TVs on treadmills
GreenTeaDisease
Posts: 3,359
love 'em or hate 'em?
My new gym opened today and all the cardio machines have TVs on them. I have to say it is my one problem with the place so far (the one thing I liked about the gym I just quit was the cardio set up). Usually when on the treadmill I like to listen to music and it's good if there is a TV somewhere in front of me to glance at every once in the while. With these TVs on the machines though, you plug in your headphones to turn them, so you can't listen to music and just have the tv on. it is also just weird because it blocks all your vision and all you can see is the reflection of your head bobbing around. So I was just wondering if other people really like this feature. Looking around today, most people where not using the TVs. I found it interesting because I read an article yesterday that gyms and their equipment are not designed properly for the most efficient work out. thoughts?
My new gym opened today and all the cardio machines have TVs on them. I have to say it is my one problem with the place so far (the one thing I liked about the gym I just quit was the cardio set up). Usually when on the treadmill I like to listen to music and it's good if there is a TV somewhere in front of me to glance at every once in the while. With these TVs on the machines though, you plug in your headphones to turn them, so you can't listen to music and just have the tv on. it is also just weird because it blocks all your vision and all you can see is the reflection of your head bobbing around. So I was just wondering if other people really like this feature. Looking around today, most people where not using the TVs. I found it interesting because I read an article yesterday that gyms and their equipment are not designed properly for the most efficient work out. thoughts?
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Perhaps you could bring an old set of headphones and just plug it into the tv so you can watch it while you listen to your music?
Of course that won't stop the reflection from your head from bouncing around
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working out is not that fun, so why not watch the simpsons or seinfeld while doing so?
why be indoors on some machiney thing?
why dont you just get a bike or sumthing????
(bmx recommendation)
Yeah the new feature with how you have to plug headphones in in order to have the TV on is annoying. I like how NYSC promotes that they are "helping save energy and the environment" when in reality they just want to save some money on their electric bill. I was fighting it for a few months but recently I've given in and used headphones while running.
Jw
A necessary evil, especially for those of us who live in climates that have their extremes.
I just bring the ol' iPod, hit shuffle, and go!
"I'm not a very good American because I like to form my own opinions." - George Carlin
that's my opinion as well, and one of the main criticisms cited in the article.
EXACTLY.
I feel like a lot of new fangled treadmills are made for walking! the ones at this gym not only had the tvs, but they also bounced around! Infact, I hadn't even started yet, it was bouncing from *other* people nearby who were running. and there are no water holders...luckily there are 2 types of treadmills and the others are a little better, but still seem to be geared toward walkers (which is weird, IMO).
I have a bike, and I run a lot outdoors. But you also need a gym to lift and cross train and whatnot, and to run when there is ice and snow on the ground (or for that matter when it is 100 degrees and humid in the summer). Just running and cycling outdoors is not a complete work out schedule. (in fact, cycling barely does anything for me itself, which is a shame because I love it. But you've got to bike like at least 50 miles to get any sort of real work out, and who has time for that on a daily basis?)
right now I am training for a half marathon, and I've needed the treadmill for a couple reasons 1) it is good for pace training and 2) there's been a continuous sheet of ice on the ground for the past month!
It's 40 degrees and raining. I train almost every day so I have to do something inside - as much as I hate it. And like somebody said before to do strenghtening you need a gym, unless you have a lot of equipment at home.
What half marathon are you training for? I just did the St. Judes Memphis Half at the beginning of December and plan on doing a local Half on February 9. My husband and I are planning on doing a half-Iron distance tri in June.
I manage to get my run training in 90% of the time because we have little snow and ice in So. Illinois and I don't mind running if it is above 25degrees. However, I can't stand to be on the bike when it is below 60 degrees. I guess I am a real weenie. I have my bike on a trainer but absolutely hate it. It is all I can do to make myself do it. And I watch tv when I am doing it, but I can't watch something that takes focus because then you lose focus on your workout. My bike workouts consist of various cadences at various heart rates for certain lengths of time so you have to stay focused to keep up a certain pace or cadence. I can see how the treadmills with a tv in front of your face would be either a real distraction if you have it on, or make the workout really, really boring when all you can see is a dark screen.
"The leads are weak? Fuckin' leads are weak? You're Weak! I've Been in this business 15 years"
"What's your name?"
"FUCK YOU! THAT"S MY NAME!"
the half is in hyannis, ma (cape cod) in february. I did a tri once, it was just a sprint. it wasn't that hard except that being wet for biking and running is a real pain in the ass! I was wearing proper tri shorts and top and everything, but my shorts sliced into my leg while running due to being wet! (plus swimming in a huge crowd of people in murky water where you can't see where you're going isn't fun!)
Buy a set of cheap extra headphones and then you can turn the TV on, but still listen to your music.
...are those who've helped us.
Right 'round the corner could be bigger than ourselves.
yeah I think I will do that. doesn't solve the problem of having a TV screen 2 inches from my face while I'm trying to run though...what a pain, seems like every gym is lacking in at least one element.
I can concentrate on a show just fine while within target heart rate range for cardio. However, it's not as easy to do while on a treadmill. Too much bouncing and balancing or something??
Ellipticals with personal TV's = awesome.
Never again would I have to suffer through another hour of Delaware vs. Delaware State.
Personally, I feel less guilty watching TV at the gym than I do sitting on my ass watching it at home. The only complaint I have about the built in monitors on bikes/ellipticals is that the screens often have bad glare.
What beats both of them is the hot blond with the tight workout clothes on the machine in front of me!
Oh man! If she is there, I'm pretty sure I could run all day long!
Too bad she's married... :(
I agree that every gym is lacking something. I don't think I have ever been completly satisfied with a gym. The gym I'm at now is where the high school kids go to socialize. I really don't care what they do but when there is a pack of them sitting on 3 or 4 machines in a row it gets annoying. Their not working out just talking and mgmt at the gym won't do anything about it.
yes it makes me motion sick too! when it's off too- from watching the reflection in the screen bounce around. I thought I was crazy...
you know, I actually really liked this one bally's I used to belong to, believe it or not. where it was lacking was the areas I don't really care too much about, like a nice locker room. but for the most part it was just a gym. plenty of free weights and room to use them, and the cardio machines were facing mirrors which was awesome! good spin classes and I had a good trainer there too. the gym at the university where I went to grad school was pretty good too. some of the free weight equipment needed to be fixed or replaced, but for the most part it was a good place to work out. again, just a gym with no bells and whistles.
Here's a trick you can use besides bringing extra headphones.
On the box connected to the treadmill where you can change the station and adjust the volume there is a cord from the TV that plugs into the back of it. If you unplug that the tv will stay on. You can't change the channel, but it works. I usually do this and leave it on. I pay enough a month to that place, they shouldn't be trying to cheap out on the electric bill.
http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=769776790&n=2
Anything to drift the mind off into another time zone so that is passes more quickly is awesome imo.
and reveling in it's loyalty. It's made by forming coalitions
over specific principles, goals, and policies.
http://i36.tinypic.com/66j31x.jpg
(\__/)
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(")_(")
It will be less reflective if it's on, though.
...are those who've helped us.
Right 'round the corner could be bigger than ourselves.
Some other DVD's I like while working out...
Pearl Jam "Touring Band" "Showbox" and "Garden"
Rolling Stones "4 Flicks" and "Biggest Bang"
U2 2001 in Boston, 2005 in Chicago
Dave Matthews "Listener Supported" and "Central Park"
plus, various seasons of South Park and Aqua Teen Hunger Force
we sit around and wonder exactly why our marriage should feel threatened by gay marriage