The Real Pandemic is COVID-19
I’ve come to be extremely disheartened by several very harmful sentiments I see expressed in the fitness/nutrition/health community lately. So in order to make it clear where SPS stands in terms of health and safety, I am going to address some of these today. I recognize that some of these topics are going to be controversial and even divisive. That does not change the fact that I welcome your feedback, provided you are not advocating hatred or harm.
“The real pandemic is…”
Let’s get one thing straight. The “real pandemic” is COVID-19. The ongoing global health crisis that has killed hundreds of thousands of people, and is continuing to wreak havoc on lives, nations, the global economy, and the very way we live. This does not mean I am saying that obesity, predatory food industries, and a culture of laziness are not problems. They are. Severe problems, at that. It is, however, in poor taste at best to downplay the staggering loss of life and suffering taking place as a result of COVID-19. We can care about strength training, proper nutrition, and reducing obesity without lowering ourselves to such things.
Instead:
Consider how we, as voices in the community, can actually use the promotion of strength, nutrition, and overall good health to contribute to mitigation of this awful disease. After all, obesity and poor cardiac and respiratory health put people at greater risk from COVID-19. We shouldn’t be telling people that doing squats will keep them being infected. But if better health serves to reduce risks, we should be on the front lines helping everyone take every step they can to reduce their risks.
2. “Gyms not being open is criminal.”
There is nothing “criminal” about a non-essential business being closed to save lives. No, gyms are not essential. Nothing is stopping you or anyone else from working out at home. None of us need fancy machines or even weights to get a proper workout in, just like we don’t need restaurants to eat properly. While going to gyms when it is safe might be pleasant and even helpful for many people, it is not worth the risk to the health and lives of anyone to do so.
Instead:
Consider how we can use our position to promote safe, at home, at open air park, or otherwise safe workouts. Think about how we can support gym owners without putting ourselves or anyone else at risk. This community is massive and passionate. Surely we can come together for such purposes.
3. “Less vaccine card posts, more PRs.”
Look no further than how I tend to directly respond to this: “Why not both?” There is absolutely no reason why we need to discourage anyone from sharing their COVID-19 vaccine status or any other health care procedure they go through. It utterly defeats the entire purpose of what we as advocates of strength and health set out to do to undermine such things by trying to replace them with weight lifting numbers, eating metrics, or anything else. It does not no one any good to hit a new PR on a lift if they die of COVID-19 a week later. There is plenty of room on any post for both. We can do better than this.
Instead:
Rather than discouraging the promotion of vaccination or trying to replace it with fitness achievements, let’s normalize combining them. Start actively asking to see people’s vaccine cards or announcements next to their lifting numbers and other health announcements. Leverage our visibility to promote a solution.
4. “Anyone wearing a mask in [X circumstance] is weak/stupid/other negative.”
I continue to be both baffled by and ashamed of how many people in this community I see publicly posting and speaking this way. We are a community that claims to be first and foremost about health, fitness, and well-being. How can a single one of us justify discouraging anyone for protecting their health and life? How does this in any way serve to better anyone?
Instead:
Either say nothing about masks and prevention, or go further and promote normalization of it. Show people that you aren’t ashamed of or averse to a minor inconvenience that could save your life or someone else’s. Post pictures of yourself in a mask or working out at home. Use your position of visibility and influence to encourage people to be safe.
We Can Do Better
You will notice that I do not call anyone out here by name, nor do I seek to draw direct attention to particular brand, group, or any other designation. That is because my sole aim with this discussion is to make the statement above: We can do better. We, as a community, can do better. People look to us for guidance on how to live healthy lives. Everyone from overweight people that are in the last parts of their lives to children who are just starting to find their way. We have a responsibility to be better than this.