Do You Read at The Gym?

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Do You Read at The Gym?

August 13, 2007

Whenever I am at the gym, about one third of the people there are reading as they workout. Me, I've never been able to get in a good workout while trying to read a novel, newspaper or magazine, but others claim to need the distraction.

What about you -- Do you read at the gym?

45 Comments

Giasbash6260 5 years 39 weeks

Reading on cardio equipment is the ONLY thing that makes the time go by! If I did not have a book or magazine to read, I could not work out on indoor cardio equipment for sure!!! I cannot listen to music when I work out because when a song is over, all I think about is, "aw man, only 3-4 minutes went by!!"

Giasbash6260 5 years 39 weeks

Reading on cardio equipment is the ONLY thing that makes the time go by! If I did not have a book or magazine to read, I could not work out on indoor cardio equipment for sure!!!I cannot listen to music when I work out because when a song is over, all I think about is, "aw man, only 3-4 minutes went by!!"

silvergirl 5 years 39 weeks

Only the flabby ones at my gym read anyway ... it's not a very good publicity ;-) They don't sweat much either and work out rather slowly while focusing on the reading !

silvergirl 5 years 39 weeks

I need to be super focused when I work out, it would be impossible to read ...

OliviaAnn 5 years 40 weeks

I just can't seem to keep my eyes focused as I'm moving on whatever cardio machine I'm on....it kind of gives me a headache

Hoaxerz 5 years 40 weeks

A few times in college I tried to study at the gym, but my eyes can't seem to focus on the words in a book or magazine enough to read. I don't mind though, I prefer to zone out to my music.

pixelhaze 5 years 40 weeks

I do, but I read everywhere. Even back in elementary school I would read as I walked to the bus stop. And I kept reading while on the bus. And I would try to hide the book inside my textbook when the class started. I usually didn't get caught.

Korsgal 5 years 40 weeks

If I'm riding a bike, it's easier to read a book but if I'm on the elliptical or walking I grab a magazine. My iPod is awesome but sometimes I need something else to concentrate on.

Melissa Rae 5 years 40 weeks

The only time I don't read is when I'm running. THe mag would fall off the treadmill!

lagirl06 5 years 40 weeks

Oh yea. I usually have to read alot for work, so I feel like its killing two birds with one stone reading my AdAge while on the bike!

darkoblivion 5 years 40 weeks

I've never read while working out.. I don't see how some do it... I have to focus. Sometimes I use my I-pod but that's it.

Bahia 5 years 40 weeks

It depends on what I'm doing. I love to read so if I can then I will.

lrgoldman34 5 years 40 weeks

I'm like Susanec - outside, I'm fine with nothing - I love running while listening nature or maybe music but while I'm on the stepmill (mini escalator) or elliptical, I totally need something mindless to read and I still get a great workout. I go thru 4 towels and a bottle and a half of water and feel trashed! (in a good way!) Mind you, I have no idea what I just read...so and so is dating this rocker; this celeb lost her baby weight in 8 days, yada yada. it gets me through. Never done it on the treadmill tho.

lilprincess 5 years 40 weeks

I can only flip through gossip magazines and look at the pictures and read a few short captions. I could never actually read a book or anything. I'd get way too dizzy!

susanec 5 years 40 weeks

I don't run on the treadmill, I hate that. I'm only reading magazines and it doesn't require any concentration. I'm a really visual person and music isn't enough of a distraction for me on something like the elliptical. Outside, I'm fine with nothing. But at the gym, when I'm bored, I need something else to keep me a little engaged.

susanec 5 years 40 weeks

I don't run on the treadmill, I hate that. I'm only reading magazines and it doesn't require any concentration. I'm a really visual person and music isn't enough of a distraction for me on something like the elliptical.Outside, I'm fine with nothing. But at the gym, when I'm bored, I need something else to keep me a little engaged.

workofiction 5 years 40 weeks

I once tried to listen to my CD player and read a book on the treadmill (walking). Well, I got my CD all set but as soon as I opened up my book the bookmark fell out, I, like a moron, reached down to grab it (yes, the treadmill was on), and went flying off the back! The worst part of it all was that the guy next to me just walked away, didn't even ask if I was ok! I still have not gone back to that gym.

mizz_jennii 5 years 40 weeks

Absolutely not, I need to concentrate on my work out not reading. That can be done at home.

eaker 5 years 40 weeks

I'm with freegracefrom. Reading isn't hard, and neither is running in place. I don't think any exercise on a cardio machine requires concentration, it's the same movement over and over, and it rarely engages your hands.

lilv 5 years 40 weeks

i cant' focus if i'm reading either. ipod and now they have personal tv's so i usually watch the news or something

freegracefrom 5 years 40 weeks

For the record, I always have my mp3 player, but like ktacce, that's to keep you motivated and to keep the beat. I guess I am a multitasker addict. I can't eat my dinner without surfing the web or watching TV, I can't use the bathroom without reading... and I can't do cardio without reading a magazine or watching the news. As the televisions at the gym can be iffy, I usually rely on magazines. Granted they are usually fluffy fitness magazines, no reading that involves too much thought like the current events or policy periodicals, but it helps the time fly by faster when I'm running for 45+ min. I get bored without a magazine. I completely disagree with people that say you aren't working out hard enough if you're reading. You're running/biking in one stationary place, and even at the highest intensity... really, how much concentration do you really NEED to do THAT!? And be honest, how many of you are "concentrating on your body" and not looking around at everyone else?

ktacce 5 years 40 weeks

wow... i can't NOT read on machines... the only time that i can't read is while i run, in which case i bring the mag anyways and hope for the best. i also listen to my ipod but mostly for the beat. the Y got new treadmills with individual tvs, which is great for the long haul up the treadmill :)

blackjade 5 years 40 weeks

I can only read on the bike, and I'm working out plenty hard enough. And by read I mean flip through the US weekly, health, or people magazine left at the gym. It's also how I time myself on the bike - Us weekly: 15 min; Health or Shape magazine 20 min :)