The secret to finding happiness.........at the gym.

truebrew

If you don't have a tablet, get one and turn the gym into your own personal daily movie theater. Get a tablet that has a microcard and download the movies you want to screen today. I do cardio including running and elliptical for an average of 1.5 hours a day. There is no way I could do this without having a movie to watch. I have downloaded at least a hundred over the last couple of years. All types.....from "The GodFather" to Honeymoon in Vegas........from documentaries about World War 2 and Hitler to Car Wash.

I have a Galaxy Tab Pro 8.4 which is perfect for the gym and has a micro card slot.

Today, in just about an hour, we will heading to 24 hour fitness here in North Dallas and today we are screening "And the Band Played On'.....a movie about the AIDS crisis, when it started, how it started, the circumstances, the politics, ...........etc.

I"m interested in this movie I had never seen before because I remember so well in the early 80s when this dreadful thing hit. I'm not gay but I remember the fear, even among heterosexuals. I remember that we didn't know anything about it, what was causing it........but it was out there. So I'm really looking forward to this award winning movie which was made back in the 90s....(I think).

And that is why I am looking forward to going to the gym today. I get to watch a great movie and work off about 900 calories. And during my weights?......The Tablet is too big to carry around, so I resort to my Ipod, clip it on my waiste and usually watch "pumping iron" from 1975. I never get tired of watching it.

Well, it works for me.........good luck.

jasminecoco

Exercising, education AND having fun at the same time??
It sounds awesome!
I don't know how it will work for me as I like to think about nothing while running

JoRocka

how do you lift and watch a movie?

I watch netflix all the time if I have to do cardio- but I couldn't imagine watching it while lifting.

That being said- glad you found something that works for you- that's really an important step to getting fitness into your life and making it work for you.

EvanKeel

I guess there is sort of a connection between And the Band Played On and finding happiness at the gym. The gay (men's) community reacted to the AIDS crisis initially needing to "look" healthy. Hence, there was an increased focus put on having a good-looking body; it meant you looked clean. It was an unfortunate, if understandable, response. All that meant more gym time--let me hear your body talk.

Greenrun99

Why do you do cardio for 1.5 hours a day?????

I wonder if your putting your full attention into your workouts.. I can barely change songs when working out let alone watch a movie.

DavPul

but what about those of us that are actually working out? will a tablet based movie still bring us happiness and joy?

sjohnny

but what about those of us that are actually working out? will a tablet based movie still bring us happiness and joy?

I wonder if watching movies will bring happiness to other aspects of my life.

ninerbuff

Ah, you're the one that takes up cardio equipment while others wait for an hour and a half.

Pumping Iron is a great documentary, but to look like any of those guys takes more than just watching the movie while doing a casual workout. Oh and some AAS too.

A.C.E. Certified Personal/Group FitnessTrainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

DavPul

but what about those of us that are actually working out? will a tablet based movie still bring us happiness and joy?

I wonder if watching movies will bring happiness to other aspects of my life.

pretty sure it does. this is why i always watch movies while having relations. i just wish my wife was more into anime

gerla_k

Personally i wouldn't bring tablet to any gym- then leave it in my locker while shower ? no way.

kaaaaylee

but what about those of us that are actually working out? will a tablet based movie still bring us happiness and joy?

I wonder if watching movies will bring happiness to other aspects of my life.

pretty sure it does. this is why i always watch movies while having relations. i just wish my wife was more into anime

Time for a new wife.

sjohnny

but what about those of us that are actually working out? will a tablet based movie still bring us happiness and joy?

I wonder if watching movies will bring happiness to other aspects of my life.

pretty sure it does. this is why i always watch movies while having relations. i just wish my wife was more into anime

Get her her own tablet and she can watch ...... I don't know..... Mama Mia or whatever chicks like.

JoRocka

but what about those of us that are actually working out? will a tablet based movie still bring us happiness and joy?

I wonder if watching movies will bring happiness to other aspects of my life.

it does to mine wink wink nudge nudge- I have a long distance relationship and we work odd hours so our schedules don't overlap. gotta get that happiness in some how!!!

MireyGal76

Unless I'm on a treadmill set to a constant pace, I cannot watch tv while exercising... I move slower and everything takes me three times as long. I don't put as much effort into my workout as I do when I've got the tunes cranked.

Especially if is a plot I'm interested in..


I'm really glad you found what works for you, and kudos to your ability to find time to work out for that much time.

I can't manage more than an hour without feeling like I am falling behind on other stuff. I need to be able to do a short run, lift weights, work abs, do a couple rounds of boxing - and try to squeeze that into an hour of concentrated, balls to the wall effort.

Platform_Heels

I can run and watch tv ON a tv. It doesn't effect my pace in the least however I highly doubt I would be able to balance a tablet on the console of the treadmill and run and watch a movie at the same time. That's kind of like trying to use the elliptical and read. Ain't going to happen.

And the only time I have ever run for an hour plus on a TM was during my half marathon training when I missed my long run outside the day before and was forced to do it in the gym.

truebrew

I have an Ipod classic with a 2 inch screen. I clip it to the belt around my waiste so I can watch it between sets. And of course the sound is always on. I watched Pumping Iron AGAIN today. I never get tired of it because it's from the 70s, my era, it's Gold's Gym in Venice Beach, (Im from Southern CA).....it's funny, it's inspiring, and motivates.

Ipod Classic with like 160 gb of memory. That's a lot of music and a lot of movies. But on the treadmill or elliptical, of course it's the Galaxy Tab with micro card. Apple Tablets have no micro card........boooo!

Here's Pumping Iron on youtube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZRpfi9jG2RA

truebrew

Yes, my cardio is pretty long. I run or do the elliptical between 7 and 8 miles a day. I have a routine. Sunday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday is mostly run. Monday and Thursday is all elliptical.

Today I ran 6.5 miles, did weights, then did 1.5 miles on the elliptical. Long time in the gym today.......but I don't work out on Saturday.....I"m a Seventh day Adventist and that's the Sabbath and my only day I dont' work out. Sunday will be another big day.......7 mile run, weights, then 1 mile on elliptical. I like to sweat .....:)

Ive been doing this for over 10 years.....in fact......close to 15. Ive gone from Sony walkmans to portable DVDs, , to Ipods, to tablets....I wonder what's next?

crazie4lulu

my secret to finding happiness in the gym... is to lift very heavy... drink water.... lift again. no time for watching anything but the clock to make sure i get a damn good workout in!!!!!

truebrew

I'm in the gym at a time, mid morning , and both gyms I go to are big.......there's never a wait for the treadmills or cardio machines. In fact, most are not being used.

I have never seen it when there was a wait, even on Sunday. I guess it's because the gyms I go to are pretty big. 24 hour utlra sport and a good sized LA Fitness.

truebrew

but what about those of us that are actually working out? will a tablet based movie still bring us happiness and joy?

Today I ran 6.5 miles, did weights for 40 minutes, then finished with another 1.5 miles (15 minutes) on the elliptical. If that isn't an actual work out to you......hey......as Solazza told Tom Hagen in "The GodFather"......................my compliments.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yut9qPyT9jE

Hornsby

I do cardio for 1.5 hours per day and I gotta say, I prefer not thinking about anything during that time. I just let my brain turn to mush and I like it

truebrew

Why do you do cardio for 1.5 hours a day?????

I wonder if your putting your full attention into your workouts.. I can barely change songs when working out let alone watch a movie.

As Baretta said.....different strokes. By the way, this isn't a novel idea. The 24 hour ultra sport and I"m sure other gyms have screens now on the treadmills and cardio machines.

Anyways, 6.5 mile run today, good run.....10/minute per mile average. Then 40 minutes with weights and finished with 1.5 mile on the machine. I think I sweat more than anyone in the entire gym. My buddy at the gym told me he noticed how much I sweat. I drink lots of water.

My resting heart rate is between 42 and 46 bpm. Not bad for my age. The chart says I'm in the top category.....they call it "Athlete." Today I finished on the Elliptical watching an episode of Everybody Loves Raymond. That along with Columbo.....my 2 favorite TV shows of all time. Got a lot of episodes on my Tab. and Ipod. The gym has an Ipod hook up so what's on your Ipod can be watched on their screen. I used that a lot before I got my new Tab. Thanks.........

truebrew

I do cardio for 1.5 hours per day and I gotta say, I prefer not thinking about anything during that time. I just let my brain turn to mush and I like it

LOL....yeah, I just can't do that. Next week I'm gonna watch a whole bunch of Columbo's from the early 70s. Just finished downloading about 20 episodes to my micro card. Can't wait to watch em......which means can't wait to get to the gym.

thomaszabel

I don't work for my gym, but I'll put in a plug for the one I go to. Anytime Fitness. First, it's open 24/7. Even when the staff isn't there, you can get in with your electronic key.

But as relates to this thread, they have these really cool bikes called Expresso bikes. Check them out on Expresso.net or Expresso.com. They also sell them on Amazon, but they have a high ticket price, so out of most people's budgets ($6,000-$7,000). Anyway, as you are riding them, they have a huge computer screen in front of you where you choose the course you want to ride. Anything between 1 mile and no hills to 20 miles and huge hills. As you ride, it is like a 3-D video game, and you see other bikers (computer controlled) going along with you at different speeds. When there is a twist or turn in the course, you actually have to steer your bike with the handlebars to follow the road or trail. If you start going up a hill, you see other bikers slow down, and depending on the percentage grade, the bike automatically adds more resistance. For the uphills, you either have to pedal harder, or you can adjust the gear to a lower gear (which makes you go slower, but easier to pedal to keep up your RPMs). There are about 25 different courses programmed in for you to find the one you like, and they all have a theme. There is one that is in a Jurrasic Park setting with pterodactyls and T-Rex and mammoths going around. There is one over a mountain pass with intimidating yetis along the road. There is one where you are riding on a road in the middle of deep space, a Chinese theme with dragons flying around, one that goes through a labyrinth with minotaurs, and a number of them that simply meander along the ocean or through the redwood forest.

I can hop on and ride for 45 minutes or an hour, and time flies because it keeps your mind off of the boring stationary pedaling that traditional stationary bikes offer. And it's all connected to the internet, so I can hop on the computer and see number of miles, feet climbed, average heartrate, average watts divided by heartrate, etc. My gym even has a monthly competition on them that tracks either miles or elevation or calories or whatever and awards the top 3 people with Trader Joe's gift certificates.

I love it, love it, love it. Before I joined this gym though, I had my bicycle up on rollers (mag trainer) in my basement. I would set up my computer in front of the bike and play youtube videos that I found when searching "indoor cycling videos". Various videos people took on scenic bike rides in Spain, Germany, Brazil, etc. and if you use a bit of imagination, it took your mind off the pedaling and almost made you feel that you were on a bike tour of some country overseas.

jofjltncb6

1.5 hours each day???


Why?

truebrew

1.5 hours each day???


Why?

Because I really like to eat.

JoRocka

1.5 hours each day???


Why?

Because I really like to eat.

most valid reason ever.

Late Friday I was starving last year- cutting on a stupidly low calorie diet for a photoshoot prep...

And I was so hungry I got off my *kitten* to go do cardio and lift just because I wanted more food. Shameful. LOL

12pillows

I wish there were screens on the machines at my gym! I would be able to go for ages! Sadly I'm at a budget gym and I can't afford a tablet.
I am quite good at getting lost in my thoughts, imaging myself in a bikini surrounded by hot guys handing me ciders usually works a treat, but after a while I remember where I am and want to get off the machine.

And 1.5 hours is more than I currently do, but doesn't sound too extreme. I'm just doing cardio now, and only spend about 40-60 minutes at the gym each time, but in a few months I'm going to add strength training, so will be having longer workouts with that added on

rachelg145

Why do you do cardio for 1.5 hours a day?????

I wonder if your putting your full attention into your workouts.. I can barely change songs when working out let alone watch a movie.

HA! Ditto - I'm so full out on cardio days that I also can barely ff to the next song without falling off the inclined treadmill and on other days it's Nike Training Club app. I don't every hold on, though, to get the most out of it. He's either got the strongest core ever or maybe he holds onto the handlebars.

Movie dude, I CAN highly recommend the Jaybird Bluebud bluetooth headphones if you need an idea for someone to get you a gift for your next bday They would make your movie watching experience wireless, too

buzz3d269

I'm not a big gym user (I normally go for walks outside etc), but when I was traveling in the US, I was hitting up a lot of the hotel gyms... Most treadmills I used now have racks for tablets/magazines etc, some have screens in them, and one memorable one allowed you to plug your tablet into it, and it would play the movie on the treadmill screen. Certainly very different from when I used to regularly go to the gym a few years ago!

I generally download podcasts to listen to while I'm working out (and for when I'm driving long distances), keep me interested instead of looking at the clock. Favs are This American Life, Stuff You Should Know and Stuff You Missed in History Class

TrailNurse

Yes, my cardio is pretty long. I run or do the elliptical between 7 and 8 miles a day. I have a routine. Sunday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday is mostly run. Monday and Thursday is all elliptical.

Today I ran 6.5 miles, did weights, then did 1.5 miles on the elliptical. Long time in the gym today.......but I don't work out on Saturday.....I"m a Seventh day Adventist and that's the Sabbath and my only day I dont' work out. Sunday will be another big day.......7 mile run, weights, then 1 mile on elliptical. I like to sweat .....:)

Ive been doing this for over 10 years.....in fact......close to 15. Ive gone from Sony walkmans to portable DVDs, , to Ipods, to tablets....I wonder what's next?

Google glasses with a movie?