Gym and Covid-19

[Calico]

There was a couple of posts there that I want to go back and look at, so I hope the thread can be cleaned up (or whatever needs to happen) and reinstated (even if it gets closed) so I can search a couple of things... Thanks for your consideration.

I agree it was a very helpful thread with good suggestions, and I hope it comes back.

I also agree that it needed "cleansing" - thank you Mods!!

 

[JoeWras]

I agree it was a very helpful thread with good suggestions, and I hope it comes back.

I also agree that it needed "cleansing" - thank you Mods!!

Big thanks to the mods again. I know they were fighting constant skirmishes over these days. Near the end of the day a bunch of dubious info was being presented. They apparently decided to cool it off for a while. Not a bad idea.

 

[savory]

Wiping down the equipment b4 use is likely not helpful since the sanitizer is not instant, After is helpful if the next person waits long enough.

Our Y has hand sanitizer dispensers nearby. Sanitizing your hands is most important, if needed, pin a reminder sign on your shirt to not touch your face,

Use the gyms sanitizer on your water bottle and allow contact time, I also use it on my pickle ball paddle. And again since the ball is handled by many people, I try not to touch my face, Havng said this I am considering not playing until this all is over,

 

[atmsmshr]

Out of an abundance of caution, I am planning on getting some free weights and a bench this week for home use. Not cancelling my gym membership, just forgoing public workouts for the time being.

 

[Pellice]

Those threads are getting too big anyway. I think we're going to be talking about coronavirus non-stop for the next few months anyway now that it's "here" (US) and having an everyday impact in our lives, investing, changing of plans, etc.

So perhaps it's time to let people create more threads instead of trying to funnel everything into very few threads.

Just my 2 cents - I'd rather have the three that were instituted, and have them closed and then opened anew every so often. My reason for that is that I've already lost track of the new threads springing up, like this one. Also, there is too much duplication in multiple threads, and too much chance of a good comment falling into an abandoned thread and going over the cliff. Just my opinon.

This will also make it much easier to look back and review the comments and developments in the future.

 

[Aerides]

Thanks all for the comments regarding moderation. We are a team and are discussing an approach that will work best.

We would not expect to delete the existing threads. We also don't want to be overrun with them either. There are other things in life and retirement of course!

 

[donheff]

We will see what happens with all this social distancing stuff but my plan is to return to the gym when I get back home next week. I will assume all surfaces are contaminated and shower as soon as I get home. If gyms empty out for a significant time a lot of them could go bankrupt.

 

[USGrant1962]

We will see what happens with all this social distancing stuff but my plan is to return to the gym when I get back home next week. I will assume all surfaces are contaminated and shower as soon as I get home. If gyms empty out for a significant time a lot of them could go bankrupt.

Only if people cancel their memberships, which is unlikely.

Just from the normal flu season, well before Covid-19, my gym was emphasizing wipe-downs and hand sanitizer, and stating that staff also disinfects equipment daily.

 

[socca]

I can't help myself, I keep telling people, "That spray bottle is the dirtiest thing in here!"

I took a look at the spray bottle in my gym this morning. It reads "Lemon-Scented Water". Perhaps this explains why only about 10% of attendees were using it?

 

[MrsHaloFIRE]

In light of this discussion, wanted to share this message I saw on facebook. I used the Down Dog app for customized, modeled yoga while traveling for a year. Its a very cheap subscription, but they are offering it and their other apps for free until 1 Apr. Worth checking out.

"Dear Down Dog Community,
Due to the COVID-19 outbreak, many people are avoiding gathering in large groups, including at yoga studios and other fitness spaces. We believe that stressful times like these are precisely when people need wellness practices the most, and we are committed to doing our part to help out.
So that anyone who wants to practice at home can do so, we are making all of our apps - Down Dog, Yoga for Beginners, HIIT, Barre, and 7 Minute Workout - completely free until April 1st. You can learn more about all five of these apps at https://www.downdogapp.com/
If you are already subscribed, please help us spread the word and forward this along to anyone you think might benefit from free at-home fitness, and help us get this message to those who need it most.
We hope that everyone will stay healthy and safe in these uncertain times.
With love,
The Down Dog Team"


Edited to ad: I went to a yoga class at the gym yesterday. THe middleagers were at the class. BUt I noticed the stationary equip (bikes, ellipticals, rowers) were distinctly EMPTY. Theres normally a fair amount of eldsters that workout in this timeframe. NOt yesterday.

 

[tmm99]

I took a look at the spray bottle in my gym this morning. It reads "Lemon-Scented Water". Perhaps this explains why only about 10% of attendees were using it?

What? Which gym do you go to?

 

[donheff]

Only if people cancel their memberships, which is unlikely.

Just from the normal flu season, well before Covid-19, my gym was emphasizing wipe-downs and hand sanitizer, and stating that staff also disinfects equipment daily.

I agree. I speculated about bankruptcy because a couple of posters here said they were dropping their memberships. I doubt much of that will happen unless this gets bad and stays bad.

 

[sengsational]

Quanternary ammionum compound. It’s used in hospital cleaning as well. I found this interesting article about airport cleaning. Apparently if you spray it on and leave it to dry, it can reduce the viral and bacterial contamination for up to six months. Unfortunately, I read elsewhere that in combination with organic material, it is rendered less effective. Paper towels and cotton cloth are organic...


https://www.changiairport.com/corporate/media-centre/newsroom/COVID-19-measures.html

When they say "organic material" they basically mean it doesn't work unless the surface is "clean". The fibers in towels aren't what you need to be concerned about. In brewing, we have a no-rinse sanitizer to sanitize already cleaned surfaces, but occasionally someone will use it on something not yet 'kitchen clean'. That's when I usually say "you can't sanitize a turd",

 

[eytonxav]

This is a concern for me as I love the gym, but I am over 70 with underlying conditions. I may start wearing gloves at the gym and if the virus starts to really heat up in my area, I'll stop going.

 

[W2R]

Those threads are getting too big anyway. I think we're going to be talking about coronavirus non-stop for the next few months anyway now that it's "here" (US) and having an everyday impact in our lives, investing, changing of plans, etc.

So perhaps it's time to let people create more threads instead of trying to funnel everything into very few threads.

+1

Originally it was a great idea to have everything in those three threads, so that we could easily find posts relating to coronavirus. But now, there are so many posts on that topic that these threads are getting awfully big.

Of course, it's up to the mod team! Having stepped back from mod/admin duties, at times like this I enjoy just sitting back doing nothing while they figure out the best solution (which IMO they usually do).

 

[big-papa]

At my gym everybody is supposed to wipe down the equipment with whatever chemical they provide there at the gym after they're done. Problem is there are a few people who I've witnessed who never seem to do it. I've asked the staff to please remind people when they walk in the door. Beyond that, I've changed my own protocol to wipe down both before and after now because of that.

 

[W2R]

This is a concern for me as I love the gym, but I am over 70 with underlying conditions. I may start wearing gloves at the gym and if the virus starts to really heat up in my area, I'll stop going.

Same here, although I don't have any gloves to wear. I will try to make it a habit to wash my hands when I arrive and just before I leave. Maybe we will stop going to the gym. My gym used to make sanitizing wipes available for all to use in cleaning off the equipment, but when the gym was sold those disappeared.

The virus seems to be really heating up here.

Last week: 8 tests done in Louisiana, 0 positive.
Monday: 11 tests, 1 positive.
Tuesday: 35 tests, 3 positive.
Wednesday (at 1 AM): 35? tests, 6 positive.

I still need to go check and see how many more COVID-19 cases have been identified since 1 AM.

 

[Moemg]

I am exercising at home until this virus slows down . I have free weights ,a mini gym and exercise videos and I make myself do them. I have been carrying Lysol wipes anyplace I go to wipe down surfaces .

 

[W2R]

I am exercising at home until this virus slows down . I have free weights ,a mini gym and exercise videos and I make myself do them. I have been carrying Lysol wipes anyplace I go to wipe down surfaces .

Good idea. Maybe we should follow your lead on this and exercise at home for the time being.

 

[MBAustin]

Just got back from the gym. They have spray bottles of Quat-64 and paper towels everywhere (as always) and I've been wiping down the equipment before and after I use it (and have noticed a good number of others doing the same). I also wash my hands thoroughly before I leave and don't touch anything on the way out.

They've changed the check-in procedure so we now scan our own tags instead of handing them to the front desk people to scan. It's much faster so I hope they stick with this.

 

[Sunny]

We decided to stop going and ordered some adjustable dumbbells to help with resistance training at home. The weather will be getting nicer to do more walks, disc golf, etc. outside but I'm going to miss the evil machine (what I call it, the correct name I think is Arc Trainer).

I'd like to get a row machine at home, and did even when we were going to the gym to do on days we don't' make it there, but just no good place to put it.

 

[kskmfire]

I need to go to the gym for my sanity and I am concerned as it's the most "touched" place I go...droplets everywhere.

I use the alcohol squirting station frequently and avoid touching my face with my hands or towel.

I've considered trying to use the cable machine and one set of handles for most everything, to avoiding touching 20 different items. Just a strategy for the near future.

 

[socca]

What? Which gym do you go to?

Low monthly fee. The operator makes a profit (presumably) based on high volume. I'm not surprised the gym can't afford a proper sanitizer.

The current risk/reward ratio for me is to keep going to the gym. I might change my opinion down the road. I don't have any preexisting conditions except being alive (a condition I'd like to hold on to if possible ).

 

[kaneohe]

I had decided I was going to keep going to stay in some semblance of conditioning but I think perhaps the more conservative tack is to forego weeks or months of that and attempt to stay safe even if you get out of shape.

 

[CDRE]

A 72-year-old bodybuilder in Wuhan died from COVID-19. He only stopped going to the gym after the city was locked down. Looking at the photographs and his healthy perspective, I would have thought he could have survived the virus. RIP: https://mothership.sg/2020/02/wuhan-bodybuider-coronavirus/