TV @ The Gym

velix
velix Posts: 437 Member
edited September 30 in Chit-Chat
Didn't know where to post this ...

Usually when I go to the gym, all the televisions facing the cardio machines are either the news (with no sound nor subtitles WTH!) or talk shows/reality t.v. - and the sports channels are all on in the weight area (i will not go into a rant about this....) I usually ask them to change one of the channels to sports at least ....

anyways - today, on one of the channels, it was a one hour show on famine in Africa soliciting donations, etc. I just have to say - the fact that there was a cooking show on the channel beside it - it was the worse tv @ the gym day ever (was happy to get into the weights area that's for sure!)

Replies

  • Loko_Ino
    Loko_Ino Posts: 544 Member
    I take my iPhone with me for cardio days and either watch something on Hulu or Netflix or Adult Swim. Makes my cardio time much more enjoyable. There is only so much Fox news and Oprah that I can take.....
  • Oh i hate when people watch things like that, it doesn't help you workout at all. I love watching food network when i workout, haha, especially cupcake wars, i usually faster knowing i want a cupcake.
  • StefD78
    StefD78 Posts: 18 Member
    I dont usually watch tv while Im working out at the gym but on the rare occasion that I and nothing good is on,I'll go into the cardio cinema room and watch they're showing. But I try to avoid doing either because I find I dont work as hard lol
  • 2Heavy2Long
    2Heavy2Long Posts: 315 Member
    Uggh! I hate bad tv days at the gym. The remote controls are kept at the front desk. I am usually trying to make the most of my time, so I usually don't bother to ask them to change it. I used to try to pick equipment based on what was on the nearby tv, but that usually just resulted in someone else asking it to be changed.
  • summertime_girl
    summertime_girl Posts: 3,945 Member
    I read a book on my iPad when on a cardio machine. Or watch a movie, tv show on that.
  • lilRicki
    lilRicki Posts: 4,555 Member
    aw we all get to watch what we want on the little screens on the cardio machines. That's why I love my gym...I will do 30 minutes on the elypticall just so I can watch a full episode of Jeopardy
  • choices I have:

    "You Are Not The Father" (or maury povich, whatever you call it!)
    Soap Opera that I'd rather die and watch
    .....

    Or watching "House" on my phone.

    I'll stick with House.
  • wonnder1
    wonnder1 Posts: 460
    So ask them to change a channel? I'm sure they don't spend the whole day making sure everyone has a channel they want to watch. And-your gym doesn't have a headphone jack on the machine or my gym you have to turn to a specific radio station for the TV. Personally-I don't watch it, it hurts my eyes when I'm working out.
  • katkins3
    katkins3 Posts: 1,359 Member
    aw we all get to watch what we want on the little screens on the cardio machines. That's why I love my gym...I will do 30 minutes on the elypticall just so I can watch a full episode of Jeopardy
    Same here. Both treadmill and elliptical have little screens so you can choose and some machines have games too. I will spend quite a bit longer on the cardio if I can watch something of interest. I caught an entire episode of Bones and doubled my usual 30 min. the other day.
  • velix
    velix Posts: 437 Member
    So ask them to change a channel? I'm sure they don't spend the whole day making sure everyone has a channel they want to watch. And-your gym doesn't have a headphone jack on the machine or my gym you have to turn to a specific radio station for the TV. Personally-I don't watch it, it hurts my eyes when I'm working out.

    I usually do ask them to change one of the channels. but whatever was on before the famine show was ok. I go to a small gym - there is only 3 tv's in the cardio area and 4 in the weight area and no - no 'jacks' that I am aware of and I've been going there forever..... when I do my intervals I don't watch tv but when I do my 45 minute 'endurance' cardio at the end, its a slower pace - today, I just watched my legs and pretended I was in the Tour de France while listening to music...kept my brain busy ....
  • thkelly
    thkelly Posts: 466 Member
    I read a book on my iPad when on a cardio machine. Or watch a movie, tv show on that.

    this i don't understand. people reading on the treadmill or other cardio equipment. if you can actually read while working out you're not working out hard enough in my opinion.
  • wonnder1
    wonnder1 Posts: 460
    this i don't understand. people reading on the treadmill or other cardio equipment. if you can actually read while working out you're not working out hard enough in my opinion.

    Now now...they may have a higher capacity for concentration...(:smile: )
  • sweetheart03622
    sweetheart03622 Posts: 928 Member
    I read a book on my iPad when on a cardio machine. Or watch a movie, tv show on that.

    this i don't understand. people reading on the treadmill or other cardio equipment. if you can actually read while working out you're not working out hard enough in my opinion.

    I think it depends on your goals. If you're just looking to burn as many calories as possible, then you need to push past a level that you could do something like this. If you're looking to train yourself at a lower intensity (such as trying to increase your VO2 max, etc) then sometimes it's helpful to have a "normal task" that you want to be able to do. For me, when I'm working on pacing for my running, I keep telling myself that I need to be able to chit chat. I will literally start talking to myself on my runs to make sure that I'm not going too fast.

    That being said, on the days I just want to burn a billion calories, I find it's easiest to turn on some tunes and completely space out. It's incredible how fast 5 miles can go by when you're not thinking lol
  • velix
    velix Posts: 437 Member
    I read a book on my iPad when on a cardio machine. Or watch a movie, tv show on that.

    this i don't understand. people reading on the treadmill or other cardio equipment. if you can actually read while working out you're not working out hard enough in my opinion.

    I have always felt that way before, but as I mentioned above, I do endurance cardio at the end of my workout (after my 'hard' cardio & weights) - keeping my heart rate between 120 and 140 - pretty mellow for me, and I do it on the bike so I am sitting, needing even less concentration....
  • summertime_girl
    summertime_girl Posts: 3,945 Member
    I read a book on my iPad when on a cardio machine. Or watch a movie, tv show on that.

    this i don't understand. people reading on the treadmill or other cardio equipment. if you can actually read while working out you're not working out hard enough in my opinion.

    Eh, everybody's different. When I'm doing something on a cardio machine, I need something to take my brain off the tedium. I go a minimum of a hour on the elliptical, I have it at the highest incline, and bump up the resistance. I can still read just fine, even bouncing around. I haven't run on a treadmill in a while, but even when I run outside (which is every day in the summer), I focus my vision on a certain spot. I'm working plenty hard enough, as my BodyBugg will attest.

    I'm sure everyone is different, but if I'm huffing and puffing, and sweating profusely, and getting my heart rate up into the 160s for a steady hour, but can still manage to read, I think I'm all set.
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