One member once observed that our alternative name should be CrossFit Fishbowl as we’re surrounded by windows.  Personally I love the light and I love for passersby to witness how much fun we’re having.  But during this pandemic I also understand why other gyms have moved to upper level suites or blacked out their windows to avoid the scrutiny of the general public.  The self-appointed COVID police out there sometimes make me feel like I’m in a Rockwell song.

This wouldn’t be so bad if there wasn’t so much confusion and if every mask Nazi had thoroughly read and understood the current guidelines on masks.  But that of course, is not the case.  Neighbours have once again complained about Empower members exercising without masks on.  Luckily, in this instance, they complained to me, not the Health Authority, so I had the opportunity to explain to them that masks are currently required upon entering or exiting the gym and when moving about the gym but not while exercising (this of course could change at a moment’s notice).  Unfortunately, no sooner had I explained this to our concerned neighbour than an Open Gym attendee decided to take a break from their dumbbell lunges and walk, mask free, across the gym to chat, mask-free, with another member right in front of our concerned neighbour’s window!

One of our coaches noted that it might be easier to enforce a masks-at-all-times policy to avoid this sort of confusion and keep us out of hot water with the Health Authority.  Personally I’d rather not return to exercising while wearing a mask.  Just 2 more weeks of this nonsense and the controversial COVID passports will hopefully free us once again from the mask wearing mandate. We ask you to please remember that we are training in a facility surrounded by windows and that there are neighbours perpetually poised to scrutinize and judge us.  Please be diligent and be sure to be seen following the present guidelines as they stand.   Please help us keep our doors open for business! 

And Now the Good News:
Another win for the low-carb camp: Managing your blood sugar levels plays an important role not in immunity to COVID but in reducing symptomatic response to the virus.  Incidentally lower blood sugar levels also reduces risk of most chronic lifestyle diseases.  Asymptomatic COVID cases are much less likely to be contagious and when, on the rare occasion, they are transmitted, usually result in asymptomatic cases. 

So sugar = worse symptoms = more contagion.  Therefore, if you eat dessert you are helping perpetuate the pandemic.  I’m going to go stand outside Breka and complain about their customers recklessly promoting COVID transmission. 

I kid of course.

Those who have recovered from COVID have stronger immunity against future strains than the immunity conferred by the vaccines.  Though it is true that the Delta variant is able to infect people who have been vaccinated, as Mr. Fantastic advised me last week, it is not a more dangerous version of the virus.  Vaccinated individuals who do get the Delta variant tend to have relatively minor symptoms and very, very few hospitalizations.  Bottom line, if you are vaccinated the Delta variant poses little risk to you.  As BFG sagely pointed out back in March 2020, it is not a matter of avoiding COVID.  COVID is going to be with us.  Probably forever.  Like the flu or a cold, you are going to get it eventually.  But for most of us, if we’re vaccinated, it will, like a cold or flu, be inconvenient but not life alteringly so.  The Delta variant has, however,  served to provide headlines on slow news days.  

Monday WOD

Warm Up/Tech
3 Rounds
1 min HPC
1 min Push Jerks
1 min HPC & Push Jerk
Round 1: PVC, Rounds 2 & 3: Empty Barbell

WOD
Hang Power Clean & Push Jerk
3-3-3-3-3-3-3