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

Is your requirement still acceptable after the tragedy of yesterday?

That is irrelevant. He just doesn't want people to chat away while they are at the gym. My phone is on silent at the gym, but I continually check it inbetween machines, bathroom break, or water break. He is not saying forget the world exists around you, but if you are hogging a machine don't be on your phone talking/texting about your weekend plans or the cute people at the gym.

It does have relevance as he has all his clients put their phones on silent. I believe he should ask if there would be a reason for them to keep the sounds activated. There are valid reasons to have a phone actively notifying you.

Okay, but hear me out. If you had a reason to have your phone on anyway (like an emergency), why would you be at the gym anyway? I want to correct myself too, I actually keep mine on vibrate not silent. That way I can feel it and only answer/text it if it is about my kids.

IMHO it points to a deeper problem in modern life. We can't focus on one thing for 2 seconds anymore.

If you're doing something and it's worth doing, then do it. Don't *kitten* around doing something else at the same time!

This is separate from the courtesy issue, which may or may not be a symptom of modern life..... if you're not using something then why hog it up so others can't use it (the other thread has a great story about a guy hogging three benches, whilst not actually using any of them.....). Now, if you're proud of being selfish or ignorant, fine. That sucks for you, but try not to make things suck for everyone else too! It's bad enough that people feel they have a god-given right to be rude to each other on the internet..... but when douche-baggery is written all over daily life too, it makes Jimmer sad.....

you are missing the point. we aren't talking about people who are done with the equipment and still sitting on it using their phone. we are talking about if you are between sets and decide to take your phone out for a minute. for some reason the OP thinks this is rude. i think the OP thinks the world revolves around him/her.

Actually, you are missing the point. The OP's point (which he has had to restate ad naseum every few posts because people only seem to read what they want to see) is that phone use prolongs a persons usage of a piece of equipment beyond what the time they would need to use the equipment if the phone use was not involved. Thus they are "hogging" the equipment by extending the time they are on the equipment. When people use something like a phone their subjective experience of time is slightly out of whack. Personally technology is a bit of a time-vortex. Perhaps people who think they are texting in the minute between sets are unaware that the "minute" has, in fact, been a wee bit longer?

At no point has he said you can't use the phone in an emergency. At no point has he said you can't use the phone whilst on a cardio machine. In fact he has stated the reverse. Although some people have made out he is a bit of a (how shall I put this delicately....?) w*nker because of these two things.....

For the record, I didn't get the sense that the OP thinks the world revolves around him. I got the sense that he wants to create a gym environment where certain individuals selfish desires and practices didn't get in the way of the best use of the environment for all. In fact, to my untrained ears, sounds a lot like the opposite of selfish.

Perhaps there is history between the OP and his detractors because I can't find the things they say he has said in his posts......

again : people just lack common. courtesy these days...see?

i agree. people like the OP should mind their own business and stop telling everyone what they should be doing.

I opine. You disagree, then disagree.

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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then for the sake of all of us..just make 1 thread where you whine about everything that upsets you...ok?

Honestly I just started using the notepad app on my phone to record workouts. I try to make sure that I am not on the equipment when doing so.

I agree, to some extent. I do play games on my phone whilst on my exercise bike AT HOME, but I'd never do it in a gym. I also use my phone for listening to music.

If I was to use my phone in the gym, I'd make sure I'm not using any of the equipment so that other people could use it.

I sit and text, watch youtube videos, look up interesting things on the internet, send emails, etc.while sitting on a machine. Personally, if someone wants the machine and doesn't know how, or wishes, to get the same exercise in another manner, they're more then welcome to come ask me to share the machine with them. I will gladly do it! If they're too timid to come ask to "work in", they can enjoy being quietly and discreetly angry in a corner somewhere.

Seriously? What's wrong with using the machine efficiently and then freeing it up for others?

I never disturb people when I'm waiting for machines, instead I hang back and wait for them to finish up. This out of courtesy because I don't like to be disturbed during my sets, I just want to be left alone to do my thing. Obviously I will let someone work in if they ask, but I would prefer that they just wait their turn. I think we should all assume that someone is waiting and conduct ourselves accordingly.

I really don't see the issue here. I would get about half as much work done if it wasn't for my phone, nook, or ipod. I use them to watch Netflix, read, listen to music, text, or whatever because it keeps my mind off of the task at hand. I end up working harder then I realize and finishing my goal burn in what feels like little to no time because I am distracted. Thus, it making the process a little easier. If I didn't have this option, working out would be much harder for me. Therefore, I seriously do not see the problem. Because if it works? Then what's the big deal? Now, if you are in a training class or something, then understand. But really, other then that...

I go to the gym to socialize not workout

We all have different goals, don't judge me

Seriously though, I agree. Get off your damn phone for a minute.

I have kids so need my phone with me. Never know whats gonna happen. They rarely text or call while I"m at the gym but you never know. The one time you don't have that cell phone will be the time they needed me. Its already happened. Anyway, when they do text or call while I"m working out I get up off the machine and walk to an area where there isn't anyone within ear shot and take my call then or text. I don't like to hold up the machines.