PUT THE DAMN PHONE AWAY!!!

In my Wellness center our gym policy is that members can't converse on the gym floor on their phones. There are signs posted saying that if they have to talk to someone, to go downstairs and into the main lobby. Haven't had an issue with it.

What I do have an issue with is people who #$&*ing text, play, stare etc. on their phones while occupying a piece of equipment for 10 minutes to do 3 sets with lackluster effort.
This is why I have all my clients put their phones on "SILENT".
Do yourself a favor..............................put the damn thing away for an hour. Your personal life won't change in that hour, but your body can.
Put it on silent, leave it in your pocket..................................and get to work!!!!

Rant done.


A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 28+ years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
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Replies

  • drmerc
    drmerc Posts: 2,603 Member
    I go to the gym to socialize not workout

    We all have different goals, don't judge me
  • wowhb30
    wowhb30 Posts: 15 Member
    Agreed! Same thing when going out to dinner and everyone is on their phones. I'm like really people?
  • superpapa16
    superpapa16 Posts: 244 Member
    But I'm a precious snowflake and the world wants, nay, needs to know what I'm doing at every moment of every day!
  • BigBrewski
    BigBrewski Posts: 922 Member
    I like this rant however I use Jefit as my trainer so I do a set enter the set to start the timer for the next set. I am at the gym to work our I ignore all texts and calls during that time but I do use my phone to track my sets and I use it for my C25K. I wish LA Fitness would put your policy in place and enforce it. I see people talking / texting / ect all the time holding up machines. I actually stopped going to the LA Fitness that is close to me becuase of the "rude" crowd there. Only reason I keep my membership is for Racquetball on Sunday mornings with my friends.
  • paintedlady77
    paintedlady77 Posts: 154 Member
    Amen!
  • trogalicious
    trogalicious Posts: 4,584 Member
    With doing stronglifts, I'll pull up what's on tap per workout that day on my phone... but it's never, ever:
    1. while I'm at a piece of equipment
    2. actively working out
    3. to call/message someone.
    4. even near equipment.

    Aside from the headphones that I have on, people would never know I even had a phone.

    Again, with you 100% on this.
  • BalenciaLynn
    BalenciaLynn Posts: 411 Member
    some people use it to listen to music though.

    Or maybe their updating their MFP to show what they just completed :p
  • chivalryder
    chivalryder Posts: 4,391 Member
    I don't go to the gym.

    Problem solved!
  • ninerbuff
    ninerbuff Posts: 49,028 Member
    I like this rant however I use Jefit as my trainer so I do a set enter the set to start the timer for the next set. I am at the gym to work our I ignore all texts and calls during that time but I do use my phone to track my sets and I use it for my C25K. I wish LA Fitness would put your policy in place and enforce it. I see people talking / texting / ect all the time holding up machines. I actually stopped going to the LA Fitness that is close to me becuase of the "rude" crowd there. Only reason I keep my membership is for Racquetball on Sunday mornings with my friends.
    Then you're not using the phone as an "entertainment" piece. You're using it for working out. That's a good thing.


    A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
    IDEA Fitness member
    Kickboxing Certified Instructor
    Been in fitness for 28+ years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
  • I use my phone as a timer between sets.
  • Erienneb
    Erienneb Posts: 592 Member
    Lately I keep my phone on me even when lifting because my grandfather has been in and out of the hospital for the past month. I wouldn't sit there on it though, I would leave to take a call/text about it.

    When I do cardio I have my phone out because I watch Netflix.
  • ninerbuff
    ninerbuff Posts: 49,028 Member
    some people use it to listen to music though.

    Or maybe their updating their MFP to show what they just completed :p
    Music fine. Listening to music isn't the same as watching a movie or reality show on your phone, texting your pal and laughing it up, all while occupying a machine or rack. Update MFP AFTER you're done with all your sets.


    A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
    IDEA Fitness member
    Kickboxing Certified Instructor
    Been in fitness for 28+ years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
  • aloranger7708
    aloranger7708 Posts: 422 Member
    some people use it to listen to music though.

    Or maybe their updating their MFP to show what they just completed :p

    I'm guilty of this. Sometimes I'll sit on the machine for an extra minute or so and update MFP:blushing: But only if no one is waiting behind me!!!! Most of the time I'll get off the machine and walk out into the bathroom or lobby to update it.
  • ninerbuff
    ninerbuff Posts: 49,028 Member
    Lately I keep my phone on me even when lifting because my grandfather has been in and out of the hospital for the past month. I wouldn't sit there on it though, I would leave to take a call/text about it.

    When I do cardio I have my phone out because I watch Netflix.
    Cardio machines are exceptions because people will be on them from 30-60 at a time. But a bench press, cable machine, etc shouldn't be monopolized by someone watching Netflix for 10 mins for 3 sets.


    A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
    IDEA Fitness member
    Kickboxing Certified Instructor
    Been in fitness for 28+ years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
  • i would have a hard job as i swim lol and i totally agree, :)
  • EvgeniZyntx
    EvgeniZyntx Posts: 24,208 Member
    Oh, look the phone police.

    I use my phone in the gym and for a lot of activity.

    It has

    myfitnesspal
    mapmyride
    mapmyfitness
    jetfit
    jetfit pro
    strava

    and my 5K to 10K podcast.

    It's my timer and exercise recorder. Jetfit pro gets a lot of usage.

    So between sets I'm using it. I'll rarely send an SMS because this is time for "me" but that might happen too. Just like it might happen on a long run or ride.
    In the gym, as long as I have the curtesy to clear the machine quickly and put my weights back - why is this an issue?

    ETA: My phone is always on silent. I take no calls in the gym.
  • ninerbuff
    ninerbuff Posts: 49,028 Member
    i would have a hard job as i swim lol and i totally agree, :)
    Lol, there was a female at my last gym who would swim a lap, get out look at her phone, then jump back and repeat. Not sure if it was an instructional or if she was pre occupied with the phone.


    A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
    IDEA Fitness member
    Kickboxing Certified Instructor
    Been in fitness for 28+ years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
  • ninerbuff
    ninerbuff Posts: 49,028 Member
    Oh, look the phone police.

    I use my phone in the gym and for a lot of activity.

    It has

    myfitnesspal
    mapmyride
    mapmyfitness
    jetfit
    jetfit pro
    strava

    and my 5K to 10K podcast.

    It's my timer and exercise recorder. Jetfit pro gets a lot of usage.

    So between sets I'm using it. I'll rarely send an SMS because this is time for "me" but that might happen too. Just like it might happen on a long run or ride.
    In the gym, as long as I have the curtesy to clear the machine quickly and put my weights back - why is this an issue?

    ETA: My phone is always on silent. I take no calls in the gym.
    Then you're not the problem. It's people who are preoccupied with their phones INSTEAD of working out that are.


    A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
    IDEA Fitness member
    Kickboxing Certified Instructor
    Been in fitness for 28+ years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
  • EvgeniZyntx
    EvgeniZyntx Posts: 24,208 Member
    Never met those.
    My gym has people busting their butts.

    Think about a different gym?
  • I'm a social worker and I'm on call 24/7. Sometimes I get a call/text/email on my phone while working out. I don't have the luxury of NOT taking that call or answering the text or responding to the email. Sometimes I can drop my speed and deal with my work issue without having to completely interrupt my workout. Mabye before vilifying everyone as "lackluster" you could realize that some of us aren't professional exercisers and have things to attend to outside the gym. That said -- basic gym etiquette should always apply in that if you are waiting for a machine you smile and nicely ask them about how much longer they'll be. And if you aren't waiting for their machine it's really none of your business how they are working out.
  • ShaniWulffe
    ShaniWulffe Posts: 458 Member
    I almost always text while I'm on the elliptical... It keeps me from getting bored of the monotonous movement
  • ninerbuff
    ninerbuff Posts: 49,028 Member
    Never met those.
    My gym has people busting their butts.

    Think about a different gym?
    I'm a trainer. I like my gym alot, but we do live in an area (high income) where some people feel a bit more "special".


    A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
    IDEA Fitness member
    Kickboxing Certified Instructor
    Been in fitness for 28+ years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
  • _CowgirlUp_
    _CowgirlUp_ Posts: 585 Member
    If you think no one is waiting on the machine you're on...you could be mistaken...I wouldn't stand around waiting for someone to finish...I would try to look busy or do something else while I was waiting so anyone that thinks it's ok to text, update MFP etc. while you're ON the machine...get your *kitten* up and do it somewhere else. Someone probably IS waiting, they just aren't being an *kitten* about it by standing over you.
  • stephdeeable
    stephdeeable Posts: 1,407 Member
    When I used to go to the gym, people weren't allowed to have phones at all. You had to leave them in your locker. Didn't bother me because I am not a phone person at all...I use my cell phone to make calls when there is no other phone available. I don't text, or use any other features on my phone, besides the alarm clock. I am like an old lady, haha.
  • DrJanet98
    DrJanet98 Posts: 138 Member
    If you think no one is waiting on the machine you're on...you could be mistaken...I wouldn't stand around waiting for someone to finish...I would try to look busy or do something else while I was waiting so anyone that thinks it's ok to text, update MFP etc. while you're ON the machine...get your *kitten* up and do it somewhere else. Someone probably IS waiting, they just aren't being an *kitten* about it by standing over you.
    We need some sort of signal, then. Anyone else remember kids putting a quarter on the edge of the arcade game or pinball machine to show that they had dibs on the next game? Didn't interfere with the person currently playing, but it let them know not to just keep putting in their own quarters forever. Can anyone come up with something like that? Or should we just expect people to give some sort of indication they're waiting for the machine, or accept the consequences of not speaking up?
  • ninerbuff
    ninerbuff Posts: 49,028 Member
    I'm a social worker and I'm on call 24/7. Sometimes I get a call/text/email on my phone while working out. I don't have the luxury of NOT taking that call or answering the text or responding to the email. Sometimes I can drop my speed and deal with my work issue without having to completely interrupt my workout. Mabye before vilifying everyone as "lackluster" you could realize that some of us aren't professional exercisers and have things to attend to outside the gym. That said -- basic gym etiquette should always apply in that if you are waiting for a machine you smile and nicely ask them about how much longer they'll be. And if you aren't waiting for their machine it's really none of your business how they are working out.
    Sorry you feel offended, but I'm more than sure that I'm in a gym longer than you and see much more on how members workout on a daily basis. This is observations that I make and I am addressing people who are possibly unaware that they are doing it.
    There's no issue with people who use there phone as a tool to assist while they work out, it's the ones who use their phones and are distracted by them and not focusing on the task at hand. Point is if someone is there to workout, then workout. Save the rest for later. Put the best effort forward. I see people complain that they can't change their bodies, and they SWEAR up and down to me that they work out hard, then I see these are some of the same people jacking around on their phones during the time they are working out.
    If they aren't on call, aren't expecting a call, don't need to make a call, then all I'm saying is stow it for an hour. It's not the end of the world if one does.


    A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
    IDEA Fitness member
    Kickboxing Certified Instructor
    Been in fitness for 28+ years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
  • anzi888
    anzi888 Posts: 102 Member
    I don't think OP was talking about a 5 second use of your phones. He's talking about people who sit there forever and ever and play on their phones while other people wait for the machines. It's OK to take breaks between sets, change songs, put the timer on, etc. but not have a 10 minutes text conversation.

    ADDED: If you need to take a call, that's fine but if it's longer than a 1-2 minutes please step away from the machine, have your conversation, do whatever you need to do and finish your workout after.
  • ninerbuff
    ninerbuff Posts: 49,028 Member
    If you think no one is waiting on the machine you're on...you could be mistaken...I wouldn't stand around waiting for someone to finish...I would try to look busy or do something else while I was waiting so anyone that thinks it's ok to text, update MFP etc. while you're ON the machine...get your *kitten* up and do it somewhere else. Someone probably IS waiting, they just aren't being an *kitten* about it by standing over you.
    We need some sort of signal, then. Anyone else remember kids putting a quarter on the edge of the arcade game or pinball machine to show that they had dibs on the next game? Didn't interfere with the person currently playing, but it let them know not to just keep putting in their own quarters forever. Can anyone come up with something like that? Or should we just expect people to give some sort of indication they're waiting for the machine, or accept the consequences of not speaking up?
    Lol, put your phone beside it?


    A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
    IDEA Fitness member
    Kickboxing Certified Instructor
    Been in fitness for 28+ years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
  • andreanicole686
    andreanicole686 Posts: 406 Member
    In my Wellness center our gym policy is that members can't converse on the gym floor on their phones. There are signs posted saying that if they have to talk to someone, to go downstairs and into the main lobby. Haven't had an issue with it.

    What I do have an issue with is people who #$&*ing text, play, stare etc. on their phones while occupying a piece of equipment for 10 minutes to do 3 sets with lackluster effort.
    This is why I have all my clients put their phones on "SILENT".
    Do yourself a favor..............................put the damn thing away for an hour. Your personal life won't change in that hour, but your body can.
    Put it on silent, leave it in your pocket..................................and get to work!!!!

    Rant done.


    A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
    IDEA Fitness member
    Kickboxing Certified Instructor
    Been in fitness for 28+ years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition


    So true!! Especially when I can hear the damn game your playing lol
  • ahviendha
    ahviendha Posts: 1,291 Member
    yessss x a million. also just put the damn phone away in general.