reading while at the gym, really?

ndj1979

I saw someone on a treadmill reading a book today, and it kind of got me to thinking. If you are on a treadmill running/walking whatever, how can you concentrate on reading a book? Another person brings in a tablet and sets it on ground in front of them when working with some of the machines...weird..

In my humble opinion, if you are reading book or watching a tablet while at gym then said person is not working out hard enough and/or are not concentrating on routine.

I mean we can't go to the gym for an hour without brining a book or tablet, really?

curious what the rest of you think ....read/tablet = yes, no, or epic fail ....

SarahRose35

My mom takes her Kindle to the gym and I see older men reading the Newspaper quite often. The people who do this are probably aiming to keep their mind off the fact that they are in fact exercising. I don't see it as a fail, I see it as a win. The could easily be doing the same thing, but sitting down. At least they're moving.

seliinac

My mom takes her Kindle to the gym and I see older men reading the Newspaper quite often. The people who do this are probably aiming to keep their mind off the fact that they are in fact exercising. I don't see it as a fail, I see it as a win. The could easily be doing the same thing, but sitting down. At least they're moving.

I agree.

BeachGingerOnTheRocks

If I'm on a stationary bike, sure. Not really able to read anywhere else, and the stationary bike for me is when I need to get blood flow to continue in my legs after a particularly strenuous lower day.

But to each his own. Everybody seems to be reading something at my gym.

ndj1979

My mom takes her Kindle to the gym and I see older men reading the Newspaper quite often. The people who do this are probably aiming to keep their mind off the fact that they are in fact exercising. I don't see it as a fail, I see it as a win. The could easily be doing the same thing, but sitting down. At least they're moving.

don't you think they would have better progress/results if they concentrated on their routine for an hour?

stealthq

Depends if the goal is to bust your *kitten* to improve yourself, or just to get up and get moving. If the latter, goal is still accomplished.

tlsegar

The funniest I've ever seen was a man reading the newspaper while on the thigh adductor machine. He was going at a ridiculously fast pace with the newspaper spread wide open. I don't know how much benefit he got from it but I got a great laugh at just the visual.

gmallan

These are the type of people who are probably just exercising to burn off calories as opposed to exercising for the fitness benefits or aiming to rach a specific goal. The wrong approach if you ask me. Also the type of people who could be getting just as good results in half the time by actually focusing and putting in a bit of effort

eblakes93

I can read when I'm on more stationary cardio equipment, like a bike or an elliptical. I'm not sure what I would really need to concentrate on while I'm on a cardio machine. As long as my heart rate is up and I'm moving, my legs do the job themselves.

I saw someone on a treadmill reading a book today, and it kind of got me to thinking. If you are on a treadmill running/walking whatever, how can you concentrate on reading a book? Another person brings in a tablet and sets it on ground in front of them when working with some of the machines...weird..

In my humble opinion, if you are reading book or watching a tablet while at gym then said person is not working out hard enough and/or are not concentrating on routine.

I mean we can't go to the gym for an hour without brining a book or tablet, really?

curious what the rest of you think ....read/tablet = yes, no, or epic fail ....

ndj1979

If I'm on a stationary bike, sure. Not really able to read anywhere else, and the stationary bike for me is when I need to get blood flow to continue in my legs after a particularly strenuous lower day.

But to each his own. Everybody seems to be reading something at my gym.

I could see the bike..

the tablet thing really blew my mind...LOL

SoDamnHungry

My mom takes her Kindle to the gym and I see older men reading the Newspaper quite often. The people who do this are probably aiming to keep their mind off the fact that they are in fact exercising. I don't see it as a fail, I see it as a win. The could easily be doing the same thing, but sitting down. At least they're moving.

don't you think they would have better progress/results if they concentrated on their routine for an hour?

Or they might have no progress or results because the gym is beyond boring to some people. If bringing a book makes it an enjoyable experience, there's a way better chance they'll actually go.

eblakes93

These are the type of people who are probably just exercising to burn off calories as opposed to exercising for the fitness benefits or aiming to rach a specific goal. The wrong approach if you ask me. Also the type of people who could be getting just as good results in half the time by actually focusing and putting in a bit of effort

I have specific goals and I manage to read on my tablet?

1PatientBear

I'm with you on the book. On the tablet, it's possible that they are logging their workout on there. Or maybe watching a video on proper form. I'm not so quick to judge on the tablet as it can be a useful tool to help with the workouts.

tatasmagik

I watch Netflix on my iPad when I walk on the treadmill at the gym. I wish I could read instead, but that just makes me all kinds of motion-sick. And yep, it keeps my mind off the boring walk. I set the machine to hill intervals at 3.5mph, turn up the tunes on the iPhone and watch my programming with closed captions instead of the boring *kitten* Home Improvement channel the gym plays.

Why's that got your panties all in a twist?

JTick

My mom takes her Kindle to the gym and I see older men reading the Newspaper quite often. The people who do this are probably aiming to keep their mind off the fact that they are in fact exercising. I don't see it as a fail, I see it as a win. The could easily be doing the same thing, but sitting down. At least they're moving.

don't you think they would have better progress/results if they concentrated on their routine for an hour?

I have worse results if I have to concentrate on what I'm doing. I hate doing my cardio at the gym, I much prefer running outside. But, sometimes my schedule doesn't allow that. So I just get it done on a machine, and I'll use any tool possible to get it out of my head that I'm walking/cycling/ellipticalling in place for however long. Although, running and reading just sounds dangerous.

woodstockchick

Just burst out laughing picturing that ( the guy reading the paper on the thigh machine)

YoBecca

Was it me? I was just there, on the treadmill with my nook.

For me, I am only at the gym to lift weights, and I do 10-15 minutes walking on the treadmill (4 mph/incline) to warm up. I can read at that pace, and I don't watch enough TV to be able to enjoy watching the TVs for just a few minutes. That being said, before you judge whether folks like me are getting a workout that's worth it, in my case this is my 2nd workout today. I already did 1 hour of bootcamp at 6am. I do that 4xweek, kettle bells 1xweek, a 1/2 marathon training run 1xweek (outside, where people are supposed to run ), and hit the gym to lift 3xweek. I'm not trying to kill it on the treadmill. FWIW!

ETA: not running a half 1xweek, but ramping up mileage to train for one.

lynn1982

This is the most ignorant and uncultured comment I've ever read on here.

ndj1979

I'm with you on the book. On the tablet, it's possible that they are logging their workout on there. Or maybe watching a video on proper form. I'm not so quick to judge on the tablet as it can be a useful tool to help with the workouts.

good point on the tablet..I will use my iphone to check form sometimes...or log stuff...

ndj1979

This is the most ignorant and uncultured comment I've ever read on here.

care to elaborate? Or are you just going to spout off a bunch of crap that makes no sense...

1princesswarrior

I see a lot of people reading and sweating in the gym. I plug in and watch the news when I run on the treadmill, actually makes it easier for me to breathe correctly and I don't worry about time as much.

tatasmagik

My mom takes her Kindle to the gym and I see older men reading the Newspaper quite often. The people who do this are probably aiming to keep their mind off the fact that they are in fact exercising. I don't see it as a fail, I see it as a win. The could easily be doing the same thing, but sitting down. At least they're moving.

don't you think they would have better progress/results if they concentrated on their routine for an hour?

Or they might have no progress or results because the gym is beyond boring to some people. If bringing a book makes it an enjoyable experience, there's a way better chance they'll actually go.

lifting heavy *kitten* never gets boring in my book....

Well, I *don't* try to read or watch Netflix when I'm heavy lifting. But on the cardio machine, I'm bored to death if I have to watch the clock.

evviamarshall

I think you should do what works for you and let others do what works for them. Would you prefer they stay home and not workout because what helps them get through a workout isn't what you need? Different strokes for different folks. I brought a book with me to the gym today and rode the stationary bike and did the stair climber while reading. I do it because when I'm at the gym away from my kids that's my time to read and focus on not just improving myself physically, but also mentally by diving into a good book. I am able to multitask so I am able to turn up the resistance and get a good sweat going all while reading. I couldn't tell you what the other people at the gym were doing because I don't go for them, and I'm not competing with them.

nomeejerome

A person could have an injury and that may be the only physical activity they are able to do on a particular day. I know on days when my bad back flares up, a walk on the treadmill (while reading) helps with the pain through activity and distraction.

ETA: most of the time I use the ipad because I can also watch videos, movies etc

nave002

Personally, I totally couldn't do it! I can barely read a text message as a passenger in a vehicle without feeling motion sickness! lol

If it takes their mind of what they are doing, good for them I guess. For me, I'm a music person -- that keeps me motivated and, of course, the eye candy doesn't hurt! :laugh:

Binkie1955

Its the folks having conversations on their cells phones next to me on the treadmill I find irritating. they talk loud to overcome the background noise of the machine and I have to put up with the conversation.

ndj1979

My mom takes her Kindle to the gym and I see older men reading the Newspaper quite often. The people who do this are probably aiming to keep their mind off the fact that they are in fact exercising. I don't see it as a fail, I see it as a win. The could easily be doing the same thing, but sitting down. At least they're moving.

don't you think they would have better progress/results if they concentrated on their routine for an hour?

Or they might have no progress or results because the gym is beyond boring to some people. If bringing a book makes it an enjoyable experience, there's a way better chance they'll actually go.

lifting heavy *kitten* never gets boring in my book....

Well, I *don't* try to read or watch Netflix when I'm heavy lifting. But on the cardio machine, I'm bored to death if I have to watch the clock.

when I run I run outside..running on a treadmill makes me feel like a hamster or something...

ruthrowlett1

Seriously STOP STALKING ME - just kidding but I did just leave the gym!! I do use my Kindle why on the elliptical and sometimes treadmill BUT if I'm doing weights or any other machine no.


At least they are making an effort!

I know one guy who used to bring his tablet and watch a video that helped him to work out.

Contrarian

This is the most ignorant and uncultured comment I've ever read on here.

Really? This isn't even close to the most ignorant and uncultured comment I have read here.

demarii06

Like stated before it gets your mind off of the exercise, and in college I did it often to save time. I was studying. I don't do it now, but yes the human mind is capable of doing multiple things at once. I'm sorry that it may be difficult for you. It's just like listening to music, I use the length/speed of song to keep me going, so I'm thinking of anything but my sweat covered face lol.

chrisdavey

Normally I'm focussing on other people's sets in my rest breaks but if I'm training by myself I'll stuff around on my phone or whatever (as well as doing some mobility/prehab stuff). 3ish min rest breaks means plenty of time to stuff around.

If I was doing cardio of the LISS variety like on a machine of some sort, I think I could probably read something no problem. HIIT is obviously not possible!