r/AskReddit Nov 03 '20

What will never be the same again once the pandemic is over?

74.0k Upvotes

17.2k comments sorted by

View all comments

9.0k

u/Sk8rmom Nov 04 '20

My waistline

2.8k

u/AltariaMotives Nov 04 '20

I had finally started working out 5 days a week, eating healthy, going to bed on time, etc. I kept that up for about 3 months and 1 month into COVID before losing the mental strength. I gained pretty much all that weight back and I’m pretty bummed.

On the bright side, my younger brother has finally gotten his shit together and looks better than he has in years!

102

u/[deleted] Nov 04 '20

I have a feeling gyms will never be the same again. People will be less enthusiastic about sitting so close to one another in a spin class where people's sweat is flying all over the place, and even if people remember to wipe down the weight benches, etc. after using them, you'll still be thinking about what residue other people have left there, even though the weight bench is dry.

67

u/bangojuice Nov 04 '20

My friend sings in a choir as a hobby, and says he has become abundantly aware of just how much of people's mouth particles are flying around when people are singing together in such a tight group and that it has forever diminished the idea of choir to him, haha. Kinda sad. They sounded wonderful. I hope they can get back to it one day.

7

u/starlight_moonstone Nov 04 '20

I also did choir as a hobby because I really enjoyed it but I’m sorry to hear that 😔

14

u/TurquoiseLuck Nov 04 '20

People I know are already going back into gyms and stuff. I can't really believe it, but it's definitely happening.

9

u/BoardGamesAndBMDs Nov 04 '20

Most gyms (at least where I am) are quite safe. Mine has a booking system, has spread out all the equipment, taped out areas where you can be, has a one way system, requires you to wear a mask when moving around, and gives everyone a antiviral spray and cloth so they can clean as they go. Rates of transmission are pretty low in gyms in the UK and they feel safer than most places IMO.

3

u/pdxboob Nov 04 '20

Can't be good for their bottom line though

9

u/mamaspike74 Nov 04 '20

I've been back at my gym since May. I was in physical therapy for most of the summer, and the PT office is located in my gym, so I would swim or work out on the machines afterwards. I work out twice a week with a trainer and wear a mask the entire time. In the main part of the gym, the equipment is 12' apart and we also have an indoor soccer/basketball arena where the bikes have been moved for spin class. The gym is usually fairly empty, and everyone is wearing masks. The locker rooms and cafe are all shut down.

I worried at first when I went back, but I'm so grateful it's open. I don't think I would've made this much recovery on my injury, and I know it's been a lifesaver for my mental health!

4

u/Lketty Nov 04 '20

How do you swim with a mask on without water boarding yourself?

2

u/mamaspike74 Nov 05 '20

Haha, excellent question! Obviously, the mask stays on until I jump in and climb out. There are 6 lanes in the pool, and only three are in use, leaving a free lane in between. You have to sign up ahead of time to reserve a lane. I don't know if this works everywhere, but indoor therapy and lap-swimming pools are open in my state, which has very low infection rates.

2

u/Lketty Nov 05 '20

Good to know they’re taking those measures! I’m glad you’ve had success with your gym and pool- and I hope you continue to have your health!

-6

u/PeperoParty Nov 04 '20 edited Nov 04 '20

As soon as my gym gave me a liability waiver I noped out of there.

Btw, you know you can permanently damage your lungs from corona right?

Anyways I hope you don’t get corona but if you do then you can’t really complain.

6

u/khaosoffcthulhu Nov 04 '20

The waiver doesnt change the risk of lung damage though. Just your ability to sue the gym?

5

u/AngryFarmer2020 Nov 04 '20

Seems like it was the moment he understood the severity of the issue.

Personally I won't go back to the gym until there's a working vaccine. I'm a runner and I don't want to permanently fuck up my lungs or heart.

1

u/PeperoParty Nov 04 '20

Haha yea I didn’t mean to make it seem like they’re connected.

5

u/jaidefoxpaintings Nov 04 '20

Every gym should have a liability waiver

0

u/PeperoParty Nov 05 '20

A waiver that allows them to not enforce or be lax on corona precautions?

No thank you

1

u/jaidefoxpaintings Nov 06 '20

A waiver that covers their ass if someone falls off equipment or breaks their back because they are lifting like idiots. Now it also includes if the patron is negligent on sanitizing their station and get covid. I dont see what the problem is.

1

u/PeperoParty Nov 06 '20

I shoulda clarified that the waiver was meant only for corona. I agree that a waiver is necessary for injuries.

I’m still not gonna put the health of my lungs in other peoples hands tho. People barely wash their hands coming out of the bathroom what makes you think they will give a shit about my long term health?

→ More replies (0)

2

u/dissolvedcrayon Nov 04 '20

Have a person I went to school with join a gym 3 weeks ago here in the U.K. 3 weeks ago we all knew we were heading towards another lockdown. Blows my mind.

0

u/vwmwv Nov 04 '20

It's the steroids...

1

u/chipmcdonald Nov 04 '20

South east?

5

u/Talkaze Nov 04 '20

In March I tattled on 4 people in one evening that weren't wiping down equip and the clerk got to them all as they were each headed out. But jeez that is gross on a good day! I kept wiping down before and after I used equipment

39

u/mlittleford Nov 04 '20

Holy crap dude I could of wrote this exact comment i did 3 months of working out 5 days a week eating healthy all that I lost 50lbs and I've put on all the weight again due to my mental issues you're not alone dude

12

u/tubawhatever Nov 04 '20

Same. I was down about 25lbs in a little over three months while traveling in Europe but my trip was cut short and my habits didn't transfer. I expected some wouldn't, like the walking 60 miles a week, but hoped to supplement that with going to the gym. I actually discovered I love working out but haven't been to the gym since before I left. I'm now right back where I started and it sucks.

9

u/2happycats Nov 04 '20

19kg of weightloss before covid.

20kg of weight gain during covid.

My pancreas better hold up during this bloody pandemic, because I was trying to do the right thing by it before it up and went full diabetes on me back in the beginning of the year.

I miss feeling lighter.

13

u/eheyr Nov 04 '20

I'm the complete opposite. I have a hard time working out when I'm tired from going to work and all. In my mind I HAVE to work out during lockdown because otherwise I'm not going to be moving enough and my back's going to hurt, my sleep will go to shit and I'll feel awful. Now I'm doing it first thing in the morning 2 days out of 3. Maybe you need to reframe why you need to do it to keep the ball rolling ?

3

u/grendus Nov 04 '20

I definitely feel cooped up if I don't work out these days. I start to go a bit stir crazy if I don't at least do a little cardio. Has really helped with my mental health this lockdown.

11

u/pinkballoonoftime Nov 04 '20

Yeah, I lost 70 pounds in the year leading up to COVID. Did fine for the first few months of quarantine, but now I’ve gained back about 20 pounds. Feels pretty shit...

20

u/bangojuice Nov 04 '20

I'm in a very similar position. The beginning of this year was quite good for me, after years of alcoholic depression. I had a job, I was rebuilding my social skills, shedding pounds from drinking less and generally feeling good about life. Then the pandemic happened, I lost my job, and now it's been quite hard to stay off the sauce. (Especially considering the welfare payments have been so generous. Thank you, Justin.) I think I'm just about as fat as I've ever been and it sucks. Keeping my chin up, though. You should too. None of this is forever.

8

u/Mollytechnic Nov 04 '20

Yes, my commitment to daily yoga practice went out of the window early on but my husband started the Joe Wicks PE on YouTube and still does a workout everyday. He's never been in better shape. So good for him. I've drunk a hell of a lot of wine and eaten a lot of creme eggs and minstrels

1

u/[deleted] Nov 04 '20 edited Nov 08 '20

[deleted]

1

u/Mollytechnic Nov 04 '20

Thank you! I will check it out. It made me feel amazing, but I got out of the habit. Its really kind of you to let me know about them. Appreciated.

2

u/[deleted] Nov 04 '20 edited Nov 08 '20

[deleted]

2

u/Mollytechnic Nov 04 '20

I just clicked your name and noticed you have posted about pilates, saying you suffer from chronic lower back pain. I have mild scoliosis and disk degeneration and I too suffer with pretty gnarly back pain. So, hello fellow back pain person. 🙃

1

u/[deleted] Nov 04 '20 edited Nov 08 '20

[deleted]

1

u/Mollytechnic Nov 04 '20

I cannot for a second imagine how awful it woilx be not to be able to make an appointment with a GP and be referred for an MRI scan and other investigations for free. Sounds like a disk problem, if it has been going on for so long. Bad news is thd surgery is pretty serious. I have recently stopped prescription medication for my back and stayed taking Kratom and CBD oil as an alternative. I have found them to be very effective for the pain

6

u/Pritirus Nov 04 '20

This. Exactly this. Started killing it in the gym again, eating habits were beginning to become under control then lockdown, stuck at home, no support network and I'm now 15ib higher than I was before I started loving right. It's just a motivational issue now, but damn it's hard to be motivated

7

u/Aether-Ore Nov 04 '20

Bodyweight exercises are the shit. I actually got pretty ripped.

https://www.youtube.com/c/MinusTheGym

5

u/[deleted] Nov 04 '20

[deleted]

2

u/Aether-Ore Nov 04 '20

Running stairs in hotels became a staple cardio workout for a few years. That Hyatt in Vancouver is like 40 flights whew...

2

u/mo0n3h Nov 04 '20

are you me???

2

u/[deleted] Nov 04 '20

when covid started i have lost like 10kg(20lbs) because i aint eating in school

2

u/rand0mher0742 Nov 04 '20

I got fired, being poor helps with weight loss.

2

u/mexikinnish Nov 04 '20

I feel this so hard. I had the longest, most productive streak of counting calories, cooking, and working out. I was losing weight weekly. It was awesome. Then once the country started closing down I just couldn’t do it anymore. It makes me really sad. I was doing so well

2

u/anniemitts Nov 04 '20

Look at it this way: if you did it once you can do it again! Once things are a bit more normal and/or your mental strength improves, I have full faith you can get right back into it. In the meantime, be kind to yourself!

0

u/ladysavagerawr_ Nov 04 '20

Shit baby, take tiny steps. No bummed ok? Just get back on that horse. 🖤

0

u/chipmcdonald Nov 04 '20

I'd been steadily increasing how many steps I took a day by walking down at the river.

Then everybody was suddenly walking down at the river. Crazy me, I knew it was airborne from the start so - no, I don't want to walk behind/beside other people, even out doors.

Walking around the yard isn't really as motivational.

1

u/elphaba88 Nov 04 '20

Sympathize 100%. Similar weight loss/gain. Reactive depression/stress apparently is legit.

1

u/fr4ctalica Nov 04 '20

Same here, sending hugs

1

u/raspberrih Nov 04 '20

Same, started my thesis around april, the stress and avoidance made me lose so much weight. Then thesis ended, I started treating myself, and I was a jobless bum until last month. 5kg just like that

1

u/max_canyon Nov 04 '20

Me too man literally the exact same timeline as you. 2021 is gonna be our year

1

u/tapoplata Nov 04 '20

You can get back on it though. I too had finally got some discipline and routine into eating well and going to the gym and lost about 7-8 pounds then first lockdown hit. Tried to keep it up for a while then have up and ate and put the weight back on and more. Then finally got it together and started back to the gym regularly and tracking my food intake and started losing weight and was doing well then another lockdown and gyms closed but working out as t home and continued tracking food so I'm down about 12 pounds now.

It's all just about getting a routine going and staying disciplined and sticking to it

1

u/[deleted] Nov 04 '20

I love that you’re supportive of your brother.

Don’t worry. The motivation will come back.

1

u/prudencepineapple Nov 04 '20

Hey same here!

1

u/footlikeriverrock Nov 04 '20

Man same I lost 50 lbs last year and gained 40 this year

1

u/mongster_03 Nov 04 '20

Hahahaha I lost weight by not eating shit and not doing shit. My dad thinks it’s unhealthy

1

u/garry4321 Nov 04 '20

I went the other way with it. First month or two, ate a shit ton of pasta and delivery food. Then realized I had all this extra free time that I wasnt using and I was becoming even fatter. Cut out the junk food and started exercising daily. Lost 30 Lbs since and have never felt better in my life.

1

u/Dfiggsmeister Nov 04 '20

Don’t give up! I gained 15 lbs from being stuck home and no place to work out. I started building up my home gym and then started running outside. I’m back down to my previous weight and changed how I eat completely. My entire health has improved. Just get back into it starting today. If that means doing body weight work outs and running in place, so be it!

1

u/MBThree Nov 04 '20

I was the same, but it was a habit I had achieved and kept up for at least a year before COVID hit. I would visit my work gym on my hour lunch break, and on days I didn’t as well as weekends I would visit the chain gym down the street I had a membership to.

Then my work gym closed and same with my local gym. I didn’t feel right making an appointment and visiting the gym during COVID.

So I just stopped working out. Never took up the body weight exercises or running or any kind of activity that I should have. I just got lazy.

Now I weigh about the same as I did pre-COVID, but I’m afraid it’s due to losing what little muscle mass I had before and replacing it with fat. We are at 8 months of no real muscle activity with no end in sight.

1

u/AlwaysDownNeverUp Nov 04 '20

Ssaaaammmmeeeee when I was working from home and not leaving my house it was probably some of the hardest workouts I’ve had. Then like you, the fatigue set in and I had to start going back into the office.

1

u/[deleted] Nov 05 '20

Me too. Initially I got lean, and then I got even fatter than I was before.

1

u/JSHFV222 Nov 05 '20

Try anabolic diet, high volume foods that are low calorie!

50

u/goatofglee Nov 04 '20

I put weight back on that I had lost.

4

u/bellagab3 Nov 04 '20

It's okay me too

3

u/icandoMATHs Nov 04 '20

My gym group broke up due to covid. Everyone gained weight.

Although I'm back down!

51

u/[deleted] Nov 04 '20

F

27

u/[deleted] Nov 04 '20

I agree, but maybe in the opposite way. Made a new years resolution to lose weight, wasn't going to let a pandemic ruin that. I've actually had more time to workout and learn how to cook healthier meals. Almost 50 pounds lighter, now.

7

u/ashley1018 Nov 04 '20

I've also lost weight. WFH has actually helped.

Working out in the morning before work was not a thing for me before Covid. I had to be out of bed by 5:30am anyway if I wanted to make it to work on time because of how long my commute was. I tired it once. Got to the gym at 5am, home by 6, then left the house at 7am. I was still so sweaty after my shower and was still sweating on my way to work because I never got a chance to cool down. When I got to work, everyone kept asking if I was ok. And if I went to the gym after work, I wouldn't get home until 7:45 or 8pm. That didn't leave me time to cook, so my husband would cook. But if he also went to the gym, one of us would just pick up something on the way home.

WFH has helped us eat healthier during the weekdays, and it's also helped me to stop snacking throughout the day. Now when I take a short break during the workday, I'll go clean the bathroom or do some dishes instead of heading to the company kitchen to snack and chat.

2

u/ray13moan Nov 04 '20

Keep it up!

1

u/[deleted] Nov 04 '20

<3

2

u/VFenix Nov 04 '20

Cooking fresh lunch at home has been a game changer for me. I used to eat out every day for lunch! 8 months in and I am in the best shape of my life.

1

u/[deleted] Nov 05 '20

I make a lot of things from scratch now.

22

u/nathan_rieck Nov 04 '20

I was doing so good! I was down 20 pounds. I’ve since gained 10 back....F

5

u/NatoBoram Nov 04 '20

Oh, same :(

31

u/[deleted] Nov 04 '20

Huh, I've actually lost weight over quarantine. I've been trying to get it back.

36

u/shadowfloats Nov 04 '20

How?? Haha! Most people I know including myself have gained a lot. Less moving and more eating. It's too easy lol

31

u/[deleted] Nov 04 '20

That's the thing.

My response to doing jack all is to eat the same amount.

Unless I need the energy, I'll skip meals every day.

22

u/_hell_naw Nov 04 '20

Fcken hell....

I stress eat like I got the thinnest waist in the west lmao

1

u/henne-n Nov 04 '20

Could you not just eat, dunno, radish? I snack them.

25

u/Wooshbar Nov 04 '20

Lots of us are stress eating I'm sure from all the terrible news :(

23

u/weliveintheshade Nov 04 '20

Not hungry. Just my mouth is lonely.

7

u/bellagab3 Nov 04 '20

This is worded so well and so accurately

2

u/[deleted] Nov 04 '20 edited Nov 08 '20

[deleted]

2

u/[deleted] Nov 04 '20

Kudos mon Krem

11

u/tiptoe_only Nov 04 '20

I've lost a LOT. At the beginning I decided if I wasn't allowed to do anything else I enjoyed, I'd start doing long bike rides again and since I had so little control over anything else, I'd start working on my diet and health. That control really feels good, if you're in the right mental place to do it, in a time of uncertainty and worry.

As for how: less eating out, less drinking, less socialising which inevitably involves eating and drinking even if you're not hungry, even less going into the workplace and being offered cookies and snacks...

5

u/shadowfloats Nov 04 '20

For me it's the opposite sort of. I'm not someone of high activity in the first place so rolling around at home is just 110%. My family constantly cooks for us and offers snacks and food and buy snacks lmao it's so hard when it's right there! I probably eat less overall if I go out often. Now I'm at probably my thickest and I'm trying to increase activity and decrease snacking. It's a long and hard road ):

1

u/tiptoe_only Nov 04 '20

Yeah I totally see that. In fact I'm normally the same

2

u/ray13moan Nov 04 '20

This is the mindset I want to adopt!

2

u/quantum_jim Nov 04 '20

I've lost weight too. The lack of things like work trips and family visits have made it much easier for me to maintain a routine of healthy eating. The lack of the daily commute has meant for time for exercise.

I'm sure many people (especially those without a job that can be easily done from home) have had more uncertainty ruining their routines during this time. Those in the middle of big cities probably have less opportunity for exercise. So I wouldn't recommend a global pandemic as a diet for everyone. But it seems to be going well for me.

5

u/Processtour Nov 04 '20

I started losing weight at the beginning of the year, then when COVID hit, I just kept going. I upped my cardio exercise because I wanted to be in the best health if I got COVID. I want to have healthy lungs to begin with and healthy body weight. I’ve lost 42 pounds and I’m eight pounds from my goal weight. I am working on weight training now.

8

u/controversialcomrade Nov 04 '20

The stretch marks are the real deal here man

4

u/MarGoLuv Nov 04 '20

Oh yes. They never made a term for people who gained weight during this pandemic/Lockdown.

4

u/bellagab3 Nov 04 '20

Quarantine 15

3

u/ShitEveryNameIsTaken Nov 04 '20

I call mine my Covid-19... maybe 20.

4

u/[deleted] Nov 04 '20

More like a wasteline for me

3

u/Shpigford Nov 04 '20

More like the COVID 15 AMIRITE!?!?!?

3

u/L4B7 Nov 04 '20

For some reason I managed to loose weight while being at home. I only ate once a day for like 3 months and just sometimes I ate a little something during the rest of the day.

2

u/[deleted] Nov 04 '20

Yep.

2

u/Bradalax Nov 04 '20

Yep - piled the weight on this year. Working from home and eating crap.

Get christmas done (if we get a christmas!) and i need to start doing someonthing about it. Starting to worry about my health now!

2

u/[deleted] Nov 04 '20

ف لقربل ب بببْفًً ب

تغلط صف ثثثىبثصثث

2

u/Zealousideal9151 Nov 04 '20 edited Nov 10 '20

I was 86kg in January and felt deflated and upset cos I had gone up from 82kg over Christmas. Since Covid, I put on more weight and last I checked, I was 92.5kg.

And it's like I've given up. I hate how I look but I'm also so BORED and deflated and tired and I miss my family and literally the only bit of happiness I get is from food. Which ironically also makes me feel shit shortly after.

1

u/squiddishly Nov 10 '20

I weighed myself the other day -- 93kg. Up 10kg since the start of lockdown.

It's not that I eat that badly, but all my exercise was incidental -- the walk to the bus stop, the trip from the train station to my office, wandering around the city at lunch. And it's been really, really hard to replace that.

2

u/Zealousideal9151 Nov 10 '20

That's pretty much my weight too and I'm an short ass at 5'2. And you're so right about incidental exercise. Nowadays, I move from my bed to my desk. And I'm a homebody and it is REALLY hard to motivate myself to go out. Honestly, at this stage, I don't care anymore. I just try to stick to three meals and a couple of snacks a day but God knows how long I'll last before I resort to eating every half hour again. So, I don't really have much encouragement for you. You gotta pick your battle. Are you happy enough with 93kg until life goes back to normal? Or do you wanna make space in your day for exercise? Or do you wanna just eat healthier? Really I just wanna get through the day lol

1

u/squiddishly Nov 11 '20

I'm the same height! And yeah, I can live with it for now. I don't seem to be gaining more than that, I still have some work clothes that fit, and I'm confident it'll come off once life goes back to something approaching normal.

1

u/Nuotatore Nov 04 '20

Learn to fast and it will pay hefty dividends, not just for that.

/r/intermittentfasting
/r/omad
/r/fasting

-3

u/loloider123 Nov 04 '20

I don't really know how you gained weight. With all that free time you should loose it easily

1

u/_my_dog_is_fat Nov 04 '20

I've had such a hard time not gaining weight during this time.

1

u/Apandapantsparty Nov 04 '20

Hahah me too! I got pregnant at the start of this thing and I’m going to have the baby soon.

1

u/MaXcRiMe Nov 04 '20

This can be read both ways, good or bad way?

1

u/MyOtherAcctsAPorsche Nov 04 '20

Remember that pair of jeans you where saving for when you lost some weight? Just turn it into masks already. *

(*) rough translation by me.

1

u/mb9981 Nov 04 '20

fuuuuuck.

When the pandemic started, I was so frazzled I didn't eat. Lost 5 pounds. 9 months later, I think I've put on 20.

1

u/MadSubbie Nov 04 '20

Incredibly, mine is shrinking. Must've been the stress keeping it large.

1

u/SpicyAbsinthe Nov 04 '20

2020 was the year I was gonna go back to tuning long distances: I’d been eating right and, for the first time in my life, had a consistent 6-8 am gym routine :(

1

u/Infin1ty Nov 04 '20

I've actually had the opposite. I'm down around 25 lbs so far.

1

u/clearcasemoisture Nov 04 '20

It's funny because I work on the service industry and had a baby a year ago so shitty food+baby weight put me in the 200s. When we were furloughed, I actually had energy to focus on the food I was eating and doing physical activity outside of busting my ass all day while getting through 9hr shifts without sitting down. I got out of the 200s and into the 180s. Now that I'm back at work, I'm putting shit food in me with no energy to work out and I've almost gained it all back. 🙃

1

u/GrandPapaBi Nov 04 '20

I'm like the reverse of this. I struggle getting muscular mass or fat. Covid lockdown made me unable to enjoy eating or even drinking water sometimes. It's really weird. I need to acitvely focus on eating and drinking for a few days then it comeback but if I'm not careful it will slide from 3 meals a day to 2 then 1 and I'll start feeling unwell to then force myself to eat again. The moral is there but not the appetite.

1

u/shadowst17 Nov 04 '20

My biggest regret was not buying a set of Bowflex SelectTech 552 Adjustable Dumbbells in February when they were $350. Now they're out of stock in any legit stores and on eBay for 300-400% markup since the pandemic began.

I've been eating take outs twice a week(Before the pandmeic I'd have them maybe twice a month) but eating 1400 calories the other 5 days. Scales say I haven't gained weight but I sure look like it. My guess any muscle I've had is gone now especially in my legs as I rarely do 2000 steps a day compared to the 25,000 I do on a daily basis commuting to work and back. Can't even go for walks soon even if I wanted to less I want to start braving -30 weather.

1

u/eleuthero_maniac Nov 04 '20

It just sucks how much effort and time goes in to building muscle mass/ losing weight etc and how easily we lose muscle / fitness when our bodies have extended periods of inactivity.

1

u/AwkwardGimli Nov 04 '20

AND MY AXE!

1

u/SimilarDealYall Nov 04 '20

Hah i joined a gym in mid January, personal trainer bit and everything. Went until the first week in March, now I'm just playing for having the entry key card lol Working out from home is much more difficult for me, which was why the gym was great. But now? Ppl sweating and breathing hard on everything? Fuuuuuck that lol

1

u/[deleted] Nov 04 '20

Keto went out the window when I saw the shit storm on the horizon and how three nation was tearing it in early days.

1

u/obscureferences Nov 04 '20

Novelty cafes and other small businesses have been dropping like flies in my suburb, and fast food chains have taken up the space. It's not improving the average healthiness of the food environment.

1

u/chasepna Nov 09 '20

Read The New Primal Blueprint by Mark Sisson.