Any fully vaccinated folks planning on going back to the gym? We converted out cat room to a gym early in the pandemic with basic stuff... elliptical, assortment of dumbbells, weight mats for the floor, bench, etc. It's been pretty effective, but I didn't realize how hard it was to get motivated without others around working out. Still, I have the heebie jeebies about going. May start next week since it'll be two weeks after my 2nd shot by then. You going?
I'm not up on all the literature but don't know if the below is still true. "The vaccine works to keep you from getting severely ill. But if you get infected, it may not prevent you from spreading the virus to others. " Then again that maybe less on you but more on the people who haven't gotten the vaccine from taking a risk and being at a gym.
I've been going to my group workouts since November. Full social distancing. I have a full gym at home, but I think if you're immunized, still masked, and clean your equipment before and after, it's the best you can ask for with a gym. I would probably pick a gym that has active employees going around cleaning up after people, if available.
The state that I'm in only has vax available for 65+, essential workers, and folks with certain health issues. That said a lot of younger people belong to the gym, which I'm sure have jumped at the opportunity to start going back now that they've reopened. Risk is what worries me after being so careful for over a year now... even after being vaccinated. I don't want to make this D&D, but seriously wish that we had something similar to Israel Green Card system for places like a gym where there's bound to be some transmission. That's the thing. Gyms, no matter where, are notorious for having the majority of their clientele that don't wipe down before, and worse, after using the equipment. This is true for small, mom and pop gyms like Urban Fitness that I belonged to there in Galveston to the LA Fitness that I go to here. I guess this is just nervousness about the effectiveness of the vaccine and unknowns about passing it on to others, which as Tim said above is more on them for assuming the risk (I hate saying that saying that because it sounds butthole-ish, but we've known the risk for venturing outside our homes anywhere for some time now). However unlikely, I just don't want to end up posting Bad Luck Brian memes about catching covid after getting vaccinated or the guilt passing it on. I know it's kinda paranoid schizo. Just was looking for some reassurance from people who have made the jump.
Do they give you your own bottle of spray disinfectant when you go to the gym now? Or, BYOD? I work out in my home gym fitted with treadmill and Bowflex. When the pandemic hit and I had to take my parents' dog, I basically stopped all my workouts. I recently started back up again and I feel much better overall with way more energy. What's decidedly different this time is I no longer drink soda at all and only water/unsweet tea. I think that is going to benefit me overall with my results. I've kicked soda for 5 months now and I'm not going back EVER. It's tea or water...water or tea. No more chemical cocktails for this guy!
That's awesome! I had this conversation with my buddy the other day who stopped going to the gym during the pandemic due to the a-holes who ignored all protocols. We're both similar in that we have to go to the gym almost daily for mental health. I said it was the biggest magic bullet for stress, the second being the other magic bullet. Dropping soda is huge. Even 'diet' soda is garbage with all of the chemicals in it. I admit I enjoy a coke zero from time to time but we don't keep them in the house unless my wife gets an itch to buy a six pack.
Man... today was the two week mark after my 2nd Pfizer dose, so I decided to go back to my local LA Fitness. I didn't realize how much I missed it. It was nice seeing some of the regs from over a year ago. As far as I could tell, most folks wiped down the equip after using. I took my own container of wipes to use before and after usage. Every other machine disabled with a sign indicating as much for social distancing. Everyone wore their mask the right way except when drinking from their water bottle. Pleasantly surprised. Capacity was more than the 10% allowed though. Seemed to be 40% or so. Also, it was a mostly older crowd which I'm sure is due to younger folks waiting their turn for the vax.
That’s awesome! Sounds like people in Cali are more serious than in some redneck-inclined states. My buddy who is a gym rat tried to go back to his gym in MN and left after 10 minutes because several people weren’t following any sort of protocols.
Depends on your definition of 'work out'. Futile if you're doing high energy or HIIT type stuff. If you're just straight lifting bro then I could probably tolerate it.
You're the reason most gyms are approximate to fire houses and hospitals, you're that guy that passes out because he doesn't breathe though his sets. Lifting with a mask is not smart
I agree with you 100% about proper breathing, and I had to learn that the hard way. Breathing, posture and correct form are the foundation for efficient and healthy exercise (and life, really). However, masks just don't restrict my breathing to the point where I would have to take one off to lift. I also mix in cardio on off days so I may have better cardiovascular health and lung capacity than people who just straight lift bro. Here's a scientific study that proved that you can work out with a mask on: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/17/21/8110/htm If you can't lift with a mask on, it's in your head, your mask is too small or you need to work on your cardio.
I wouldn't do it either way though. I would just find another way to work out that didn't involve wearing a mask. That's ridiculous. Simply put, if I'm able to wear a mask then I'm not working out hard enough.
I hear what you are saying but trying to powerclean or squat heavy with a mask on blows my lungs out and kills the workout. I run 25 miles a week btw. I also wear a belt when I lift so that probably doesn't help. I'm in the process of converting my garage to a little sweatbox because L.A. Fitness makes you wear a mask to workout, I'm three machines away from canceling my gym membership.
I hear you both, I don't work out with a mask, but I work out at home and have my garage converted into a full gym (insulated garage doors and a split unit AC). My lift off-day workout group is outside and socially distanced, and I distance even more, so I don't wear a mask there either.
