from Hacker News

New fitness habits being created during Covid?

by markhall on 8/10/20, 2:37 PM with 173 comments

by sickcodebruh on 8/10/20, 3:19 PM
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.
by octygen on 8/10/20, 7:19 PM
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.
by jeffreyrogers on 8/10/20, 2:58 PM
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.
by site-packages1 on 8/10/20, 2:54 PM
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.
by xnx on 8/10/20, 2:57 PM
Periodic reminder that though "forbes.com" may have implied some credentials in the past, it is now a site where anyone can post anything.
by ijustwanttovote on 8/10/20, 8:05 PM
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.
by irrational on 8/10/20, 8:28 PM
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.
by kking50 on 8/10/20, 3:16 PM
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.
by senkora on 8/10/20, 3:51 PM
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.
by justanother on 8/10/20, 3:14 PM
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.
by johnbrodie on 8/10/20, 2:55 PM
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.
by CarbyAu on 8/11/20, 1:27 AM
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.
by Aaronstotle on 8/10/20, 8:15 PM
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.
by silviogutierrez on 8/10/20, 4:08 PM
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
by drchopchop on 8/10/20, 6:46 PM
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.
by ilaksh on 8/10/20, 3:25 PM
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.
by jwally on 8/10/20, 9:47 PM
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...
by wcarron on 8/11/20, 1:50 AM
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.
by asdff on 8/10/20, 8:40 PM
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.
by walrus01 on 8/11/20, 8:37 AM
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).
by musicale on 8/11/20, 12:30 AM
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.
by lukewrites on 8/10/20, 8:22 PM
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 :-)
by mark_l_watson on 8/10/20, 7:04 PM
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 :-)
by bashwizard on 8/11/20, 6:58 AM
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.
by johnwatson11218 on 8/10/20, 7:31 PM
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.
by analog31 on 8/10/20, 11:21 PM
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.
by t0mbstone on 8/10/20, 4:47 PM
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!
by thelazydogsback on 8/10/20, 3:25 PM
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.
by perardi on 8/10/20, 7:36 PM
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”
by RickJWagner on 8/11/20, 2:03 AM
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.
by habosa on 8/10/20, 9:16 PM
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.
by cagenut on 8/10/20, 3:36 PM
personally i'm well into putting on my covid "19"
by akeck on 8/10/20, 9:50 PM
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.
by theNJR on 8/10/20, 3:04 PM
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?
by waihtis on 8/10/20, 3:02 PM
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.
by chaostheory on 8/10/20, 11:03 PM
The other not so obvious fitness trend is VR. Its most popular game, Beat Saber, is a fitness game in disguise.
by beamatronic on 8/10/20, 11:55 PM
I didn’t exercise pre-Covid and now I do exercise
by zcw100 on 8/10/20, 3:50 PM
There was a golden age of fittness?
by iamkroot on 8/10/20, 3:37 PM
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...
by faangFar on 8/10/20, 9:31 PM
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.
by user9909 on 8/10/20, 2:50 PM
When I look around the street and over 50% of people are seriously overweight, I tend to doubt this article.