter when she heard they're *not* planning to close her school this time

[ECGordyn]

Man I sympathize with all you chaps. Gyms in Thailand closed at the end of March, then opened at the end of June with no problems since. All that back and forth in other places looks like a stressful mess.

Can't say I'm privy to the rules in gyms here because I bought my set up in mid April, but big retail stores and shopping malls still check temperature, require masks upon entry (most people wear them walking around), and ask that people check in and out on a phone app.

[gym62richard]

Here we go again....

Gyms in England to close for 4 weeks in second lockdown starting Thursday 5th



Expecting it to be busy Mon, Tue, Wed. Better be first in the queue and run for the rack when the doors open at 06:00

Edit: not sure who was more disappointed... Me when I heard they'd close gyms. Or.. my youngest daughter when she heard they're *not* planning to close her school this time

Gyms here in Wales closed just over a week ago, they're due to reopen on 9th November after our 17 day lock down. I think UK devolved governments, as well as the Westminster gov took their eye off the ball, if they'd taken the scientific advice back in September, a short lock down then may well have been a better option, now instead of 2 weeks, it's going to be a 4 week lock down in England, I suspect here in Wales we'll need another lock down before too long.

[OldFartTom]

Gyms here in Wales closed just over a week ago, they're due to reopen on 9th November after our 17 day lock down. I think UK devolved governments, as well as the Westminster gov took their eye off the ball, if they'd taken the scientific advice back in September, a short lock down then may well have been a better option, now instead of 2 weeks, it's going to be a 4 week lock down in England, I suspect here in Wales we'll need another lock down before too long.

I was in Gwynedd on Thurs 22nd and Fri 23rd and left just before the "firebreak" started 18:00. I feel for you guys. Be interesting to see if numbers go down enough so they can end it when they'd planned on 9th. 2 weeks is easier to absorb into exercise programming but 4 really is throwing a big spanner into the works

[Corbets]

,if they'd taken the scientific advice back in September, a short lock down then may well have been a better option

I read something on the BBC this morning that talked about... an ex minister of some sort, I think? Complaining about how the prime minister was pressurized by scientists into this new lockdown.

Some people never cease to amaze me...

[gym62richard]

I was in Gwynedd on Thurs 22nd and Fri 23rd and left just before the "firebreak" started 18:00. I feel for you guys. Be interesting to see if numbers go down enough so they can end it when they'd planned on 9th. 2 weeks is easier to absorb into exercise programming but 4 really is throwing a big spanner into the works

Yes, 4 weeks is tough, I'm lucky I have a home gym, but I'm involved in my local weightlifting/powerlifting gym, despite being a private members set up we were still required to close.

Some of the guys are preparing for competition in the New Year, whether anything goes ahead is doubtful, whatever happens this break has really screwed with their pre-comp training.

I read something on the BBC this morning that talked about... an ex minister of some sort, I think? Complaining about how the prime minister was pressurized by scientists into this new lockdown.

Some people never cease to amaze me...

I realise the effect lock down's have on the economy, but the evidence is pretty clear, hospital admissions and reported deaths from covid are rising alarmingly,, the science would seem to suggest that if the UK government did not take action, hospital intensive care units would be overrun before Christmas.

I have little time for politicians, irrespective of their political persuasions.

[dazlittle]

Back to working out in my garage for me, glad I set it up during the first lockdown. Fortunately for me, my wife manages a gym so at 10PM on Wednesday night I'm driving round there in my truck to collect a nice selection of dumbells and kettlebells to see me through the 4 weeks.

Regarding the lockdown, it seems to me it is being half assed, there are too many get out clauses allowing people to bend the rules and carry on as normal.

[TheIronAsylum]

this will be america if biden gets elected

[OldFartTom]

this will be america if biden gets elected

Happy to exchange politicians with you, but the condition is you have to swap all yours for all of ours. You don't get to pick and choose.

They're all a bunch of dishonest ******rs, but yours are far more entertaining.

[OldFartTom]

... Fortunately for me, my wife manages a gym...

What??? This is either a tall story or you are one lucky guy? don't tell me... she also has a younger sister who owns a brewery and an older sister who has a gold mine

[PhDPepper1111]

Happy to exchange politicians with you, but the condition is you have to swap all yours for all of ours. You don't get to pick and choose.

They're all a bunch of dishonest ******rs, but yours are far more entertaining.

Haha - too true!
Can we have politician trading cards?
I'll give you a Biden and a Pence rookie card for a May and Johnson …. ;P

[dazlittle]

What??? This is either a tall story or you are one lucky guy? don't tell me... she also has a younger sister who owns a brewery and an older sister who has a gold mine

LOL I wish, she has a younger brother who doesn't own a brewery or a gold mine!!!

[OldFartTom]

DECEMBER 2nd

Confirmed, all gyms in England (all areas) will be allowed to reopen on 2nd Dec.

[dazlittle]

DECEMBER 2nd

Confirmed, all gyms in England (all areas) will be allowed to reopen on 2nd Dec.

Awesome, my wife can go to work again

[OldFartTom]

5*5 squat, bench, DL, ohp, row on nearly empty bar, concentrating on form and keeping tight. Assisted pull-ups, assisted dips, goblet squats, a bit of stretching. It's not a "workout"
it's just moving my body in the right patterns

AT LAST I'm back in a gym! Soon I'll be properly working out again

Very crowded, all the opening time regulars were there