New fitness habits being created during Covid?(forbes.com)
forbes.com
New fitness habits being created during Covid?
https://www.forbes.com/sites/markhall/2020/08/10/golden-age-of-fitness/#44fc16b22dff
178 comments
Just want to add that I had bought an eBike right when the pandemic hit in late March. It was so nice that I went ahead and bought a second eBike for mountain biking. I live in Phoenix and normally we have to stop biking in the summer. With the eBikes I find that I can ride in much hotter temperatures than I'm used to. It has allowed me to continue biking this summer.
I thought stationary bikes were way, way more overheating to ride, as you don't have the 15mph wind blowing over you for cooling.
By eBike I mean an actual bicycle with an electric motor and a battery. So I do get the breeze and it helps keep me cool with it is over 100 degrees here.
Although since I wrote that comment the eBike battery was not charging and I had to take the whole thing in to the shop to get them to look at it.
When I look around the street and over 50% of people are seriously overweight, I tend to doubt this article.
I mean maybe what's motivating the golden age of fitness is the golden age of fatness. That's what's motivating my efforts. Don't want to have to buy new jeans again.
Anecdata: I have always wanted to do a full body exercise routine, gravitating toward body weight exercise. I _never_ wanted to deal with personal trainers and didn't really know where to start. I tried a few step-by-step guides over the years and always lost motivation. Always, sometimes relatively quickly. I'm healthy, skinny and do a lot of aerobic exercise and outdoor activities (soccer, frisbee, etc.), but I always wanted to have better all around fitness.
I used the pandemic as an excuse to start an at-home routine. Purchased a workout mat and an app subscription. The app tells me what to do, when to do it, and increases/decreases the difficulty of the next workout based on how long any given set of exercises took me. (As an aside, it's pretty cool. I took too long to do a particular exercise, like squats? They'll backpedal a little and build up my ability to do squats with a range of other exercises, then back to be able to do what I couldn't before). Anyways, long story short, I'm going on five months straight of workouts three times a week and have noticeable increase in general strength and flexibility.
Previously I hadn't ever considered an app to be in place of a human personal trainer. And really being able to workout at whatever time is convenient for the day (as long as I do 3 days a week) really makes it flexible.
Sorry, long post, but the article is a bit devoid of any information so thought I would throw my relevant experience in there.
I used the pandemic as an excuse to start an at-home routine. Purchased a workout mat and an app subscription. The app tells me what to do, when to do it, and increases/decreases the difficulty of the next workout based on how long any given set of exercises took me. (As an aside, it's pretty cool. I took too long to do a particular exercise, like squats? They'll backpedal a little and build up my ability to do squats with a range of other exercises, then back to be able to do what I couldn't before). Anyways, long story short, I'm going on five months straight of workouts three times a week and have noticeable increase in general strength and flexibility.
Previously I hadn't ever considered an app to be in place of a human personal trainer. And really being able to workout at whatever time is convenient for the day (as long as I do 3 days a week) really makes it flexible.
Sorry, long post, but the article is a bit devoid of any information so thought I would throw my relevant experience in there.
Apps are great to recommend a training and exercise plan, showing you different ways of working out etc. However I found that without having a professional by my side, especially in the beginning stages, it was impossible for me to know if I'm making mistakes in the way I carry out the exercises, wrong postures, incorrect movements or alignment of limbs. Once you learned to do them incorrectly, it can be very hard to correct this and have bad consequences for your health to a point where you can seriously hurt yourself. No app can do that for you.
Definitely, I mentioned this in a comment below. The example videos/instructions are very good. But that only goes so far when you have to self assess how you're doing. But to be fair, I think your comment sounds a bit dire given we're talking about body weight exercises. It's pretty easy to tell that I'm doing, for example, squats or push ups correctly with the way the app and workouts are set up.
I found getting a big mirror at Home Depot so I can watch myself do the movement helps a lot. You can just tell when something looks way off...
This app sounds really cool and smart for what it is trying to do. Do you mind sharing the name?
Sure, this one's called Freeletics. It was reasonably priced for a year (and you can find discount codes on Google). The feedback loop is _okay_ because although they have really stellar example videos on how to do the exercises, you still have to self-assess how closely you're matching the videos (there's no person that watches you or critiques). That's the only downside to the "AI" driven workout progressions.
Freeletics is great, but sometimes it pushes you too much. The whole no excuses thing is great and motivating, untill you injure yourself by overtraining and not having enough rest.
I know, cause I injured myself like that and could not exercise properly for a year.
Just something to be cautious about.
I know, cause I injured myself like that and could not exercise properly for a year.
Just something to be cautious about.
That's good to know and interesting. Honestly I've felt the opposite, like it's not pushing me hard enough. But my experience so far has been on the Starting Strength and Fit For Life routines, so maybe those are designed to work out a bunch of muscle groups but not super push you. Once I'm done with this cycle I'm planning to move to one of the more serious ones and will keep your caution in mind.
It will ramp up difficulty over time. I think that part of issue was that the algorithm assumed I will be progressing despite me being over-trained and not progressing anymore.
I used it for two years before it got to that point.
The real trap is that it feels really good to finish super hard session. Endorphins flow and you feel like a hero, so it is hard to make yourself stop. It is sort of addictive.
I mean, it is good app and I liked the experience, except for how it ended and how frustrating it was to not be able to exercise anymore.
I used it for two years before it got to that point.
The real trap is that it feels really good to finish super hard session. Endorphins flow and you feel like a hero, so it is hard to make yourself stop. It is sort of addictive.
I mean, it is good app and I liked the experience, except for how it ended and how frustrating it was to not be able to exercise anymore.
I tried freeletics 5 years ago. It felt great being hot and sweaty afterwards, until i had a knee injury from all the jumping (high impact) with bad form trying to beat the clock. I have yet to see someone who didn't quit freeletics because of an injury.
That sounds interesting. I've also been contemplating getting a personal trainer. Would you mind sharing the app's name?
Freeletics, there are some discount codes online as well, I guess from personal trainers with partnerships.
I've been looking for something exactly like that. Could you share the name of the app?
Not the parent, but I recently released my own workout app that does mostly the same kind of thing they describe [0].
I've been using it personally since COVID started (Same period of time that I developed it from a simple "May as well learn Flutter" app to something decent) and I've made good strength progress.
The website has only been up since yesterday, and some of the info is still placeholder (like the review from my Mum, haha). Any feedback appreciated.
[0] https://repfiniti.com
I've been using it personally since COVID started (Same period of time that I developed it from a simple "May as well learn Flutter" app to something decent) and I've made good strength progress.
The website has only been up since yesterday, and some of the info is still placeholder (like the review from my Mum, haha). Any feedback appreciated.
[0] https://repfiniti.com
If course, I should have mentioned it in the original post. See above ^^^
This article doesn't really have any facts, it's just asking a question into the void. I doubt people staying home is going to lead to _more_ fitness, but I have as much data to back it up as the article.
Periodic reminder that though "forbes.com" may have implied some credentials in the past, it is now a site where anyone can post anything.
It's also a site that will happily send zerodays to your browser.
It started a good HN thread in this case though.
Based on my social circle, no. A few people I know used the lockdown as an opportunity to improve their diet, find ways to exercise that don't require access to a gym, etc. but the majority have just gained weight, gotten more online, and generally become less healthy.
One definite benefit I've noticed is the lack of eating out. When I was commuting to Boston every day, most of my eating was based on convenience or opportunity; I was out of the house for twelve to thirteen hours a day, and taking the time to make a meal just wasn't realistic.
Now that I'm home all day, prepared-at-home meals are not just more realistic, they're (for the most part) the only option.
And this doesn't even require becoming a Michelin Star chef; a bag of chicken and vegetables from Trader Joes is easy, and much healthier than grabbing a Bacon, Egg, and Cheese from Dunkin.
Now that I'm home all day, prepared-at-home meals are not just more realistic, they're (for the most part) the only option.
And this doesn't even require becoming a Michelin Star chef; a bag of chicken and vegetables from Trader Joes is easy, and much healthier than grabbing a Bacon, Egg, and Cheese from Dunkin.
Same here. I've lost 20 lbs – without trying – now that I'm no longer eating from a Boston food truck every day. Bouts of depression played a part no doubt, but the fact that I'm no longer shoveling down a giant bowl of Sa Pa or too-large wrap from Falafel King for lunch has gotta be a big part of it. Prolly saving a ton of money in the process too.
Apropos to the article, the dumbbells and rower I've owned since long before the pandemic are finally getting regular use now, mostly because I'm bored.
Apropos to the article, the dumbbells and rower I've owned since long before the pandemic are finally getting regular use now, mostly because I'm bored.
I'd double star this, not eating out has also made me healthier, but has but me worlds ahead financially. I feel kind of bad about that given the state of the service economy, but with extra time, I've been able to make healthy breakfasts and lunches each day, and experimenting with a variety of recipes for dinner.
Now that restaurants have opened back up, I've gone out a few times, and half the meals haven't been that satisfying, considering how strong the food game has gotten at home.
BTW, we're pretty lucky in Boston to have so many Trader Joe's around. I can literally eat like a king on $50 to $60/week (I still eat meat and salmon). (Not counting alcohol.)
Now that restaurants have opened back up, I've gone out a few times, and half the meals haven't been that satisfying, considering how strong the food game has gotten at home.
BTW, we're pretty lucky in Boston to have so many Trader Joe's around. I can literally eat like a king on $50 to $60/week (I still eat meat and salmon). (Not counting alcohol.)
Not eating out is a definite plus.
Infrequent trips to the supermarket is also a plus, since that one bag of chips now has to last a week until the next trip. In general, the ratio of junk food to real food purchases has decreased.
Infrequent trips to the supermarket is also a plus, since that one bag of chips now has to last a week until the next trip. In general, the ratio of junk food to real food purchases has decreased.
Anecdata - I have indeed exercised more, because home is now home/workplace and I want to get out of work every now and then.
To be honest, cant wait for the WFH thing to end.
To be honest, cant wait for the WFH thing to end.
PTON stock has doubled since COVID.
Lulu bought Mirror
We saw MAU higher than New Years during peak COVID (health and fitness app) and our peers said the same.
Can’t buy weights to save your life.
Question is what happens after reopen?
Lulu bought Mirror
We saw MAU higher than New Years during peak COVID (health and fitness app) and our peers said the same.
Can’t buy weights to save your life.
Question is what happens after reopen?
I'm outside the US in a place with no community transmission for about two months. When gyms reopened, at first it was slow, but when everything reopened without any new cases, everyone went a bit crazy (people are hitting the gyms a lot). It's still crazy. People I saw who were a bit overweight before lockdown lost weight. Same with myself - gained weight during lockdown - lost it 2 weeks after everything reopened since now life was fun again. I imagine that people are going to go pretty hard with socializing, travel, live music, etc. when/if Covid is contained.
Gyms have reopened in Chicago in the last ~month. I'd say even today it's about 25-30% full compared to what it typically would be. I know gyms have been open in other places a lot longer, can't speak to that.
Work for a leading 'online fitness experience' provider. Our MAU has gone through the roof and well into the sky. I'm not sure what this says about 'fitness' as I've no idea if these people are gonna quit within 6 months (ie if the mechanism by which fitness aspirations begin and die has merely changed) or if people are indeed on the cusp of a new way of living. I hope for the latter, as this has indeed happened to me. But I fear it will not be the norm.
It's not a new golden age of fitness. There may be a short-term boon, but people's motivation will eventually nose dive without social interaction.
"Previously, 50% of gym-goers quit after 6 months." Why would you not expect the same thing to happen with people's quarantine workout motivations? We're still within the first 6 months of quarantine.
"Previously, 50% of gym-goers quit after 6 months." Why would you not expect the same thing to happen with people's quarantine workout motivations? We're still within the first 6 months of quarantine.
The best hope is (a) social pressure to attend class, with (b) class costs plummeting due to logistics and competition.
However, the glut of supply may make it hard for people to cluster together into classes
However, the glut of supply may make it hard for people to cluster together into classes
It's hard to say for sure, but at the moment it looks like ~10-15% of class-based locations will not re-open due to business failure? So that's not a dramatically reduced supply, and additionally a lot of these places weren't sold-out to begin with (except in say NYC or LA where popular classes have waitlists). I personally think the desire to be social + in/person will soon exceed people's concerns re: safety, especially in areas where the COVID rates are low.
> (b) class costs plummeting due to logistics and competition
I think this is unlikely at least until social distancing goes away. The average class size has decreased significantly in order to make social distancing possible.
Pre-covid, classes at our gym were sometimes so packed that you couldn't comfortably do a forward lunge without stepping on the person in front of you.
I think this is unlikely at least until social distancing goes away. The average class size has decreased significantly in order to make social distancing possible.
Pre-covid, classes at our gym were sometimes so packed that you couldn't comfortably do a forward lunge without stepping on the person in front of you.
>The best hope is (a) social pressure to attend class //
By class I assume you mean some sort of organised fitness events? Do people do that for social reasons - I'd have thought the primary reason was not wanting to wobble like a jelly when you walk up the road; then perhaps longevity??
By class I assume you mean some sort of organised fitness events? Do people do that for social reasons - I'd have thought the primary reason was not wanting to wobble like a jelly when you walk up the road; then perhaps longevity??
The only people I know who seem to feel really good about their COVID fitness levels are those who prioritized it before the pandemic and are so committed that they were willing and able to figure out alternatives. People who didn't prioritize it or struggled to get into sustainable schedules are doing poorly. Even some of my friends who had really good routines fell into pretty serious depressions at the start of it and haven't been able to find a new schedule that works for them.
I'd love to see stats on who's buying home gym equipment and what percentage of them are people just getting started training VS former gym-goers who are trying to adapt. The home fitness market was already exploding before this, I'd love to know if this is just the same target audience adopting it faster than anticipated.
I'd love to see stats on who's buying home gym equipment and what percentage of them are people just getting started training VS former gym-goers who are trying to adapt. The home fitness market was already exploding before this, I'd love to know if this is just the same target audience adopting it faster than anticipated.
Woah there cowboy. I've been on waiting lists for any serious at home gym equipment since April. Not a peep, but I refuse to pay Marketplace/Craigslist scalpers.
I was lucky to get resistance bands and those have been working well at least.
Having a long ass commute and a dog to attend to meant my life was pretty much office and home. I was always too exhausted to consider a serious workout routine. However, since shelter-in-place started I've lost a ton of weight, gotten amazing sleep and never felt physically better. I've been working out daily and walking/hiking on the weekends, if anything, just to get out of my house.
I've also cooked all my meals because I've made it a personal goal to get abs by the end of the year. So I want to know what I'm putting in my body.
This has become a life changing moment for me, so I don't see any reason why this wouldn't be true for others. If the pandemic threw you off your old daily routines, and that's your only reason for giving up healthy habits, were you really committed in the first place? What would have happened if you simply moved or started a family or some other life changing event in the future? Would you just give up your routine then?
I was lucky to get resistance bands and those have been working well at least.
Having a long ass commute and a dog to attend to meant my life was pretty much office and home. I was always too exhausted to consider a serious workout routine. However, since shelter-in-place started I've lost a ton of weight, gotten amazing sleep and never felt physically better. I've been working out daily and walking/hiking on the weekends, if anything, just to get out of my house.
I've also cooked all my meals because I've made it a personal goal to get abs by the end of the year. So I want to know what I'm putting in my body.
This has become a life changing moment for me, so I don't see any reason why this wouldn't be true for others. If the pandemic threw you off your old daily routines, and that's your only reason for giving up healthy habits, were you really committed in the first place? What would have happened if you simply moved or started a family or some other life changing event in the future? Would you just give up your routine then?
Check out Nowinstock.net. It worked for me!
I've been on waiting lists for any serious at home gym equipment since April. Not a peep, but I refuse to pay Marketplace/Craigslist scalpers.
If you're just interested in general fitness, no equipment needed, there are any number of online workouts to follow that will give you a great whole body + cardio workout using nothing more than your body weight.
(though I bought both a spinning bike and a set of dumbbells at the beginning of quarantine... I've finally reached the point where the dumbbells aren't quite heavy enough for everything, so I've been watching eBay for a good deal on additional weight plates since as you noted, it's hard to find workout equipment)
If you're just interested in general fitness, no equipment needed, there are any number of online workouts to follow that will give you a great whole body + cardio workout using nothing more than your body weight.
(though I bought both a spinning bike and a set of dumbbells at the beginning of quarantine... I've finally reached the point where the dumbbells aren't quite heavy enough for everything, so I've been watching eBay for a good deal on additional weight plates since as you noted, it's hard to find workout equipment)
My quarantine routine was yoga mat + YouTube yoga session every morning before work. It’s been pretty great tbh.
(Btw, yoga with adriene is a very good YouTube yoga channel)
(Btw, yoga with adriene is a very good YouTube yoga channel)
I have also been loving yoga on youtube! Its like going to a class except there is nobody to tell me how much my form sucks.
I've been thinking about writing an app to let me turn some of these follow alongs into an interval timer where I could just say the name of the pose (so I could do other things while doing the yoga). Then I could always click on the pose to go back to the video. Does that sound of interest?
I've been thinking about writing an app to let me turn some of these follow alongs into an interval timer where I could just say the name of the pose (so I could do other things while doing the yoga). Then I could always click on the pose to go back to the video. Does that sound of interest?
Another good way to extend the life of weights that are too light: Increase Reps, Increase Sets, Decrease Rest, focus on pace while lifting (4 seconds down, 2 seconds up), and unilateral exercises (1-leg-squats). Not a substitute for everything, but hopefully can help bridge the gap for a little longer.
> Woah there cowboy. I've been on waiting lists for any serious at home gym equipment since April. Not a peep, but I refuse to pay Marketplace/Craigslist scalpers.
I was in the same boat and I recommend taking a look at the Stock and Shipping Thread in Reddit's /r/homegym subreddit. [1] I joined their discord/stream for a few weeks and was able to be on top of gym equipment re-stocks and got what I needed pretty quickly, cost being MSRP.
[1] https://www.reddit.com/r/homegym/comments/i5ect0/stock_and_s...
I was in the same boat and I recommend taking a look at the Stock and Shipping Thread in Reddit's /r/homegym subreddit. [1] I joined their discord/stream for a few weeks and was able to be on top of gym equipment re-stocks and got what I needed pretty quickly, cost being MSRP.
[1] https://www.reddit.com/r/homegym/comments/i5ect0/stock_and_s...
I feel like I've been transported to an alternate reality where people argue home gyms are better than real gyms and working from home is without consequence.
This reality seems heavily biased by people with long commutes.
This reality seems heavily biased by people with long commutes.
It isn't just the commutes - I've had a number of good commutes that I enjoy, particularly bicycle commutes.
Unfortunately most companies that I have worked with (or might work with) seem to have adopted productivity-killing open plan offices, which are absolutely terrible.
Even when I spend 8 hours in a horrible open plan office, I end up doing most of my actual work at home. The office hours are simply to keep supervisors happy, to attend mandatory (often unnecessary) meetings, and to remain visible.
Unfortunately most companies that I have worked with (or might work with) seem to have adopted productivity-killing open plan offices, which are absolutely terrible.
Even when I spend 8 hours in a horrible open plan office, I end up doing most of my actual work at home. The office hours are simply to keep supervisors happy, to attend mandatory (often unnecessary) meetings, and to remain visible.
1 kettlebell. 1 jump rope. Thank me later. ;-)
Pull up bar too, or Olympic rings. Between those and body weight exercises you can have a complete workout regimen.
As a bonus, a pull up bar installed properly with screwed in supports can also support a hammock when it is not being used :)
Definitely not my experience. I was going to the gym regularly before: lifting weights and cycling. Post pandemic I've lost 5 pounds thanks to cycling outdoors, swimming outdoors, lugging heavy bags camping in the wilderness, Ring Fit, Just Dance, Box VR, Audica, Beat Saber, yoga and pilates TV shows, and first one set of resistance bands and now a second more advanced set. Started doing acroyoga with my girlfriend, which is a blast.
Similarly, one friend is double my level in Ring Fit and we send photos back and forth egging each other on, and another friend is constantly sending me YouTube videos of how to do perfect plays in Just Dance and showing me her score and has hacked the group play mode to work remote by streaming the host screen by video call.
How could someone not find a schedule that works for them now that they just need to turn on YouTube whereas previously they had to go visit a gym or a trainer? It's way easier now, as the Forbes article states.
Similarly, one friend is double my level in Ring Fit and we send photos back and forth egging each other on, and another friend is constantly sending me YouTube videos of how to do perfect plays in Just Dance and showing me her score and has hacked the group play mode to work remote by streaming the host screen by video call.
How could someone not find a schedule that works for them now that they just need to turn on YouTube whereas previously they had to go visit a gym or a trainer? It's way easier now, as the Forbes article states.
> How could someone not find a schedule that works for them now
My answer to that question is having children while no longer being able to outsource childcare.
My answer to that question is having children while no longer being able to outsource childcare.
I'm in the same boat there but I'm training more consistently than I ever have. I have a double stroller so I take the boys running, or I load them up and do sprints uphill if I don't feel like going for a long run. It's not unlike pushing a sled. I also set the littlest one up in his bouncer while the 2 year old plays with the tools in my garage and watches me lift weights or do pull-ups. Exercise can and should be a family activity. On the weekends my wife and I each throw a kid on our back and go for a ruck in the forest.
You can also use children like a kettlebell. They love it and it's a great workout. The two year old also loves to help me with push-ups and planks by climbing on or under me.
You can also use children like a kettlebell. They love it and it's a great workout. The two year old also loves to help me with push-ups and planks by climbing on or under me.
> > The only people I know who seem to feel really good about their COVID fitness levels are those who prioritized it before the pandemic and are so committed that they were willing and able to figure out alternatives.
> Definitely not my experience. I was going to the gym regularly before: lifting weights and cycling. Post pandemic I've lost 5 pounds thanks to cycling outdoors, swimming outdoors, lugging heavy bags camping in the wilderness, Ring Fit, Just Dance, Box VR, Audica, Beat Saber, yoga and pilates TV shows, and first one set of resistance bands and now a second more advanced set. Started doing acroyoga with my girlfriend, which is a blast.
Am I reading this wrong? You said "definitely not my experience" and then validated everything he said. Looks more like "definitely my experience".
> Definitely not my experience. I was going to the gym regularly before: lifting weights and cycling. Post pandemic I've lost 5 pounds thanks to cycling outdoors, swimming outdoors, lugging heavy bags camping in the wilderness, Ring Fit, Just Dance, Box VR, Audica, Beat Saber, yoga and pilates TV shows, and first one set of resistance bands and now a second more advanced set. Started doing acroyoga with my girlfriend, which is a blast.
Am I reading this wrong? You said "definitely not my experience" and then validated everything he said. Looks more like "definitely my experience".
[deleted]
It's very difficult for many people to change their routines, especially where fitness is concerned, even more so when paired with the anxiety of the pandemic.
My wife is just like you. She went from daily workouts in the gym to daily workouts with Nike Training, running outdoors, and Yoga with Down Dog. I'm in the other camp, I went from very regular (but not daily) training in the gym and schedule-permitting Muay Thai to a month of depression to a few weeks of inconsistent home workouts before I finally fell into a great routine that's close to my wife's but with more weight training. My wife had made fitness a big part of her life for years and she was used to changing it up; I had a routine that I was happy with but it was a struggle to even get there and when it changed, I had a really hard time building up momentum again.
These are just a couple anecdotes, everyone is different, but I know more people whose experiences are closer to mine than my wife's or yours. It probably has a lot to do with the circles we all travel in -- I don't know a lot of people who were very fit before COVID so I'm less likely to know them now -- but I don't think we should overlook how challenging it is to change fitness habits. I think we're entering a great age of home fitness options but I'm not convinced that it's going to radically transform the health of as many people as the companies operating in this space would like it to.
My wife is just like you. She went from daily workouts in the gym to daily workouts with Nike Training, running outdoors, and Yoga with Down Dog. I'm in the other camp, I went from very regular (but not daily) training in the gym and schedule-permitting Muay Thai to a month of depression to a few weeks of inconsistent home workouts before I finally fell into a great routine that's close to my wife's but with more weight training. My wife had made fitness a big part of her life for years and she was used to changing it up; I had a routine that I was happy with but it was a struggle to even get there and when it changed, I had a really hard time building up momentum again.
These are just a couple anecdotes, everyone is different, but I know more people whose experiences are closer to mine than my wife's or yours. It probably has a lot to do with the circles we all travel in -- I don't know a lot of people who were very fit before COVID so I'm less likely to know them now -- but I don't think we should overlook how challenging it is to change fitness habits. I think we're entering a great age of home fitness options but I'm not convinced that it's going to radically transform the health of as many people as the companies operating in this space would like it to.
Prior to the pandemic I had from 8 - 2 each day to work out as my kids were in school. With the kids home now its pretty difficult. Compounding this is that I cant actually take them anywhere to blow off steam, and outside time is pretty limited as its crazy hot outside (I am in the south).
The pandemic has really not been conducive to me remaining fit. Young kids complicate things massively.
Also have no friends right now and not the best time to make any... so things are going great :)
The pandemic has really not been conducive to me remaining fit. Young kids complicate things massively.
Also have no friends right now and not the best time to make any... so things are going great :)
Just popping in to say...that sounds hard, brother (or sister). I feel you and keep going. This time too shall pass, and keep investing in the things you know are important even if they feel for now like they're not working.
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A lot of people are only socially motivated to fitness: 1) With less socialization in general, less motivation towards fitness. (The "who cares if I am a fat slob if no one sees me outside of the house?" problem.) 2) Gym tools like personal trainers are an "accountability-buddy", a big reason why they are such a common gym amenity is that some people need that "mentor that keeps me accountable" or other peer pressures of a gym environment.
You can only do so much social motivation over Zoom.
You can only do so much social motivation over Zoom.
One tip that helped me a ton – if you're WFH, turn your former commute (or some % of your former commute), and force yourself to work out during this time. I started that at the beginning of COVID and without exaggeration it's been life-changing.
I put 0 pressure on myself to hit goals, I just run / do pushups / walk briskly, but I make sure to use the commute time on that rather than working more or browsing the internet.
I put 0 pressure on myself to hit goals, I just run / do pushups / walk briskly, but I make sure to use the commute time on that rather than working more or browsing the internet.
I've changed to work out in the middle of the day (thanks flexible job) which is a fun but challenging diversion from work. For me it's super tough to do morning workouts, and after work I want to relax, but in the middle of the day I'm still in my work mindset so it's been a nice change.
I started doing midday workouts for exactly the same reason as yours and it has made a massive difference to me. It also helped me cut down on sometimes unhealthy cafeteria lunch (back when things were normal) in favor of salad/smoothie post workout, so I count that as a win-win.
I actually do the same, I also feel like it helps me work better afterwards.
I've done something similar - working out 3 days a week in the evening during my commute time. I've gained a little bit of muscle and lost a couple of pounds since this madness started.
I didn't start off this way though. At the beginning I was paralyzed, staring at my phone and laptop screen. I was tragically distracted and just... stuck. Doomscrolling is the new word that I can totally relate to. I was swirling in emotion.
But I just decided I'd had enough one day. It was actually a goofy book that some rando twitter handle sent me one day that gave a step by step "leveling up" process. It was one of those right place, right time things so I just went with it.
I started meditating with the "Waking Up" app, drinking water, working out, and kicked my side project back off. It's been a real journey now that I've decided to use this extra time for good rather than just emoting.
I didn't start off this way though. At the beginning I was paralyzed, staring at my phone and laptop screen. I was tragically distracted and just... stuck. Doomscrolling is the new word that I can totally relate to. I was swirling in emotion.
But I just decided I'd had enough one day. It was actually a goofy book that some rando twitter handle sent me one day that gave a step by step "leveling up" process. It was one of those right place, right time things so I just went with it.
I started meditating with the "Waking Up" app, drinking water, working out, and kicked my side project back off. It's been a real journey now that I've decided to use this extra time for good rather than just emoting.
That's what I do -- I used to keep an hour blocked off of my calendar for "commute time", now I use that time to workout.
At the beginning of the quarantine, I bought a spinning bike (I've been thinking about getting one for over a year, but going to the gym spinning classes a couple times a week was relatively convenient since the gym was near work). I also invested in a set of dumbbells.
Now I work out 5 days a week -- alternating between spinning and strength training. If I miss the morning exercise for any reason, it's easy to fit in a 15 minute session sometime during the day, something that was much harder to do when I was going to the gym for exercise.
I don't think I'll ever return to the gym now that I've experienced the convenience of working out at home in a virtual online class.
At the beginning of the quarantine, I bought a spinning bike (I've been thinking about getting one for over a year, but going to the gym spinning classes a couple times a week was relatively convenient since the gym was near work). I also invested in a set of dumbbells.
Now I work out 5 days a week -- alternating between spinning and strength training. If I miss the morning exercise for any reason, it's easy to fit in a 15 minute session sometime during the day, something that was much harder to do when I was going to the gym for exercise.
I don't think I'll ever return to the gym now that I've experienced the convenience of working out at home in a virtual online class.
I hear you! As a lazy slob, I find that it's really important to remove any possible obstacle to working out that my mind can latch onto. So being locked down with nothing fun to do and time back from my commute has actually been a godsend for my physical fitness.
Correct. In my case I was pretty worried that I'll end in a downwards spiral due to gyms being shutdown and whatnot and I did everything I can to make up for it. Before the lockdown, I was at ~10% body fat. In an attempt to not go to 24-25% as I was a few years back, I started exercising daily and with 0 intentions, I dropped down to ~6.2% body fat. I went back to the gym as soon as they re-opened and still carried on working out at home. Well... These last few days have been a struggle cause I got a dog and... He gets excited easily to put it mildly...
But that's me. There are a few people from work that live near me and one of them looks 15 years older in every way imaginable.
But that's me. There are a few people from work that live near me and one of them looks 15 years older in every way imaginable.
It's been impossible to buy any kind of home fitness equipment for a couple of months now. I've seen kettlebells going for $500 on Amazon.
People definitely thought they were going to jump into home fitness with both feet, but just like New Year's resolutions, I doubt that many of them stuck with it.
If I had to guess, there are two groups of people who are taking advantage of the quarantine to better their fitness routine: people who were already serious, and already had a home gym; and people who are doing something that doesn't take a whole lot of equipment, like yoga.
People definitely thought they were going to jump into home fitness with both feet, but just like New Year's resolutions, I doubt that many of them stuck with it.
If I had to guess, there are two groups of people who are taking advantage of the quarantine to better their fitness routine: people who were already serious, and already had a home gym; and people who are doing something that doesn't take a whole lot of equipment, like yoga.
The other side of the fitness coin is diet, and the two hours a day returned to me have been instrumental in improving that. People may come out of quarantine simultaneously less fit and less fat.
Fitness-wise, there's only so much you can do with a 4-8-month-old in a third-floor apartment, but jogging a couple miles with a stroller is kind of nice at any rate.
Fitness-wise, there's only so much you can do with a 4-8-month-old in a third-floor apartment, but jogging a couple miles with a stroller is kind of nice at any rate.
This might be a case where perfect is the enemy of good.
People overestimate how much and how hard they have to work to make a positive impact on their fitness. You don't need to join Crossfit, run ten miles a day, or lift for forty-five minutes, five days a week.
For someone who is sedentary, jogging a couple of miles with a stroller is a huge improvement. So is twenty minutes of yoga.
Consistency is more important than going all-out, all the time.
People overestimate how much and how hard they have to work to make a positive impact on their fitness. You don't need to join Crossfit, run ten miles a day, or lift for forty-five minutes, five days a week.
For someone who is sedentary, jogging a couple of miles with a stroller is a huge improvement. So is twenty minutes of yoga.
Consistency is more important than going all-out, all the time.
Personally I've been pretty hardcore about various kinds of fitness (including the synecdoche of the day, CrossFit) so it's been an adjustment to be the dumpy dad jogging behind a stroller.
I will say that I really wish I could lift weights or at least do pull-ups right now because I'm getting all kinds of random aches I don't get when my upper body's in shape.
I will say that I really wish I could lift weights or at least do pull-ups right now because I'm getting all kinds of random aches I don't get when my upper body's in shape.
Caveat: jogging strollers aren't recommended for babies before at least six months, because they don't really have any neck muscles to handle changes in direction or stopping. Wait until they can hold their own head up and look around. BUT you can use that time to try running with an empty stroller at least once, it feels pretty different and also you might notice some unexpected obstacles along your normal route!
Even _walking_ a couple miles with a stroller is significant!
I mean, the average person doesn't really need much equipment if the goal is to lose weight (in contrast with the niche hobbyist market of building muscle). There's a ton of bodyweight exercises[1] you can use that require no gym or even weights.
[1]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bodyweight_exercise
[1]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bodyweight_exercise
A decent body weight program is going to require a pull-up bar and if you rent that's a tough ask
Maybe I'm just bad at physical fitness but I've never been able to do a pull-up. Seems like the kind of thing that requires both upper body strength and a lean body, which is kind of where I want to finish, not where I get to start from.
Certain equipment has had a run, but you can get resistance bands all over the place. I bought 150lbs of resistance for $40, and I just looked and there are still plenty in stock.
I think people have to get more creative with their physical fitness. You don't need freeweights to achieve great results.
Here is an excellent guide:
https://yoga-horizons.com/pdfs/Fatmans-Guide-to-Cable-Traini...
I think people have to get more creative with their physical fitness. You don't need freeweights to achieve great results.
Here is an excellent guide:
https://yoga-horizons.com/pdfs/Fatmans-Guide-to-Cable-Traini...
Get a TRX equipment and work with your body weight. I train all my muscle groups with it. It weighs about 500 grams and can fit in any backpack.
Dumb question - how do you use these in a home? I looked up their TRX kit but they all seem suited for gyms?
https://store.trxtraining.com/trx-full-body-workout-bundle/
https://store.trxtraining.com/trx-full-body-workout-bundle/
There are a lot you can buy with door anchors. Basically little discs or like a fabric 'bump' which goes the top of the door, which you close, and then you pull the opposite direction of where the door swings open.
I got these ones before lockdown panic - though I use them with my pull up bar which allows one to do a lot more exercise than if you're stuck with a door block you. The pull up bar doesnt leave any marks though I also have an old house with solid wood frames i've wondered hw secure it would be resting on the lip of a cheap mdf narrow frame
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0787N367J/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b...
I got these ones before lockdown panic - though I use them with my pull up bar which allows one to do a lot more exercise than if you're stuck with a door block you. The pull up bar doesnt leave any marks though I also have an old house with solid wood frames i've wondered hw secure it would be resting on the lip of a cheap mdf narrow frame
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0787N367J/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b...
I had a TRX setup, but switched to wooden gymnastic rings. The rings are a lot more durable.
Seconding all those saying resistance bands. They are the perfect complement to daily walks or jogging since weight is minimal and they easily sling over the shoulder. I see more people using them every month. For ideas on how to use them I suggest looking up Undersun Fitness on YT.
Door pull-ups are a pretty good hack. Your t-shirt and shorts cut the friction enough that your body just slides along the door surface. Place a sock under each palm for a more comfortable grip.
Between that, push-ups, planks, going for a walk, and running up some stairs, you can keep a baseline of fitness which isn’t too shabby.
Between that, push-ups, planks, going for a walk, and running up some stairs, you can keep a baseline of fitness which isn’t too shabby.
I grabbed some big landscaping rocks. They're heavy, asymmetrical but smooth, and make for a good workout.
My anecdata is definitely in opposition to your anecdata :-) I’ve personally struggled in the past to keep a consistent fitness habit because it felt like it took a lot of time. However, Covid gave me a couple of extra hours a day, and, coupled with the discovery of amazing body weight exercises on YouTube, I’ve been working out virtually every day for the past 3 months. That’s longer and more frequently than I have ever exercised previously.
I think that speaks to your ability to adapt, which is great! My wife found herself in a similar boat: prior to COVID, she did abbreviated workouts every day after work; since COVID, she's arranged her schedule to get her ideal workouts every morning plus yoga and some extra runs with me. I've finally reached a same place, doing 5-6 days a week instead of 3-4, but it was almost entirely because she harangued me. Finding a fitness routine was never natural for me and I feel for all the people who got thrown off their game and still haven't recovered.
Yeah I agree with this although not Covid enforced working from home means I now swim 5x a week. Before although I didn’t have a big commute I definitely felt social pressure that made me feel like I didn’t have time to fit it in.
I found it really energises me in the morning and obviously it’s done wonders for my overall health and fitness.
I found it really energises me in the morning and obviously it’s done wonders for my overall health and fitness.
I think it heavily depends on the individual. Personally I've gone from nearly sedentary to running ~35 miles per week (and lost ~15 lbs in the process).
I've gone from walking 80minutes/day and doing 16-8 'fasting' to eating comfort foods and barely leaving the house. Principally for me I was able to use getting to work as a motivator to exercise (and everything else fell in to place to some extent); now work is in the bedroom. It's a problem principally of depression/lack of motivation; but one that I was managing prior to lockdown.
Experiences are so varied across the board. It wouldn't surprise me if overall people, like me, were worse off in general health terms.
Experiences are so varied across the board. It wouldn't surprise me if overall people, like me, were worse off in general health terms.
While it's an amazing progress, make sure not to overdo it. Muscles get used to increased stress quickly, but joints (especially knees) and tendons not so much - and those also heal much slower after a stress-induced injury.
A really good point! I'd run a bit in the past - though not to this extent - and it's amazing the degree to which injury management becomes a part of running. I'm definitely an amateur compared to most people, but I've already learned so much about random human anatomy each time something breaks...
>People who didn't prioritize it or struggled to get into sustainable schedules are doing poorly.
I'm one of those people that has fitness goals met mostly through routine and access to the gym. There are no gyms within 20The complete dynamiting of my child's summer schedule, WFH, and everything else has made it so that there is no routine any more.
I'm one of those people that has fitness goals met mostly through routine and access to the gym. There are no gyms within 20The complete dynamiting of my child's summer schedule, WFH, and everything else has made it so that there is no routine any more.
Definitely me. My main fitness hobby, a grappling martial art (Brazilian Jiu Jitsu), had to stop. My diet fell apart, and my fitness level dropped precipitously. I am rebuilding now, lifting again, drilling BJJ things, walking with my wife, etc. it was not an easy adjustment. I’d definitely say I hit some mild depression.
Same, but outdoorsy stuff and I had to quarantine with a family member in Houston. I basically went from top 10% athlete level to feeling like a total couch potato. I just went back out this week and it's gonna take about a year to get back.
Just wanted to commiserate with you a little about the combat sports. I was in the several weeks into a training camp for my first amateur muay thai fight when my state's shelter-in-place order came out. Not being able to work with training partners and equipment (weights, heavy bags, and whatnot), and especially not having that as an outlet anymore has been really hard.
Like you, I think I'm finally making a little progress towards rebuilding, but there's been a couple pretty rough patches along the way.
Like you, I think I'm finally making a little progress towards rebuilding, but there's been a couple pretty rough patches along the way.
thanks, it’s definitely hard. I know some people have been creating new healthy habits for themselves, but I was already very active as a runner and BJJ player. I should have taken it seriously and adjusted instead of being lazy. Stopping an extremely active life style cold turkey is like stopping medication. It sucks.
Plus it’s not like I can stop. I already got a little cauliflower ear. It’s blackbelt or bust now :)
Plus it’s not like I can stop. I already got a little cauliflower ear. It’s blackbelt or bust now :)
Counter anecdote: my mother started Nutrisystem and prioritizing fitness because the pandemic gave her the time away from work to focus, experiment, and dial in a new routine.
She’s lost almost 20 pounds and counting, healthily, and currently weighs less than she has in 30 years; her doctor halved her blood pressure medicine a couple weeks ago, and predicts she’ll be able to stop it entirely soon — once again something she’s been on for 30 years; her blood work came back with flying colors; and she went on her first actual grueling hike in her life a couple weeks ago.
She has a new lease on life due to the pandemic: a window of opportunity where she didn’t have to work to live. Now she’s ready to return to work, with her new habits, and never look back.
She’s lost almost 20 pounds and counting, healthily, and currently weighs less than she has in 30 years; her doctor halved her blood pressure medicine a couple weeks ago, and predicts she’ll be able to stop it entirely soon — once again something she’s been on for 30 years; her blood work came back with flying colors; and she went on her first actual grueling hike in her life a couple weeks ago.
She has a new lease on life due to the pandemic: a window of opportunity where she didn’t have to work to live. Now she’s ready to return to work, with her new habits, and never look back.
One thing that helped a lot was that by having a commute I had a pretty good excuse to bike, it only took slightly longer than driving and it provided a break between work and home, to give me more time to adjust between the 2 modes. Not having a commute removed most of the motivation to bike. I force myself now (and I hate it most of the time) to go once a week over the local mountain but that still means only about 20% of weekly biking time I was doing before with commuting. Still, it's better than nothing.
Found it really nice to be able to get some frustration out biking home as hard as I felt like. Now I just kinda transition from the computer to the couch downstairs.
If anyone is interested, for home workouts I highly recommend a macebell. It its a weight on the end of a 3 foot pole. It's beautiful because it allows you to adjust the leverage the weight has against you to adjust the difficulty. It's very dynamic and fun to work out with and tons of exercises from isometric to full-body can be done with it.
I found it easier to get exercise, enough sleep and good food while working for home.
It was generally more tiring with kids at home, but specifically I had more time to exercise and when we went outside as familly I as adult had waaay more chance to move too. Since there were no kids outside, we went to place where I could do sport too more often.
It was generally more tiring with kids at home, but specifically I had more time to exercise and when we went outside as familly I as adult had waaay more chance to move too. Since there were no kids outside, we went to place where I could do sport too more often.
The pandemic disrupted my fitness regimen because it disrupted my daily routine in general. Ironically, I found that I had more free time to run, but ran less and was somewhat listless in general. (It didn't help that all of my races got canceled, too.) I've only recently returned to my pre-Covid weekly mileage.
I wholeheartedly disagree. I had a good fitness routine pre-COVID and the lack of a work-life balance and proper gym equipment has definitely made me less fit in the last ~5 months. I'd say this is generally true amongst my group of friends as well.
For instance, I had a friend who was avidly taking muay thai lessons for the last few years give it up for the time being since it's not feasible to recreate that experience in his own 1BR.
A lot of people are doing what they can with freeweights and online classes but it's just not the same.
For instance, I had a friend who was avidly taking muay thai lessons for the last few years give it up for the time being since it's not feasible to recreate that experience in his own 1BR.
A lot of people are doing what they can with freeweights and online classes but it's just not the same.
I was fat before the pandemic. I continue to be fat during the pandemic. I will be fat after the pandemic is over. Fitness is for other people.
I’m doing great, thanks for asking. I drink good whiskey on my porch while I watch the bomb ass explosive sunsets that Florida is so famous for. I shoot projectile weapons into an earthen berm. I listen to my favorite synthwave playlists. I eat good food. I go to the beach.
Just because I’m fat doesn’t mean I’m doing poorly. In fact I’m willing to bet that I’m happier than most posers who go around telling everyone that they do CrossFit. (That my iPhone has capitalized CrossFit is alarming in itself...)
I’m doing great, thanks for asking. I drink good whiskey on my porch while I watch the bomb ass explosive sunsets that Florida is so famous for. I shoot projectile weapons into an earthen berm. I listen to my favorite synthwave playlists. I eat good food. I go to the beach.
Just because I’m fat doesn’t mean I’m doing poorly. In fact I’m willing to bet that I’m happier than most posers who go around telling everyone that they do CrossFit. (That my iPhone has capitalized CrossFit is alarming in itself...)
Before I spent time working out more, I would turn down invites to go rockclimbing (too difficult), kayaking (too exhausting) or anything else that required exertion. My energy levels were low and my general coordination was terrible. I generally felt I couldn't work out because I'm a stereotypical nerd.
Once I realized that working out was more about regular effort than anything else, I quickly gained a lot of benefit. Pre-covid, I was mostly into weightlifting and martial arts, and these days it's a lot of bodyweight workouts and using the rowing machine but the details don't matter very much so much as being active. I've gone from never going out to do things to now knowing I can go run a 5k, join in on rock climbing or whatever (and generally not even be sore afterwards).
I also enjoy sitting on my porch though I typically prefer margaritas. When it comes to the range, I've found there are a lot more activities I feel comfortable doing now - not just static target shooting but full length training courses, stress drills, etc. It's also nice to go to the beach and get a certain amount of positive looks. My SO enjoys that I work out as well.
Exercise does not "make you" happy anymore than eating chocolate does - it may bring pleasure in itself but that's a side benefit. Rather, the primary benefit is now being able to do _whatever_ strikes your fancy and generally deal with significantly less health woes and limitations. It's a nice experience that when you visit your doctor, you get a high five and told your blood pressure and vitals are good.
Once I realized that working out was more about regular effort than anything else, I quickly gained a lot of benefit. Pre-covid, I was mostly into weightlifting and martial arts, and these days it's a lot of bodyweight workouts and using the rowing machine but the details don't matter very much so much as being active. I've gone from never going out to do things to now knowing I can go run a 5k, join in on rock climbing or whatever (and generally not even be sore afterwards).
I also enjoy sitting on my porch though I typically prefer margaritas. When it comes to the range, I've found there are a lot more activities I feel comfortable doing now - not just static target shooting but full length training courses, stress drills, etc. It's also nice to go to the beach and get a certain amount of positive looks. My SO enjoys that I work out as well.
Exercise does not "make you" happy anymore than eating chocolate does - it may bring pleasure in itself but that's a side benefit. Rather, the primary benefit is now being able to do _whatever_ strikes your fancy and generally deal with significantly less health woes and limitations. It's a nice experience that when you visit your doctor, you get a high five and told your blood pressure and vitals are good.
None of the statements in the comment you reply to relate to your situation so you didn't have to defend yourself. That you did makes it appear like a source of insecurity.
Now maybe it isn't a source of insecurity, but it still looks like it is.
Now maybe it isn't a source of insecurity, but it still looks like it is.
I fail to see how this is relevant to OP's question about the demographic of people buying home gym equipment since you are obviously not one of them.
To be fair, the OP talked about home gym equipment like he's talking about weights, but that's not what the Forbes article is about:
"
Trainers have gone online, video-based workouts are the new normal, and high-tech home gym equipment is making its way into more homes than ever before.
"
And even following the link to gym equipment has: " From companies that strictly provide a software platform that enables video workouts to hardware companies that facilitate live group workouts, the wide range of options available to consumers is plentiful.
Peloton, one of the more notable names in the industry, experienced a 66% surge in sales earlier in the year as more consumers became willing to shell out thousands of dollars for hardware that connects someone to live classes and other riders.
Tonal, another in-home hardware fitness company, told reporters back in March that the company’s sales tripled at one point in the early days of March when people were being encouraged to stay home more regularly. "
So really the article is more about remote classes and training and tech to facilitate them, not home gym equipment. So comments about this lifestyle appealing to new people or not are more on topic than topics about buying home weights.
And even following the link to gym equipment has: " From companies that strictly provide a software platform that enables video workouts to hardware companies that facilitate live group workouts, the wide range of options available to consumers is plentiful.
Peloton, one of the more notable names in the industry, experienced a 66% surge in sales earlier in the year as more consumers became willing to shell out thousands of dollars for hardware that connects someone to live classes and other riders.
Tonal, another in-home hardware fitness company, told reporters back in March that the company’s sales tripled at one point in the early days of March when people were being encouraged to stay home more regularly. "
So really the article is more about remote classes and training and tech to facilitate them, not home gym equipment. So comments about this lifestyle appealing to new people or not are more on topic than topics about buying home weights.
Have fun dying early.
I have been doing a good job of playing Eleven Table Tennis on the Quest every day. Forme that's an accomplishment because my standard is absolutely zero exercise and I work from home and don't go out much.
But I am going to have to try harder because I have not gotten any less fat from that. Its kind of minimal movement really.
What actually is the most exercise on the Quest for me is bowling, believe it or not. Because to release properly you actually have to get pretty low. So it's like I am doing a bunch of lunges.
But I am going to have to try harder because I have not gotten any less fat from that. Its kind of minimal movement really.
What actually is the most exercise on the Quest for me is bowling, believe it or not. Because to release properly you actually have to get pretty low. So it's like I am doing a bunch of lunges.
Check out Thrill of the Fight - well made boxing game that will leave you winded in 15 mins and sore for a day. Really easy to get into.
Plus Beat Saber is also pretty good exercise , once you get to Expert or Expert+.
Plus Beat Saber is also pretty good exercise , once you get to Expert or Expert+.
I think of the many (dozenish?) people I know who've bought personal exercise equipment over the years, all of them have become primarily clothes-hangers and usually eventually sold. Personally, I'm doing the best I can, but I find it really hard to get a good workout in at home and look forward to my gym re-opening.
personally i'm well into putting on my covid "19"
Betteridge's law of headlines is an adage that states: "Any headline that ends in a question mark can be answered by the word no."
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Betteridge%27s_law_of_headli...
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Betteridge%27s_law_of_headli...
There was a golden age of fittness?
Since home exercise equipment is so hard to find, I’ve been doing a lot of bodyweight exercises.
I found a book called Convict Conditioning that requires no equipment (except a pull up bar for some of the later exercises, but there’s a park nearby my house), and has real progressions designed to build strength. So far, I’m enjoying it a lot.
I found a book called Convict Conditioning that requires no equipment (except a pull up bar for some of the later exercises, but there’s a park nearby my house), and has real progressions designed to build strength. So far, I’m enjoying it a lot.
I've used and had good success with the same book.
People are frustrated since home gym equipment is hard to find. And that's a valid frustration.
However, bodyweight exercises and outdoor cardio can go a long way. Even just walking.
The single most critical aspect you can control is diet. And that requires no equipment, just the right choices. WFH has thrown a big wrench into the eating habits for many.
I run a nutrition application[1], and we've seen a big uptick in sign ups and usage. Curiously, later into the pandemic. No surprise, based on articles like this: https://www.nytimes.com/2020/07/25/nyregion/coronavirus-tail...
[1] https://www.joyapp.com
However, bodyweight exercises and outdoor cardio can go a long way. Even just walking.
The single most critical aspect you can control is diet. And that requires no equipment, just the right choices. WFH has thrown a big wrench into the eating habits for many.
I run a nutrition application[1], and we've seen a big uptick in sign ups and usage. Curiously, later into the pandemic. No surprise, based on articles like this: https://www.nytimes.com/2020/07/25/nyregion/coronavirus-tail...
[1] https://www.joyapp.com
I used to use isometrics pretty heavily. That style pretty much means you do not use much equipment at all. For me it was an old sturdy chair and a heavy couch to pin my feet under. Diet for weight, exercise for strength. I used good portions of the Charles Atlas program. I skipped his diet as I was not looking for body building. Just kept myself under my 1100 caloric number (varies on height and age). Just wanted some strength and not be fat.
I'm not a nutritionist but 1100 calories a day is very, very low for most adults. As a comparison, the Minnesota starvation study fed participants a little over 1500 calories a day.
Temporarily, sub 1100 can work very well for losing weight. You want resistance training and very high protein to avoid muscle loss.
This is better known as the Protein-Sparing Modified Fast (PSMF). Still an intense diet — after all it's an intelligent way to crash diet.
Long-term... not such a good idea unless you are obese.
This is better known as the Protein-Sparing Modified Fast (PSMF). Still an intense diet — after all it's an intelligent way to crash diet.
Long-term... not such a good idea unless you are obese.
Depends on what you are trying to do. Someone I know who is losing weight they are on 900-1000 a day set by a nutritionist. Lots of vitamins to pick up the slack on other things. It also depends on what you eat.
That number also varies between people. 1500 I would maintain my weight or gain slightly.
That number also varies between people. 1500 I would maintain my weight or gain slightly.
I realize my own experience is merely anecdotal, but I just want to say that this whole lockdown has been hugely beneficial to my health!
Instead of eating out with co-workers every day for lunch, I have been cooking healthy meals and eating at home every day with my little family.
I have lost around 30 pounds since all of this started, and my wife has been losing weight, too!
Instead of eating out with co-workers every day for lunch, I have been cooking healthy meals and eating at home every day with my little family.
I have lost around 30 pounds since all of this started, and my wife has been losing weight, too!
I work in this industry, and this does not match the data we're seeing. People are eager to get back to certain on-site experiences, especially on the boutique/expensive side where the in-person class/instructor camraderie is very important. Also certain genres of fitness (think: cycling, F45, etc) require expensive equipment which is non-trivial to have in your house.
Data on countries that have re-opened (like Australia) is showing that it's they will quickly reach or exceed pre-pandemic levels as long as they take some safety measures.
Data on countries that have re-opened (like Australia) is showing that it's they will quickly reach or exceed pre-pandemic levels as long as they take some safety measures.
I usually walk or hike an average of one hour a day (we live 100 meters from a trailhead in the mountains). Since COVID-19, I am trying to average 90 minutes a day. I also bought weights in March and started doing more Qi Gong with my wife.
So, I am in much better shape. I also cut almost all sugar (or all types) from my diet and more or less cutting out processed food. If it isn't fresh I don't eat it.
Bil Mahr, on his HBO show, has been ranting about people needing to boost their immune systems and get healthier. I am taking health advice from a comedian :-)
So, I am in much better shape. I also cut almost all sugar (or all types) from my diet and more or less cutting out processed food. If it isn't fresh I don't eat it.
Bil Mahr, on his HBO show, has been ranting about people needing to boost their immune systems and get healthier. I am taking health advice from a comedian :-)
What's a gym? COVID made me forget. COVID also gave me more time to do things especially without the commute. What did I learn to do with 0 équipment?
1) Want to lose fat? You can run outside. You can also swim outside if you're lucky. It's free. Or you can walk briskly. Even better for losing fat. Want to improve your technique? There's plenty of instruction on YouTube and online.
2) Want to get strong? You can follow along workouts from Iron Wolf on YouTube and do some hardcore basic calisthenics. It's free. Don't worry, you're not stronger than him. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBUo6dgGR82QOfidtpNRQww
3) Want to improve your flexibility? You can follow along workouts from Human 2.0 on YouTube to hit flexibility, mobility and body maintenance. It's free. https://www.youtube.com/c/Humantwopointzeroinc
Also, you can do all of the above with friends! They don't need any equipment either.
1) Want to lose fat? You can run outside. You can also swim outside if you're lucky. It's free. Or you can walk briskly. Even better for losing fat. Want to improve your technique? There's plenty of instruction on YouTube and online.
2) Want to get strong? You can follow along workouts from Iron Wolf on YouTube and do some hardcore basic calisthenics. It's free. Don't worry, you're not stronger than him. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBUo6dgGR82QOfidtpNRQww
3) Want to improve your flexibility? You can follow along workouts from Human 2.0 on YouTube to hit flexibility, mobility and body maintenance. It's free. https://www.youtube.com/c/Humantwopointzeroinc
Also, you can do all of the above with friends! They don't need any equipment either.
Strength training is extremely hard to do without equipment. It's a common misconception that body weight or minimal equipment is an adequate substitute. Iron Wolf is not strength training, it's endurance. I'm not knocking him, it looks like a great workout, but any intermediate barbell lifter will lose strength and size on this workout. There's simply no substitute for heavy compound barbell movements.
I guess it depends on what you mean by strength. For body building/size, yeah for sure you need weights. You can do a ton with some rings and p-bars along with your own body weight though (and maybe a kettlebell or two). I personally don’t care about size or external looks, that’s not what I practice for, but you certainly can get strong without weights. I’m sure a lot of people that can lift heavy can’t do a planche, they’re just totally different body goals and both require strength.
Strength is force production. Your muscles twitch and produce force to moves your bones which moves an external mass. Your body adapts to this external resistance by "over-compensating". This time you lift 100lbs, next time you can lift 105lbs because your muscles adapted (provided you slept, ate and rested well enough).
Now, if you are not used to strength training, push ups are strength training exercises (your body being the external resistance against gravity). If you already lift, push ups won't improve your strength in any meaningful way. it's probably harder the first time you do it even though you've been barbell training, but the novelty quickly runs out and you're doing endurance now (different energy system in play).
Is this better than sitting on the couch whole day? Yeah probably better. But strength is not size and esthetics. It's force production against an external resistance. big does not equal strong.
Is this better than sitting on the couch whole day? Yeah probably better. But strength is not size and esthetics. It's force production against an external resistance. big does not equal strong.
For sure, strength is force production and that’s how training and muscle growth works. I agree. But again it depends on what external act you’re doing that defines where in your body that strength needs to be produced. If that is lifting a heavy thing over your head, then yeah working on those movements with weights is a good way to get there. If it’s doing any sort of gymnastic or martial art movement, then weights can help in some circumstances, but they’re not necessary. Mike Tyson never touched weights until his comeback (aside from maybe doing shoulder shrugs) and I’m not sure anyone would say he wasn’t strong or didn’t have strength in the 80s.
Calisthenics are definitely hard to program, but you can build a huge amount of body strength without weights. “Overcoming Gravity” is a great book if you’re ever looking to program body weight movements. This isn’t a knock on lifting weights, weight training is great and everyone should do it. It’s just that strength is in relation to something else, and that something else is what dictates what sort of practice you should be programming. Building an extreme amount of strength doesn’t need to include a weight if you’re clever about it.
Calisthenics are definitely hard to program, but you can build a huge amount of body strength without weights. “Overcoming Gravity” is a great book if you’re ever looking to program body weight movements. This isn’t a knock on lifting weights, weight training is great and everyone should do it. It’s just that strength is in relation to something else, and that something else is what dictates what sort of practice you should be programming. Building an extreme amount of strength doesn’t need to include a weight if you’re clever about it.
The amount you lose when training at BW is considerably less than not training at all - studies show retention of size for months and months - and in a pinch I absolutely would go for a program that emphasizes bridges and planks and hanging. As for the rest - training goals can be multidimensional and this influences the optimal methods a lot. Training for martial arts, for example, tends to mean training for overall coordination and mobility, as well as strength and stamina. Judo players, MMA players, they can be strong, they can benefit from weights, but they aren't bodybuilders or powerlifters or strongman competitors. Eddie Hall, a strongman champion, has been covering his training for a boxing match on his YT channel, and while he does still do his presses and squats, he's slimmed down a ton.
There is an argument around calisthenics having too many compound movements and gaps in difficulty progression, which makes it hard to overcome specific bottlenecks. But what calisthenics absolutely is great at is mobility and CNS engagement. Combine calisthenics with a yoga mat and doorframe bar with bands training to add more granular progression and isolations, and you have some really good overall coverage with minimum equipment.
NB: One major reason we have historically seen more material about weights than bands is that it's easier to compare weight progression apples-to-apples. Bands change difficulty with slight changes in grip position, hence results are harder to compare.
There is an argument around calisthenics having too many compound movements and gaps in difficulty progression, which makes it hard to overcome specific bottlenecks. But what calisthenics absolutely is great at is mobility and CNS engagement. Combine calisthenics with a yoga mat and doorframe bar with bands training to add more granular progression and isolations, and you have some really good overall coverage with minimum equipment.
NB: One major reason we have historically seen more material about weights than bands is that it's easier to compare weight progression apples-to-apples. Bands change difficulty with slight changes in grip position, hence results are harder to compare.
I'm a bit lucky that I bought a barbell, squat rack and bench 2 years ago trying to save on gym fees.
I can't imagine what my fellow strength trainers are doing.
I can't imagine what my fellow strength trainers are doing.
Tons of push up, pull ups, squats with a 50lb bag of rice and picking up a 50lb bag of rice, losing 15% of body weight and crying.
Also waiting. Lots of waiting. Hopefully I'll get my rack, barbell and weights this month.
Also waiting. Lots of waiting. Hopefully I'll get my rack, barbell and weights this month.
Before the pandemic I definitely would agree with this. I was doing a meathead lifting routine and BJJ 6x a week and was fairly strong. When everything shut down I started doing door pull-ups and Dylan Werner’s True Strength series and could not finish a single workout without stopping or cheating. 4 or 5 months later the gyms open up and I’m at least as strong if not stronger than I was before.
I’m going to blithely ignore the article, as it’s from Forbes, and just segue into something I’m curious about: how are gyms reopening, or not, where you live?
Here in Ontario, it seems like the many† gyms have gone to appointments, to deal with capacity limits, and to do extra cleaning. (Notably, the dominant chain gym. https://www.goodlifefitness.com/goodlife-standard) What about where you’re at?
I ask because I am not sure on the long-term financial stability of that. On the one hand, people are going to either be scared of the virus, or annoyed by the lack of flexibility, and cancel their memberships. On the other hand…a gym membership is a bit of an aspirational purchase, and cheaper gyms, say your Planet Fitness, have a business model predicated on “we’ll get you in the door for cheap, but we’ll never actually reach capacity because people slowly stop going.”
Bit of a rambling question, I just love going to gym, and I can’t yet figure out what the medium-term future viability is.
†except my small chain gym, which has a plan that boils down to “it’ll probably be fine”
Here in Ontario, it seems like the many† gyms have gone to appointments, to deal with capacity limits, and to do extra cleaning. (Notably, the dominant chain gym. https://www.goodlifefitness.com/goodlife-standard) What about where you’re at?
I ask because I am not sure on the long-term financial stability of that. On the one hand, people are going to either be scared of the virus, or annoyed by the lack of flexibility, and cancel their memberships. On the other hand…a gym membership is a bit of an aspirational purchase, and cheaper gyms, say your Planet Fitness, have a business model predicated on “we’ll get you in the door for cheap, but we’ll never actually reach capacity because people slowly stop going.”
Bit of a rambling question, I just love going to gym, and I can’t yet figure out what the medium-term future viability is.
†except my small chain gym, which has a plan that boils down to “it’ll probably be fine”
Where I am in Colorado gyms reopened. No one inside wearing masks & even though they had reserved times it didn't seem like they limited the number of people at all. I imagine people are now "wearing" masks but actually subtly skirting the state mandate. Decided to stop going to the gym because of it & am now building a home gym instead.
The mask mandate for gyms in Ontario is…odd. You apparently don’t need to wear a mask while actively exercising; you just have to wear it while walking around and in the locker room.
Which seems like a hell of a loophole.
https://ottawa.ctvnews.ca/you-don-t-need-to-wear-a-mask-whil...
Which seems like a hell of a loophole.
https://ottawa.ctvnews.ca/you-don-t-need-to-wear-a-mask-whil...
I live in the Bay Area in California. Our gyms are still just closed.
One of the craziest thing I have noticed is bikes have been sold out everywhere. You can't find a $1500 entry level road bike. My friends are telling me the cheapest they are seeing are starting to be $2-3k.
If you have an old bike that you want to sell, the premiums are almost 20-50% more. Some people are selling 3 year old bikes for MSRP. It's crazy right now.
If you have an old bike that you want to sell, the premiums are almost 20-50% more. Some people are selling 3 year old bikes for MSRP. It's crazy right now.
It depends on what kind of biker you are. If you are one to don spandex and drop a grip on a bike, then yeah it's tough to get a 2020 Trek right now. However, if you lower your standards a little, humble yourself and realize that you aren't Lance Armstrong, that you won't notice the difference between a 2020 ultegra groupset and a 2010 ultegra groupset, then there are plenty of bikes. Even my local bike shops look pretty stocked which is odd considering how large LA is, and there is still plenty more used on second hand sites.
In the midst of the pandemic, I managed to grab a full ultegra bike for $400. Real beauty of a hand made Italian stallion. The only reason why I got this bike was because the owner had just bought a brand new gravel bike, because that is all the rage right now in the bike world and people are trying to get rid of their road bikes. Gear acquisition syndrome has plagued this sport since its inception, but it works in the used cyclist's favor when you can reliably get gently used gear for dirt cheap.
Word of advice from one cyclist to another: resist the trends. Buy used. Buy old. Spend used car levels of cash on anything else in your life besides a bike, because in 10 years that $1500 bike will remain the same great bike it was but will become $200.
In the midst of the pandemic, I managed to grab a full ultegra bike for $400. Real beauty of a hand made Italian stallion. The only reason why I got this bike was because the owner had just bought a brand new gravel bike, because that is all the rage right now in the bike world and people are trying to get rid of their road bikes. Gear acquisition syndrome has plagued this sport since its inception, but it works in the used cyclist's favor when you can reliably get gently used gear for dirt cheap.
Word of advice from one cyclist to another: resist the trends. Buy used. Buy old. Spend used car levels of cash on anything else in your life besides a bike, because in 10 years that $1500 bike will remain the same great bike it was but will become $200.
It might depend on where you're located. My wife was recently looking for a < $1000 bike in Denver and it involved going all over town and checking every store that sold bikes. $2000-$3000 was generally what stores had on the shelf. We asked a few places what was going on and they were saying that the <$1000 bikes were hard for them to order and anything they got in would sell the same day.
She eventually got lucky and found a 2yr old used bike for $400 which is exactly what she wanted. She just got lucky and got to the store just as they were putting it out on the floor.
She eventually got lucky and found a 2yr old used bike for $400 which is exactly what she wanted. She just got lucky and got to the store just as they were putting it out on the floor.
The other day I looked into rowing machines (ergs). The one that seemed like the no-brainer best choice according to basically everyone is sold out everywhere. Heavily used ones are going for like 20% over retail on Craigslist. So much for that.
I've been meaning to DIY a squat rack in the garage but I need a bar, and I haven't even bothered to check that. I assume they're hard to find and selling for over-normal-price used, same as everything else.
I've been meaning to DIY a squat rack in the garage but I need a bar, and I haven't even bothered to check that. I assume they're hard to find and selling for over-normal-price used, same as everything else.
I've been squatting with elastic resistance bands. Works great and I don't need to shove a rack somewhere.
Oooooh I have a couple sets of those kicking around, if I double them up, that might work. I wanna start doing some other big compound lifts, too, but that'd be better than nothing.
I think it's actually both bad and good. The bad is that prices are up. The good is that higher prices and news of a bike shortage might be drawing more old bikes out of garages and back yards.
Can confirm; I've been trying to find a sub $1k mountain bike in Southern California for a week without luck.
Why not just go used? I picked up a road bike for a great deal in LA recently. I just checked LA craigslist, and there are over 400 results for "mountain bike" and > $1000.
Once you filter out pieces of junk, bikes that don't fit my specific height and aren't within an hour drive, that list unfortunately gets a lot smaller. I expect that filtering to become more relaxed as time goes on though. :)
Personally I've gotten a lot more into cycling than I had previously. I used to cycle to work, thankfully I bought my bike last year before the markups. Amazing how much I have improved in the last few months.
I'm lacking in the weight lifting department, would be nice to get a bench/olympic bar, but I'm having a lot of fun cycling.
I'm lacking in the weight lifting department, would be nice to get a bench/olympic bar, but I'm having a lot of fun cycling.
I used to bike a lot to work (around ~100 miles a week) but since WFH I haven't been able to motivate myself to do as much. I can barely go out once a week for a more strenuous ride than a commute was but still only amounts to maybe 20% of bike time.
How did you manage to integrate _more_ biking in the WFH schedule?
How did you manage to integrate _more_ biking in the WFH schedule?
Same with me, in the UK we have a scheme where you can buy a bike tax-free which I availed of in December, having not cycled in years.
Since lockdown I've been cycling 40 km almost every day, and I managed to do a 120 km ride the other week.
To be honest it's one of the main reasons I'm quite happy WFH, soon as the clock hits 16:00 I'm out the door on my bike.
Since lockdown I've been cycling 40 km almost every day, and I managed to do a 120 km ride the other week.
To be honest it's one of the main reasons I'm quite happy WFH, soon as the clock hits 16:00 I'm out the door on my bike.
Prior to the pandemic I went to the gym 3-4 days/week, alternating between HIIT on a bike and an endurance workout on an elliptical. I knew I would need to find an alternative since gyms were no longer safe, but due to space restrictions knew I couldn't get the same equipment I use at the gym.
I set up alerts on OfferUp and Craigslist for a Nordictrack ski machine. Got one back in April for $100 and have used it 6-7 days a week since. It fits in a relatively small space, doesn't require power, and is 100% user serviceable. I have it along the wall in the garage, and can fold it up if need be. I only do my "long" workout on it, but am planning to try my first HIIT workout on it tonight!
I also have started doing the kettlebell routine from the book "Simple & Sinister" using a 16 kg kettlebell I bought ages ago and never used. The /r/kettlebell community is very, very helpful. I was, to be brutally honest, intimidated to start this; I was sure that I would somehow do the exercises wrong and wind up hurting myself. However, nothing bad's happened and I do feel better/stronger.
Finally, I've done more reading on health/longevity (most recently the book Lifespan by Sinclair) and have modified my eating habits a bit.
The pandemic sucks, but being forced to come to grips with months of my life being heavily restricted served as motivation to live healthier so I can make more use of the time that's left once (a) a vaccine come around or (b) I figure out how to immigrate to New Zealand and live a normal life :-)
I set up alerts on OfferUp and Craigslist for a Nordictrack ski machine. Got one back in April for $100 and have used it 6-7 days a week since. It fits in a relatively small space, doesn't require power, and is 100% user serviceable. I have it along the wall in the garage, and can fold it up if need be. I only do my "long" workout on it, but am planning to try my first HIIT workout on it tonight!
I also have started doing the kettlebell routine from the book "Simple & Sinister" using a 16 kg kettlebell I bought ages ago and never used. The /r/kettlebell community is very, very helpful. I was, to be brutally honest, intimidated to start this; I was sure that I would somehow do the exercises wrong and wind up hurting myself. However, nothing bad's happened and I do feel better/stronger.
Finally, I've done more reading on health/longevity (most recently the book Lifespan by Sinclair) and have modified my eating habits a bit.
The pandemic sucks, but being forced to come to grips with months of my life being heavily restricted served as motivation to live healthier so I can make more use of the time that's left once (a) a vaccine come around or (b) I figure out how to immigrate to New Zealand and live a normal life :-)
As in no fitness habits? Before the pandemic I was swimming 2km 3 times a week and lifting weights 3 times a week. Since the pandemic I haven’t done anything. I neither have access to a pool or weights. I could switch to body weight exercises or walking (I hate jogging/running), but I haven’t and probably won’t.
my new habit is that I still don't do any of the things I know I should, but now I don't feel as guilty
Honestly, the loss of the gym pool is the killer for me! I was on a 4-5 times a week doing 2500-3000 yards :/
I have the resistance bands but I loved the full body workout of swimming (and the rewards of mastering good swimming technique)
I have the resistance bands but I loved the full body workout of swimming (and the rewards of mastering good swimming technique)
Try P90X 3. About 15 30 minute videos that definitely keep you in shape. About half don’t need any equipment, and a quarter only need a pull-up bar.
I used to go to my apartment gym for their freeweights and treadmills. I ended up buying some elastic straps and can do all the movements you need to work the same groups as olympic lifts, they go up to 150lbs of resitance and only cost $40. Never going to a gym to share some sweaty gross equipment with smelly grunting people again!
I also bought a road bike and have been biking all over town and keeping the car parked. When I first bought the bike I had to pull over and lay on my back on the sidewalk after 4 miles, just completely dead and gassed. Now I do 30 mile rides without any trouble, in my mask mind you for all those mask wearing complainers. I also try to run all my errands on the bike and stay close to the neighborhood if I can help it, and honestly since I can lane split around traffic and park effortlessly, I make about the same time as when I ran errands with my car.
For those who are having trouble finding a bike, it seems here in LA all the local bike shops still have plenty of bikes, and there are always second hand bikes being sold on craigslist and other sites. While dumbbells and kettlebells are hard to find, resistance bands are plentiful and you can do all the same movements with a little creativity.
I also bought a road bike and have been biking all over town and keeping the car parked. When I first bought the bike I had to pull over and lay on my back on the sidewalk after 4 miles, just completely dead and gassed. Now I do 30 mile rides without any trouble, in my mask mind you for all those mask wearing complainers. I also try to run all my errands on the bike and stay close to the neighborhood if I can help it, and honestly since I can lane split around traffic and park effortlessly, I make about the same time as when I ran errands with my car.
For those who are having trouble finding a bike, it seems here in LA all the local bike shops still have plenty of bikes, and there are always second hand bikes being sold on craigslist and other sites. While dumbbells and kettlebells are hard to find, resistance bands are plentiful and you can do all the same movements with a little creativity.
A bike guide told me if you want to buy a bike, wait 6 months and there will be a ton of barely used bikes from people who bought it during the pandemic and decided it wasn't for them.
I actually managed to get my road bike for a great price, because the owner just bought a new gravel bike for the pandemic. This is actually a decent time for buying road bikes since a ton of people are getting into gravel biking and unloading their perfectly good road bike for cheap.
I have replaced some commute time with running. I ran before but definitely feel like I have more time for it now.
I’m also eating like a total animal during the pandemic though. I guess it’ll even our.
I’m also eating like a total animal during the pandemic though. I guess it’ll even our.
COVID broke up our gym group. I think it caused one of our gym Bros to relapse into obesity.
We did good, then bad, then we are good again.
The long term effects of this virus will be felt in everything but the actual virus.
We did good, then bad, then we are good again.
The long term effects of this virus will be felt in everything but the actual virus.
For what its worth, if you have the space for it, I can't recommend a pair of gymnastics rings enough. Unbelievable amount of versatility for $50. I've had powerlifting equipment, adjustable dumbbells, kettlebells, bands, access to gyms, and with a little bit of volume I feel like I'm getting more work done with rings than I have without about anything I've used in a decade; and they haven't completely sold out of everywhere yet...
Re: home weights, we used to use barbells made from steel pipe and concrete during rowing practices. The concrete "weights" were molded with paint buckets.
The other not so obvious fitness trend is VR. Its most popular game, Beat Saber, is a fitness game in disguise.
I biked to work before the covid, and have had to replace that form of exercise. I'm doing a "fake commute" each morning, which gets the blood flowing. Sometimes it's a long brisk walk instead of bike -- walking may be as good of exercise if not better.
On the flip side, being in a house full of food all day has had a measurable effect.
On the flip side, being in a house full of food all day has had a measurable effect.
I didn’t exercise pre-Covid and now I do exercise
Well, Ring Fit Adventure has been sold out everywhere for months (except for opportunistic resellers who are selling it at a huge markup over MSRP.) It's pretty good if you can snag a copy at the regular price.
As long as the lockdown continues, I expect people will continue home-based exercise, and are more likely to prepare their own food as well.
As long as the lockdown continues, I expect people will continue home-based exercise, and are more likely to prepare their own food as well.
Fan of "You Are Your Own Gym" - YAYOG. Bodyweight exercises, some with props like a towel etc.
App has adjustable workouts, optional demo videos.
I do harder resistance versions of an exercise for muscle - easier, more reps for cardio.
MOST IMPORTANT:train your motivation.
Do the exercise. Don't avoid it. But go easy on yourselves people!
Go easy physically: It's fair you(and me) are a bit out of shape. Don't go hard and smash yourself, then never do it again. Make it a task as easy as folding washing. It may be a boring necessity but you don't fear washing do you? Take care of your limits!
Go easy mentally: Talk to yourself the way you would talk to someone else. IE No supposedly motivational "Lets get to work fatty/tryhard/retard!" in your own head.
Maybe a simple "It is easy to do, lets get this done. :-)"
You deserve as much respect from yourself as from others. If you are prone to such negative mental thoughts, say it out loud, talk to yourself quite literally and hear how mean it is. You are the only person you will be with every moment of your life, be nice.
Edit:streamlined text a bit.
I do harder resistance versions of an exercise for muscle - easier, more reps for cardio.
MOST IMPORTANT:train your motivation.
Do the exercise. Don't avoid it. But go easy on yourselves people!
Go easy physically: It's fair you(and me) are a bit out of shape. Don't go hard and smash yourself, then never do it again. Make it a task as easy as folding washing. It may be a boring necessity but you don't fear washing do you? Take care of your limits!
Go easy mentally: Talk to yourself the way you would talk to someone else. IE No supposedly motivational "Lets get to work fatty/tryhard/retard!" in your own head.
Maybe a simple "It is easy to do, lets get this done. :-)"
You deserve as much respect from yourself as from others. If you are prone to such negative mental thoughts, say it out loud, talk to yourself quite literally and hear how mean it is. You are the only person you will be with every moment of your life, be nice.
Edit:streamlined text a bit.
I think this article makes a lot of assumptions. It states gym members ships increased by 37% in ~ 1 decade. But, was that total memberships or % of population? How long do the memberships persist? It only mentions 6 months, pre-covid.
Are these people actually utilizing their memberships? I know when I had an LA Fitness membership, I went like... 3 times in a year because I hated the environment and fighting for a damn rack with gym tren bros. It wasn't until I found rock climbing that I began training 3x/week for 2+ hours.
What about obesity rates? Are they declining and, if so, is the decline directly attributable to increased gym memberships? And again, what about more rural areas where people might have turned to hiking/backpacking/outdoor sports? Seems like soulcycle subscriptions et al. are such a tiny part of the fitness industry as to be almost insignificant.
This article is entirely speculation, and rather thoughtless at that.
Personally, I think it's probably a grey mess. I stopped climbing for 2 months (March & April) as quarantine depression took hold. I substituted with lots of bodyweight workouts, but it wasn't the same. I lost my psyche. But, as soon as I could, I went back to bouldering and rock climbing outside 3x/week again, and it's remained steady at that level, with new habits of bodyweight workouts as supplemental work.
I know many of my friends experienced similar drops in activity during quarantine, and only about 50% of them have bounced back and resumed training. The others have seriously put on weight or had their diets go to shit or switched to simple walks/runs instead of weights or other sports.
Are these people actually utilizing their memberships? I know when I had an LA Fitness membership, I went like... 3 times in a year because I hated the environment and fighting for a damn rack with gym tren bros. It wasn't until I found rock climbing that I began training 3x/week for 2+ hours.
What about obesity rates? Are they declining and, if so, is the decline directly attributable to increased gym memberships? And again, what about more rural areas where people might have turned to hiking/backpacking/outdoor sports? Seems like soulcycle subscriptions et al. are such a tiny part of the fitness industry as to be almost insignificant.
This article is entirely speculation, and rather thoughtless at that.
Personally, I think it's probably a grey mess. I stopped climbing for 2 months (March & April) as quarantine depression took hold. I substituted with lots of bodyweight workouts, but it wasn't the same. I lost my psyche. But, as soon as I could, I went back to bouldering and rock climbing outside 3x/week again, and it's remained steady at that level, with new habits of bodyweight workouts as supplemental work.
I know many of my friends experienced similar drops in activity during quarantine, and only about 50% of them have bounced back and resumed training. The others have seriously put on weight or had their diets go to shit or switched to simple walks/runs instead of weights or other sports.
I was a regular gym-goer prior to Covid. These days I try to use body-weight exercises. I'm a ways away from Herschel Walker's 1500 push ups a day, but I'm happy with what I get.
I will most likely not renew my gym membership this year. I bought a few kettlebells in february and man, the type of workout I get out of those fothermuckers is crazy. And the time I save from having to commute back and fourth to the gym makes such a difference even if it's just ~20 minutes every gym day.
Kettlebells and MMA/BJJ is where it's at for me in the future.
Kettlebells and MMA/BJJ is where it's at for me in the future.
Most bicycle stores look like a grocery store in the 1-2 days before a hurricane hits. Tons of inventory is missing. Finding basic items can require phoning 5 or 6 different shops.
https://www.bicycleretailer.com/studies-reports/2020/06/16/b...
My theory is that it's a combination of people who don't want to commute by public transit due to covid19 concerns, and people whose regular gyms and group-fitness clubs and classes have been cancelled also due to covid19, combined with the usual April and onwards spring/summertime boom in sales for everything bike related.
Bicycle retailers are a highly cyclic business and usually things are very slow from mid October to late March. Except in places with really good year-round weather (San Diego and similar).
https://www.bicycleretailer.com/studies-reports/2020/06/16/b...
My theory is that it's a combination of people who don't want to commute by public transit due to covid19 concerns, and people whose regular gyms and group-fitness clubs and classes have been cancelled also due to covid19, combined with the usual April and onwards spring/summertime boom in sales for everything bike related.
Bicycle retailers are a highly cyclic business and usually things are very slow from mid October to late March. Except in places with really good year-round weather (San Diego and similar).