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Marvin James shares 3 things to do to work on your health and fitness and stay Amped Up during the pandemic.

WARNER ROBINS, Ga. We're into the summer months now, and with a lot of us still working at home or making plans to return to work soon, 13WMAZ's Marvin James share with you 3 things he is doing to work on his health and fitness to stay Amped Up.

1. Set a walking or running goal

"I set a goal with my Fitbit of 8 to 10,000 steps per day, which includes in-house workouts or daily walks anywhere between 3 and 6 miles. Taking an hour-long walk allows me to get out of the house for a change of scenery and some much needed vitamin D, while sweating and burning calories to some of my favorite tunes. It's important for me to engage in some sort of physical activity at least 3-4 days a week to help improve not only my physical traits, but to build mental strength as well. It releases endorphins to battle negative thoughts or depression because I'm not going out as much as I am used to, and to be honest from a lack of watching and covering sports, which isn't just my job, but actually one of my favorite pastimes. Note -- it's always important to listen to your body and seek guidance from your doctor in regards to your physical regimen so not to overwhelm yourself."

2. Use your friends and family as a support system

"My support system is an extreme priority. I have a phone chat group with 8 of my friends and fraternity brothers who are on this Amped Up road with me. We motivate and inspire one another on our journey. We help each other be accountable with workouts and nutrition, often encouraging and challenging each other after every text. Sometimes when I don't feel like working out, my notifications remind me that one of my friends has just finished a run or a lifting session or cooked a healthy meal. That positive energy shifts towards me, and before you know it, I'm up and on my way to 'git-R-done.' So find a few like-minded friends to help push you along to a better you in the good times and the bad."

3. Find an "accountability activity"

"It may not seem like much, but I printed out a worksheet that I found on Pinterest to help me keep going. It's like coloring by numbers. For every day that I either work out or complete my Fitbit goals, I color in the date of the month. Knowing I don't want a blank sheet at the end of the year is the little motivation I need some days. I plan to frame it on New Year's Eve so I can focus on doing even better in 2021. In true transparency, as you can see, April and May were not very productive months for me, but I got back on the saddle in June, so there's no excuses for quitting."

Here's the sheet so you can start coloring along and also share your monthly creations with Marvin.

"We've made it through the first 6 months, and what a start to 2020 it has been, but we have so much more to accomplish as we have reached the halfway point here in July."

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AMPED UP: Health, fitness tips for finishing the year strong - 13WMAZ.com

Changes in worker training, cleaning, physical distancing, aquatics, facility showers and food concessions modification for gyms.

Information provided by San Benito County.

On July 1, the State of California updated guidance for Fitness Facilities and Places of Worship.

The updated guidance can be found athttps://covid19.ca.gov/.

Changes toFitness Facility Guidanceinclude the requiredState of California Face Coveringsand other significant changes in worker training, cleaning, physical distancing, aquatics, facility showers and food concessions. Fitness facility owners and patrons are advised to completely review the new state guidance to ensure compliance.

Guidance for Places of Worshiphas been updated to include the requiredState of California Face Coverings. There is also additional guidance regarding discontinue singing and chanting activities additionally(paraphrased)Consider practicing these activities through alternative methods (such as internet streaming) that ensure individual congregation members perform these activities separately in their own homes. Places of Worship administrators and parishioners are advised to completely review the new state guidance to ensure compliance

For any local questions or concerns you can emailpublichealthreferral@cosb.usor call 831-636-4113

Original post:
California updates its guidelines for fitness facilities and and places of worship - Benitolink: San Benito County News

Black alums of the popular reality television show Survivor are airing out the truth behind the long-running series.

In an interview with NPR, the first Black woman to ever compete on the show in 2000, Ramona Gray Amaro, claimed the final production footage was edited to make her appear one way that was far from the truth. Gray said this ultimately enforced negative stereotypes that are often placed on the Black community.

I became the lazy person, which is the furthest thing from the truth, she told the outlet. That really upset me and it took me a long time to get over it to realize, we signed our life away. They can do whatever they want to do.

RELATED: Gabrielle Union Files Discrimination Complaint Against AGT Simon Cowell

Continuing to watch the show, which began in 2000 and is now on its 40th season, Amaro says that it has become more apparent that Black cast members are made to look a certain way.

Im just saying, Do right by us, she continued.

Another contestant, JTia Hart, who competed on the show in 2014 started a petition to push for diversity on Survivor, asking for casts to have at least 30% of people of color in their upcoming seasons.

What they dont do a great job with, is telling positive stories and connecting with the multifacets of being African-American, she told NPR.

I have a degree in nuclear engineering from a top engineering school. Im a mother. I work in national security. I am very well-rounded. And I just got boiled down to a simple trope of a lazy, unintelligent person.

Cast alongside Hart, Brice Johnston, believes he was stereotyped as the sassy, flamboyant Black gay man and thinks that current conditions of the nation are due for change.

Its not just Black Lives Matter when it comes to the police, he explained. Its Black Lives Matter [for us] as reality contestants our lives, our stories, we matter as well.

See a condensed clip of Ramonas time on the first season, below:

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This Top-Rated App Provides Fitness And Meal Plans Tailored To Your Lifestyle - News Lagoon

BOSTON, MA Gyms can reopen starting Monday as Massachusetts enters phase three, Gov. Charlie Baker announced at his news conference Thursday. For Boston, however, phase three will begin on Monday, July 13.

When gym doors open, a few things will be different.

Gyms will be required to keep occupancy below 40 percent capacity and sanitize equipment after use. All customers will have to be masked.

Fitness centers and gyms have been closed since March, when Baker mandated they shut down temporarily. Gym members and owners have been frustrated by the closures a Somerville gym owner sued Baker this week, stating that gym closures are a violation of fifth and fourteenth amendment rights.

Other gyms created virtual classes in an attempt to sustain memberships, or asked members to continue paying if they could in order to support trainers and staff who found themselves out of work.

See the original post:
Gyms And Fitness Centers To Reopen Monday As Part of Phase 3 - Boston, MA Patch

There was a time, not too long ago, when I was a double-fisting fitness tracker kind of girl: Apple Watch on the right hand, FitBit on the left. It's not that I monitor my steps and calorie count that closely. I just liked getting the happy notification that I'd hit my step goal, or feeling the satisfaction of closing all my rings. It was fun to hit little daily goals and feel proud of myself, and keep up some friendly ("friendly") competition with my family while I was at it.

When we started to shelter in place, my step count went down. A lot. Like, all the way. I didn't have my three-mile walking commute and I was dealing with some nagging injuries, so I couldn't run around my neighborhood or even do a lot of at-home workouts. My Apple Watch, of course, noticed REAL fast. It thought some concerned notifications would help. "Maggie, you're usually farther along on your rings by now." "Maggie, you closed your rings once last week." Even the encouraging messages just came off as condescending: "Maggie, you've almost closed your exercise ring! A brisk 20-minute walk should do it." As though it was that easy with one foot in a walking boot and a pandemic making me nervous to leave the house.

I could've just turned off the notifications, but even on the days my trackers didn't ping me, a quick glance at the time (and my rings and step count) was a reminder of how far behind I was. It was such a small thing, but I couldn't stop the cascade of negative thoughts that would follow. "You're so out of shape compared to last year." "You're not working out at all anymore." "Remember when you'd hit 12,000 steps a day like it was nothing?"

I was already stressed and anxious from the pandemic, but beyond staying at home and wearing a mask, I couldn't do much about that. Instead, I took all that fear and negativity and turned it toward my falling step counts, my low calorie burn, my fitness, and my body. Seeing the actual numbers was just evidence that I was losing control of yet another part of my life. It was like if I berated myself about it with hard numbers to back it up! I could prove that I still had some kind of power.

I don't know if you know this, but being hard on yourself has never actually forced a pandemic to go away or made an injury heal faster or magically turned life back to normal. (Hear that, anxiety?) There were a lot of things I couldn't control and it'll probably be that way for a while but one simple, small thing I could do was give it a rest on the fitness tracking. I liked my Apple Watch and FitBit because they told me tidbits of info I didn't know, like how much I was walking or standing or burning in a day, but when you're at home 24/7 and unable to work out, you pretty much already know the answers to those questions. I didn't need the constant reminders, especially if my brain was going to take it as an excuse to whip up some more negativity. We all have enough of that already.

Currently my Apple Watch and my FitBit are both chilling in their chargers, and that's where they're staying for a while. I might strap one on when I can run again, but even then, I'm not sure; I don't exactly have a race to train for, and going out for a run without any numbers on my mind sounds pretty wonderful. Monitoring things like steps, calories, and standing is helpful and fun for some people, but I realized that for me, it just played into a need for control that quickly turned toxic when I couldn't satisfy it. As I'm slowly (soooo slowly) starting to work out again, all I really want is that amazing rush of endorphins and calm that comes after a hard workout. You know that simple joy of movement that can't be quantified or tracked on your wrist or sent to you in a notification? I can't wait to feel that again.

Read the original post:
I Ditched My Fitness Watches During the Pandemic, and I Might Keep It That Way - POPSUGAR

An independent boxing gym, known for its free community programming and iconicgiant colourful boxing glove statues, is at risk of shuttering permanently after more than two decades in business.

Bloor Street Boxing & Fitness, which has graced the corner of Bloor and Dundas West since 1994, has issued a call for support after months of forced closure due to the health crisis.

"During the shutdown our revenue stream stopped but our bills did not,"a GoFundMe campaignforthe facility reads."We are still expected to pay rent and utilities during the shutdown and that has caused an extreme financial burden that will not be made up the moment we reopen our doors."

Thankfully, the gymhas been given the go-ahead by the province to reopen with stringent health and safety measures in place sometime "in the near future," assuming it can financially survive until then.

But, it needsto recoup a loss of a whopping $80,000 by Aug.1 in order to stay afloat.

Former lightweight National Champion Paul Ryan started the business initially as a way to get at-risk young people off the streets and into the sport.

Since its beginnings, it has grown into a full service two-storey 24-hour gym with a variety of training options and classes, includingspecialty ones like Shape Your Life, offeredtotrauma and violence survivors, and the long-running Boxers Against Drugs Guns Everywhere foryouth. Both programs are free of charge.

It's known for its no-nonsense inclusive environment and for having "all the amenities of a big gym and none of the pretension" for amateurs and professionals alike, whether they are looking to pick up boxing, yoga, or just stay physically fit.

Members and neighbours are rallying for the gym, with just over $4,000 raised so far in two days. Hopefully, that number can get closer to the goal in time for next month for this legendary Toronto spot and the oversized gloves that flank its doors to stick around.

Excerpt from:
Toronto fitness club and boxing gym could be forced to close after 25 years in business - blogTO

Almost exactly a year after announcing the Polar Ignite GPS watch, the company is back with another wearable the similarly named Unite, which takes all the Polar Ignite features, slashes the internal GPS, and drops the price by $50. Oh, and theyve changed the sensors, bands, screen, and thickness. But wait while it lacks internal GPS, it can still leverage your phones GPS if thats nearby.

And thus, Ive explained the Polar Unite in a single paragraph. Sure, I could end this non-review, but Ive still got 6 hours till this watch launches, so I might as well fill up this page with all sorts of hands-on details on how it works and whether it makes sense for ya. Also, for those playing Branding Bingo at home, drink for every time I manage to mistype Unite as Ignite. And two drinks for when I mistype Unite as Unit or United.

The Polar Unite is theoretically aimed at the same audience as the Fitbit Charge 4, also priced at $149. Except, that one has GPS, but is a band wearable as opposed to a full watch. And while the Fitbit Charge 4 undeniably has fitness features, Polars Unite is in an entirely different league. Its got the same automatic workout coach (called FitSpark) as the higher-priced Polar Ignite, and the same sleep and 247 tracking as Polars $400+ GPS watches. The question is, how does that fit into a scheme where the Apple Watch Series 3 is at $169 these days? Well, thats trickier and will really depend on what you want out of it. For that, Ill first have to explain the nuances (and pitfalls) of this watch.

Or, you can simply hit the play button below to get all the details:

Also, just a quick note that Polar sent over this media loaner to toy with. Once Im done Ill get it back to them (along with this Grit X Im finally done with). Just the way I work leave no tracks and all that. If you found this post useful, simply hit up links at the side, or consider becoming a DCR Supporter.

With that lets dive in!

Now, as I stated earlier, the Polar Unite is essentially a Polar Ignite without built-in GPS. But there are a handful more differences beyond that which make itmaybebetter?

First though, lets quickly cover the main features it has in it. Starting with the hardware side of life heres the specs:

Claimed daily battery time of 4 days, workout battery time of 50hrs with connected GPS (if your phone can last that long) Color touchscreen display, single side button Waterproofed to 30 meters Display is not always-on, only turns on when raising wrist, like Apple Watch (pre-Series 5) or most Fitbits, workout mode *does* have always-on option though Polar Precision Prime optical heart rate sensor on back (same as new Grit X series) Strap design is new to Unite, a blended fabric and silicone strap Swappable wristbands Bluetooth Smart HR sensor support (though not power meters/cycling/footpod sensors) No music/storage on watch, nor NFC/contactless payments

Virtually everything above mirrors that of the Polar Ignite series. Polar doesnt have an app store, so you wont see that. And the only real downside here is the lack of GPS internally and the fact that the display turns off to save battery after a few seconds.

From a major software features standpoint, it mirrors all those functions from the Polar Ignite. Heres the run-down:

Includes FitSpark feature which gives you daily workout options based specifically on history + Nightly Recharge Includes Nightly Recharge feature that looks at breathing rate/heart rate/heart rate variability (ANS data) to figure out if youre recovering at night Includes Sleep Plus Stages which adds in REM/Light/Deep sleep tracking, and sleep score Includes Serene, which are guided breathing exercises (like what Fitbit and others have) Includes structured workout support, so you can create workouts online with specific steps to follow Includes Training Benefit feature

Next, just for completeness, heres a quick list of all the things you expect on a wearable (especially a Polar one), but I figured Id list them here just in case:

Tracks general activity metrics (e.g. steps, distance, calories, etc) 247 Tracks heart rate 247 Tracks sleep (see new sleep features though) Includes VO2Max score (aka Running Index) Includes Fitness Test feature (VO2Max test while lying down) Includes timers (countdown timers & stopwatch) Maximum of 20 sport profiles on the watch itself (far more than Apple, Garmin, Fitbit, or Suunto allow at this price point), some 100 sports on platform to add to watch Can apply both heart rate zones and speed zones (no power zones/nor power meter support) Accelerometer-based speed/distance when no connected GPS is available (or inside on treadmill) Does *NOT* have multisport (aka triathlon) mode

So, about now youre asking yourself hows it different than the Polar Ignite? Easy-peasy, heres the quick and dirty list:

No built-in GPS on Polar Unite (it will leverage your phones GPS though) Band design is different, similar to Apple Watch better in some ways, less so in others Unite has color-themed watch face customization, Ignite does not This is 32g, versus the Ignite is 35g, so you can now eat one extra bit of ice cream Unite daily battery life is 4 days versus 5 days for Ignite Unite workout with GPS battery life & optical HR sensor enabled is 50 hours versus 17 hours for Ignite (and internal GPS) Unite uses the new Polar Grit X optical HR sensor with different LED colors Unite optical HR sensor is flush with the back of watch, Ignite has a sensor bump/pop-out Unite has a slightly brighter display than Ignite Unite is $149, while Ignite is $199 Unite is usually impossible to type right 30 times in a row, Ignite is easier

And with that, weve wrapped up all the differences between them. Plus, Im out of bullet points I definitely used them all by now. Ok, lets walk through the main features.

Once you crack open the box youll find the watch inside. Also of note Polar changed their box design to this swanky new one. Its kinda clever.

Also of note is that Polar changed their charging clip here (unfortunately) to this cable-less variant.

Theyre a pain in the butt in most cases to use with laptops/desktops/anywhere without a weird USB port spot.

The first thing youll probably notice on the Unite is the removable band. It looks like this mysterious blend of fabric and silicone. Seriously, its kinda cool. But in reality, its just laser-etched into the band. Still, it feels nice.

It is however also a direct softer duplication of the Apple Watch band design where the strap inserts back into itself. The only problem is that Polars manufacturing design or tolerances isnt quite good enough to pull it off. So for first-time usage Ive found getting the pole into the hole is really challenging. Its just a super tight fit and requires a substantial amount of force and fiddling around.

Polar says over time and with more practice/usage itll loosen up a bit and be easier to get in.

Ill have to take their word on that at this point and will circle back later after a few weeks. Still, I do really like the fabric/silicone blend. Its mysteriously alluring.

Next, theres the touchscreen display and single button. The screen appears slightly brighter than the Ignite, and Polar says it is actually very slightly brighter than the Polar Ignite. As noted, youll largely interact with the screen via touch, though theres also a dedicated button on the left. Ive found the touch control so-so. For swipes left to right its fine, but I find that either I or the watch have often missed on up/down swipes (like in some of the menus). Its not a big deal, and I suspect over time Id get better at the nuances of it.

On the back of the unit youll find the new optical HR sensor. This is the same sensor as the Polar Grit X which came out back in April. That sensor is slightly different than the Polar Ignite or Vantage series in that it changes the LED coloring. This sensor will monitor your heart rate 247, as well as during workouts:

Flipping the unit back over lets dive into menus. First up is the watch face, showing me the time. Theres only two watch faces, digital or analog. And then within that, you can pick from half a dozen or so colors to accent them (to match the wrist straps available):

I can swipe left or right to iterate through the other widget screens. In fact, above it actually shows my steps atop the time (using the blue band around the edge). When tapping that, I can get more details about steps:

Same is true for heart rate:

Theres also one for sleep. While it takes 3 consecutive days of wearing the Unite to get more advanced sleep information, youll get preliminary information immediately.

From a sports standpoint, the widget will show your last workout, and then you can tap it to get more details about that workout or previous ones:

Theres also a FitSpark widget screen, which will give you a workout suggestion for the day. But more on that in the next section:

If you press the lower left button youll be able to access the menu to start training, but its also where you can swipe down once to access Serene:

Serene is where itll walk you through guided breathing exercises:

In this same area is where youll find timers (stopwatch and such), as well as the Fitness test:

Its also where you can dive into the settings and pair your phone, sensors, and change things like how it displays certain details such as distance or the time of day.

Finally, you can swipe up from the bottom of the screen to access smartphone notifications. Like with the Polar Grit X a few months ago, Im having problems here as well on timeliness of these notifications. My other devices get them instantly, but in some cases Im seeing delays of up to 30 minutes before a notification appears. Its unclear to me if this is just a DCR Issue, or something wider.

And then you can swipe down from the top to access the screen lock, do not disturb mode, and alarms.

With that, lets talk sports.

If youre buying the Polar Unite, its likely for sport or fitness usage. And in that realm, it does quite a bit. As I noted earlier, its not much different than the Polar Vantage or Grit X series in terms of the main sports features. Where it differs is lacking some of the more advanced aspects. For example, you wont find Recovery Pro or Training Load Pro here, nor will you find the new Hillsplitter feature.

But it does have FitSpark for automated workout suggestions, as well as the ability to download structured workouts to it. And of course, while it lacks internal GPS, you can still leverage your phone which probably works for many people.

Well start with FitSpark, since thats one of the big features of the Unite. From the main widget page youll see this screen. Its telling me that my workout for today should be a cardio one:

And when I tap it, it gives a bit more details. First, it should be a Cardio Medium effort of 1 hour and 4 minutes, staying in heart rate zones 1-3. Which is oddly perfect, since thats exactly what I planned for today (60 minutes technically, but close enough). On the upper edge you see it also says Strength and Supportive, which are the other two workout types itll recommend.

When I hit that More button, itll give me other workout options, in this case doing a Core Regular workout for 25 minutes, or a Mobility Dynamic workout for 23 minutes. Theres also a flyer of an option for Cardio Long, at 1hr 48mins.

If I tap that Core Regular workout, it gives you a bunch of explainer text, but lower down youll see the exact core moves it wants you to do, complete with little moving animated peoples:

It also shows the set numbers next to it. The same is true for the Mobility Dynamic workout:

Going back to my actual Cardio Medium workout for today, it shows some intensity phases to stay within. However, these blocks of time dont match the actual lengths. For example, in reality this workout would have me do 10 minutes warmup (blue below), then 49 mins work (green below), and then 5 mins cool-down (blue below). Obviously, thats not three equal parts like represented below.

Once Im ready, Ill tap the Start button, which then brings me to choose the exact sport.

See, for Polar FitSpark it doesnt care or specify about sports for these cardio workouts. Instead, its focused on your heart rate. So in this case, its an indoor ride. So Ill select that and also get on my bike.:

After that, I simply press start and get to it. Itll show me a banner as I start each section with the heart rate zone and duration, and then show me a gauge at the top with the target and my current spot in zone, as well as time remaining.

The coloring changes based on the zones, for example my cool-down:

Afterwards, Ill get a summary (more details on those in a moment):

Now, what about GPS workouts? Fear not lets talk there based on a workout last night. Now all but one of Polars other wearables have built-in GPS, whereas the Polar Unite will depend on your phone for that. However, this isnt Polars first BBQ when it comes to leveraging your phone for GPS. In fact, the band-based Polar A360 and A370 had the same technology as well.

When you first set up the Polar Flow app on your smartphone, itll prompt you to confirm the GPS permissions (and just after that, permissions for smartphone notifications):

Then, youll go into the sport menu like normal to start a workout. To do that simply tap the lower left button, and choose to Start Training. Itll give you a swippable list of workout types, just like with FitSpark. You can customize all these, including the exact data screens and data fields youve got configured:

If you select an outdoor workout type that leverages GPS (like Road Running), youll then see an icon for phone connectivity. This shows whether its connected to the phone or not, then if it has GPS lock. At first itll be red:

Then once connected to the phone it turns orange:

And then finally green once its got GPS lock:

Meanwhile, on the heart rate side, itll show optical HR lock once ready. Or, if youve got a Bluetooth Smart chest strap paired, itll show that too.

With that, youre ready to run. Now since it depends on your phones GPS for the GPS track and distance, youll obviously need to carry that with you. The most ideal spot for GPS signal is an armband. But I didnt have one of those that actually fits my phone, so I just tossed it in my running shorts pocket and off I went:

Read the original here:
Polars Unite Fitness Watch: Hands-on Details and First Run - DC Rainmaker

COMMERCE TOWNSHIP, Mich. (WXYZ) Body Language Fitness and Yoga in Commerce Township has gone through a variety of ups and downs during the pandemic, their new challenge has been finding a place to workout.

This time has been an absolute roller coaster, said owner Andrea VanBehren.

They are now providing outdoor classes, but have had noise complaints at two separate locations.

Starting Monday, their classes will move to Edgewood Country Club, located on Commerce Road and Union Lake Road. They will have a spot near the volleyball courts.

We are going to be having classes Monday through Saturday, starting next Monday, said VanBehren.

They also offer Zoom and online classes as an option.

Another challenge they have faced, people canceling their memberships. VanBehren says she understands this is a difficult time. She says she has also seen a show of support.

There are several people that have been longtime loyal customers, clients, students that have keep their memberships rolling so that we can land on the other side of this, said VanBehren.

People interested in checking out a class can experience an outdoor class for $20. For more information on membership price, click here.

Originally posted here:
Body Language Fitness and Yoga in Commerce Township finds new location for outdoor workouts - WXYZ

Red Rocks Park and Amphitheatre is welcoming yogis and other people seeking physical fitness back to the rocks after months of being shut down by the COVID-19 pandemic.

While Red Rocks has eithercanceled or postponeda majority of their concerts scheduled for summer, many events are returning includingYoga on the Rocksevery Friday, Saturday, and Sunday from July 10th through August 30th. Session times available include 7:00 a.m., 8:30 a.m., and 10:00 a.m.

A new fitness series, called The Quarantine 15 Challenge, will also kick off at Red Rocks this summer.

While the return of events brings summer excitement to the iconic venue, additional safety measures will be in place to prevent the further spread of the virus.According to the Red Rocks website, guests "may be subject to safety protocols including temperature screenings and use of masks per local rules."

Tickets for both Yoga on the Rocks and the Quarantine 15 Challenge are now on sale for $17 per session.

The four-week SnowShape fitness series is also set to return to the iconic venue in September for also $17 per session.

Events will be limited to175 attendees. For more information, please visitredrocksonline.com.

Go here to read the rest:
Fitness events to return to Red Rocks Amphitheatre after extended closure - OutThere Colorado

There's no place like home in a pandemic which explains why hot tubs and gym equipment are selling like toilet paper did in the early days of COVID-19.

Aaron Pilon, sales manager at Arctic Spas Edmonton, put in 18-hour days at work, only to have people living in his St. Albert neighborhood, who he didn't know, knockon his door at 9 p.m. asking if he could hook them up.

"I had no reprieve. It was insane."

With no place to go this summer, "everybody's vacation budget has turned into a hot tub budget, or an RV budget, or a bike budget," Pilon said. "People are putting money into their homes because they're probably thinking we're not going anywhere for a long time and it would be nice to improve the situation that we have.

"We outsold what we did all of last year, in March. Our industry exploded."

Things have slowed down some, but only because the demand has so outpaced supply, if you order a hot tub today basic price $7,000-$13,000 you won't get it until December, instead of the three to four weeks it took pre-COVID, Pilon explained.

Jason Samograd, regional manager for Flaman Sales and Rentals in Alberta, said it's been the same thing with home gym and fitness equipment.

"When all the gyms closed in the middle of March we saw a surge in business like the company never experienced before. We were probably doing five times typical local numbers. It was crazy for about three months."

The inventory for some items, like weights and weight equipment, are depleted. As are trampolines.

"There was a total shortage across North America," Samograd said. "People were looking for trampolines for their kids. We presold 85 trampolines that never even touched our warehouse. The demand was so much higher than supply we sold things we had sitting as deadstock for over 10 years.

"Nothing will ever maintain (the sales) we saw in March and April, that was a freak of nature, we know those numbers couldn't be sustained, but even now with gyms reopening, a lot of people are going to be gun-shy to go back to a public place to workout and share machines where people sweat, breathe heavy, share change rooms," Samograd noted.

"Fitness is a very intimate industry. There will be a percentage (of gym rats) that will go back, but now that people have invested as much as they have in their own home gyms they're going to continue to workout at home where they know they're safe and comfortable."

John Pracejus, director of the School of Retailing and associate professor of marketing at the University of Alberta, would never have predicted either of these lifestyle trends at the start of the pandemic.

"(The pandemic) is kind of uncharted territory so I didn't know what to expect," he said. "I guess I was less surprised about the fact that grocery sales went up as people stopped eating at restaurants. If you're going to have more of your meals at home you're going to spend more at the grocery store.

"But as it continues to be risky to leave your house it's not surprising, in hindsight, that people are investing in things to stay at home as opposed to investing in holidays and travel," he explained. (Pracejus himself was part of the stampede to buy fitness equipment when his own gym closed.)

When people do leave the house, more of them are pedalling away on bicycles.

"Cycling is one of the last things you can still do this summer," Weston Covert, co-owner of Bike and Brew in Calgary, said.

"It's safer to get around for work or for personal reasons than taking transit. It's also a form of exercise you can do when physically distancing. You don't have to go out with big groups or anyone to go riding. You can do it by yourself or with another person, keep distancing and still have a social life."

Certain bikes in his inventory are depleted.

"The most popular are entry level bikesthat cost $600-$1,500 because there are a lot of new riders coming into the market who are not looking for high end but a good dependable bike from a bike shop.

"There is still supply, but you don't get as many options as you did a few months ago," Covert said.

Recreational vehicle sales are also up from what they normally are, Russ Small, director of marketing at Woody's RV in Calgary, said. But with prices ranging from $75,000 to $150,000 they're not selling like hotcakes.

It's hard to say which pandemic lifestyle trends will continue once a cure or vaccine is found. Pre-COVID activities like travel and eating out, going to the gym, going to the movies, will return, Pracejus said, but even if virus rates in the community are low "there are going to be a lot of people, especially people who are older or have underlying health conditions, that are going to be cautious. They're not going to engage in activities that involve being close to a lot of people."

Anytime you have "a major shock to the system, something that disrupts behaviour," he added, it's hard to predict exactly how much of what was pre-shock normal will return.

In the short term, people who have become used to spending a little less and saving a little more likely will continue to do so. On the other hand, "there are a lot less things to do that are perceived to be safe" that people can spend money on, Pracejus said. "There's also a lot of anxiety about employment ... so saving is a natural inclination."

He expects that the increase in online spending on clothing or groceries will continue well beyond the crisis people especially if people who had never tried it before have had a good experience.

People who have come to enjoy riding their bikes to work instead of taking public transit will also likely continue.

As will people who bought home gym equipment to work out at home.

As for the family closeness many people have experienced by spending so much time at home together, "I think a lot of people hope this is the one silver lining that people have found during the crisis that will continue beyond it," Pracejus said.

Chris Zdeb is a freelance writer and regular contributor to AlbertaPrimeTimes.com.This story was funded by the Facebook Journalism Project Supporting Local News Coverage of COVID-19 Program via the Local Media Foundation.

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Trampolines, hot tubs and fitness equipment in high demand during pandemic - Airdrie Today

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