NAY to cell phones at the gym – SO obnoxious! Also nay to coughing uncontrollably at the gym. If you are that sick – stay at home! I was running next to this woman the other day who was running on high speed and coughing her life away the whole time. At the same time – I was watching the news about the swine flu outbreak – ugh it was repulsive…!

I completely agree! Cell phones at the gym are incredibly annoying, and distracting

Nay on the cell phones!

It drives me CRAZY when people are chatting on their phone at the gym!

I had a lady in the running clinic I lead answer her phone while we were out on a run too.

Totally rude, and unacceptable!

It’s really stupid that people bring cell phones to the gym!! So silly and pointless. I don’t think these peopel realize how ridiculous they look!

I love that rice. Did you get it at Whole Foods?

So yesterday I was guilty of this for the first time as I was talking to my mom while warming up on the treadmill. It only lasted 2 minutes because I felt so akward since I knew people could hear me. NO Thank you!

He he … This topic sorda makes me laugh. I almost always take my phone into the gym with me, but I turn the ringer off and NEVER answer it. So, really, I have no idea why I even take it … I guess I don’t want to “miss” something important, but since I never answer it, I’d never know!

Oh, and one time, I was on the stairmaster and I dropped my phone into the machine. It was crushed, I had to get a new phone and even that didn’t teach me. I think having my phone around is just a security thing to me or something, I dunno.

But, yeah, it does bother me when other people actually talk on their phones … How can they really be working out and on the phone?! Whatev.

🙂

I HATE it went people talk on cell phones at the gym, especially during busy hours (like right after work). There’s usually a wait to get a treadmill or elliptical as it is, and when I see women talking on their phones I just wish they would give the machine to someone who’s actually going to make good use of it!

I had my cell phone on me ONCE at the gym, wasn’t even talking just had it on the treadmill… I found it SO incredibly distracting! I did not work out very hard at all. I don’t see too many people at my gym on the phone but I would probably find it very annoying if I was surrounded by it. The gym is my time (and everyone else for that matter) to zone out, de-stress, and WORK IT. A phone totally takes away from that experience!

Oh wow, I have to comment on this!!! It drives me crazy! One day I was behind a girl on the step mill who was talking on the phone and jotting down things in her organizer. About every minute she would put her feet on the side and hold on and talk. She had it on a very high level and I thought I bet when she gets off the machine, she will tell herself what a great workout she had since she was on level 10!
My other issues at the gym…since we are going there, people who hold on!!!!! Why does it get to me so much I dont know. There is an man that every time I am at the gym he seems to be on the treadmill next to me (I think we both strive to be near the fan) he pumps the speed to 4.3 and incline to 12 and then proceeds to hold on the whole time and he continues to kick the front of the treadmill because he is obviously going to fast for himself…oh and he now wears weightlifting gloves so he has a better grip to hold on! The other kicker was the woman running 6.0 and holding on and reading the newspaper…I don’t get it.

My final issue, although I only witnessed this once, a women on the treadmill next to me eating her Starbucks scone and drinking her Venti coffee and reading her magazine!!

Thank you for letting me use some of your comment space to vent!! I come home and talk about this stuff to my husband and he probably thinks I am crazy!

Phones at the gym are a huge no-no!

Cell phones out in public drive me crazy no matter where someone is. Why do you need to chit-chat at the gym, or grocery shopping, or where ever else? People can’t “just be” anymore. They always have to be doing something. Not to mention how unsafe it is to be talking on the phone and totally oblivious to your surroundings. Meh. Hate it.

I USE my cell phone at the gym. In fact, I never go without it. This is because I always want to be reachable, in case of emergencies, and sometimes I am eexpecting an important call.
HOWEVER, I always try to keep my conversation short, saying I will call them back whenever this is possible. I do this out of respect for others and also because the gym is my happy place too and I dont like to be disturbed while Im there.

TRUST ME- you would NEVER hear me talk about my sex life, dog or bills while on the treadmill!!

Fortunately, my gym doesn’t allow cell phones outside of the lobby area. But when I was living in an apartment and using its gym regularly, people on their cell phones used to drive me NUTS!

Hmmm. It bothers me when people are talking loudly, be it on the phone or to someone else at the gym. But I will not lie. Sometimes when I am doing a lazy workout to fill the time (like a easy stroll on the treadmill if the weather is bad or a relaxing bike ride) I will text message. Yeah, I know I’m not getting a good workout, but who am I hurting really by texting? Overall I think cell phones should not be allowed, but how do you enforce that?

Man, I thought I was the only one who got annoyed by cell phones at the gym. I will bring mine if I am waiting for a REALLY important call (this happens every one in a while), but people have regular conversations while they are on the elliptical and it’s just wierd, in my opinion. So, I agree with you!

I’ve never encountered much cell phone use at my gym, but cell phones in general bug me.

My gym doesn’t allow cell phones! It’s great! The rule was instituted because of some creepy people who actually used their cell phone cameras to take pictures of others as they worked out and in the locker room! Ugh, but it also helps to cut down on noise pollution too. I know they have a difficult time enforcing the rule sometimes, but I think that overall it’s such a great idea. I know most gyms won’t go for the rule, but I feel like if enough people complain, then they will. It’s worth a shot!

hey caitlin! my mom actually swears by hibiscus tea- she is from mexico and it is very popular there. what she does is boil the leaves in water to make a tea, but then pours it in a pitcher to cool down and drinks it like iced tea! It’s refreshing! You could always add some sugar to it to sweeten it up, or try mixing it with other juices.

have a great afternoon!

hey.me n my fam just eat the flower like dat.The ones we get here are dried but its kinda like dried prunes-not texture vise but taste-sweetish but a lil tangy.They’re preserved.Not sure if its similar 2 urs.U can try a small nibble.

I don’t belong to a gym, but it drives me BONKERS when I’m in the bathroom at work and someone is in the next stall chatting it up! I’m sure I would feel exactly the same way about someone at the gym. In fact, I don’t think there are a lot of public places that are appropriate for cell phone usage…in moderation of course!

Okay, I may be the lone voice of dissension here, but I have to say that I started talking on my cell phone at the gym during college. I was so busy with classes, homework, and the student newspaper that I only had a limited amount of time to talk to my 7 member family + my 2 best friends far away. I was also two time zones away from my family so there were limited times that we both could talk. The concept of “free time” was not really in existence Monday through Friday for me, and when I had free time I would use it to work out AND multitask by talking with my family. It was a vital time of connection for me when otherwise I would have had to choose between talking with my family (good for my heart in one way) or working out (good for my heart in another way.) The best solution was to do both at the same time.

I find it really easy to talk on the elliptical or stationary bike, and my family has gotten used to deciphering my gasps of statements. They say that you should work out to the intensity level where carrying on a conversation is difficult but not impossible. I don’t talk about the most heartrenching of conversation topics, and I try to keep my voice down, but asking my 4 siblings how school is going and getting the phone passed around while I work out is thoroughly enjoyable for me.

My gym prohibits using them while working out. You have to go to the locker rooms if you want to use them. So needless to say, I’ve never experienced chattering at the gym, but I can imagine I’d be pretty annoyed.

I’ve never tried dried hibiscus flowers, but they’re beautiful!

I don’t like when people are talking on their cell phones at the gym either, but I don’t run into it too much since we really only go to do BodyPump.

Talking on the phone at the gym is about as rude as talking on the phone at a restaurant or as you’re checking out at the grocery store. Whatever happened to common courtesy??

Cannot stand it! Save it for later!

I completely agree with you. It annoys me when people talk on their cell phones at the gym. Then the fact that it annoys me gets rid of my relaxed working out feeling. I really think it’s rude. I wouldn’t blast a stereo instead of listening to my ipod so why should I have to listen to someone else’s conversation?

Count me in as one who is anti-talking on a cell phone at the gym. However, I almost always have my cell phone with me – I guess just in case someone important calls (yeah, like that ever happens!).

Another pet peeve – people who wear inappropriate attire at the gym like flip flops or khaki pants. No lie, there was a woman at my old gym that used to jog on the treadmill in flip flops. How she didn’t fall on her face is beyond me…

Drives me nuts – we have signs up that cellphones aren’t allowed on the gym floor but the locker room is still fare game for being able to chat away.

It’s totally true about the cellphones at the gym thing. when I see people sporting them, I remind myself that I’m here to work hard. Kind of use it to motivate me to work harder/smarter. Also, I don’t think people realize that they could actually seriously injure themselves if using their cellphone at the gym. They aren’t really paying attention and they could drop a weight or twist something if on a machine.

Hey!

I’ve been reading your blog for a a few weeks and I have finally plucked up the courage to comment!

You really should really try eating some of the hibiscus flowers plain! I bought a tropical dried fruit mix at Trader Joe’s with them in it and was really skeptical, but they are sooo yummy!

Happy Thursday! 🙂

I honestly don’t care about cell phones in the gym. I never use mine (leave it in my gym bag in the locker room), but I don’t care if somebody else does. How hard they are working out is none of my business – good for them for even getting to the gym even for an easy workout. As long as they’re not shouting, I just tune them out and read or listen to music. I view it the same as if they went to the gym with a friend and talked on machines next to each other.

ok, you got me– I answered my phone on the elliptical ONCE and it was my mom and there was noone around and I kept it short, ok??

People mostly don’t yak on the phone at my gym– they are too busy trying to pick each other up! (I go to a heavily gay male gym.)

My bigger pet peeve, not only in the gym but everywhere, is when people (usually douchey looking dudes) leave their friggin’ BlueTooths in ALL THE TIME. Like it is some kind of bling so everyone knows how important they are. Gross.

Also, funny story about hibiscus flowers: I was in movie once where the scene was in a cafe and I had to eat something. It was a nonsense art-school project, so of course they pick something pretty that is super difficult to eat, aka hibiscus flowers! I had never eaten one before, and on take one, I picked up the first one my hand found and tried to eat it but it was so tough that I nearly choked to death! The whole crew laughed at me and we did the take a bunch more times, with varying levels of ladylike eating on my part, and when I saw the final cut of the film OF COURSE the director chose the shot where I am choking on a hibiscus flower, eyes streaming! Oy. I have to say I haven’t rushed to eat them since then.

Happy almost weekend!

No way, talking on a cell phone at the gym is ridiculous! Once during Spin class a girl got off her bike to answer her phone that was blinking in her bag. Unless it’s an emergency, the gym is NOT a place to catch up on gossip with friends.

As a side note, how do you feel about perfumes/colognes at the gym? This guy got on the elliptical next to me this morning and reeked of cologne (or smelly deodorant) and it was so bad I had to get off. I could TASTE it in my mouth and it made me so nauseous. I was angry because it ruined my groove. I think when you are in a public place you need to be a little more considerate.

I don’t mind cell phones at the gym too much. It is annoying if someone is having an entire conversation while you are trying to concentrate though. I would only bring mine if I was expecting an important call or something to that extent. And I probably would walk out for a minute to have my convo!

I wish they sold those bars here!! They sound fantastic!

Cells at the gym should be a NO! People talk loud enough as it is, I don’t want to hear about all of their business!

The worst is when a loud cell phone starts ringing during a yoga class. I was in two yoga classes in a row where the same phone started ringing loudly and both times no one got up to turn it off. Of course the person must have been embarrassed (because no one owned up to it being their’s during the class and turned it off) but they obviously weren’t embarrassed enough to make sure it was on silent so it didn’t happen a second time… geez.

When I was in Australia, I had champagne with hibiscus in it – it was fantastic, and so pretty to look at!

i think it’s interesting how a lot of people seem annoyed by the fact that other people aren’t working out as hard as they are. sometimes i go to the gym for an easy day. i walk slowly on the treadmill or around the track. i go pretty slow on the elliptical while watching tv or whatever. i’d hate to think that someone would judge me for how hard I’m working or if I was able to carry on a conversation with a friend beside me.

I don’t like “conversations” on the phone at the gym, but if it’s a quick, “Hey, I’m at the gym can I call you back?” or even answering a quick questing where the call lasts 1-2 minutes it’s okay with me.

I teach cycle classes at our college Rec center, and kinesiology majors are required to take some group exercise classes, so obviously, they don’t really want to be there. So I get these students who text while I am teaching, answer phone calls, I have never had one carry on a conversation, but I would most definitely kick them out if that happened. So nay to cell phones at the gym, especially if you are taking a class! Your text can wait to be answered in 30 minutes!

Nooo, no, no. Cell phone usage at the gym is incredibly rude and disrespectful to the people around you. You wouldn’t use your cell in an elevator would you?

Definitely NAY! I hate having to listen to peoples’ cell phone conversations when I am trying to work out!

i hate when people are on there cellphones at the gym because like you said they are not working hard enough and you can here there conversations,I also hate when people cougj uncontrolably like iowagirleats, if you are that sick have some respect and stay home

1.) The dried hibiscus are so pretty!
2.) I don’t have a gym membership now but when I was at UCF I hated hearing girls talk on their cell phones while at the gym. I don’t care who hooked up with who, how drunk you’re planning on getting that night, or anything else. No cell phones at gym.

I say Nay big time.

But even worse? Talking while your merchandise is being rung up at the cash register. I think it is so rude when people don’t even acknowledge the salesperson because they are too busy telling who knows who on the other end about their horrific night…

NOT COOL!

Anywayz.

Have a good day sweetie!

With Love,

Emily

I have never given this any thought! I have never seen anyone at my gym talking on one. Maybe because I take mostly water aerobic classes heheh

Caitlin, I am totally with you on this one! I hate, hate, hate it when people are in the gym talking on their cell phones and “working out” at the same time. Hang up your phone and work! It drives me nuts. There is this girl that sits in the stretching area and checks herself out and talks on the phone for at least a half hour every day and I just laugh…like, have you even broken a sweat or do you just enjoy looking at yourself? Can’t you do that at home?

This seems to be a popular topic! I completely agree with you and am soooo annoyed when people talk on the phone while working out near me at the gym … why even bother coming as how can they be working out that hard? when i am running i can’t even speak!

I think the cell phones at the gym are ridiculous honestly. You’re there to work out. I think that people have become so attached to them, that they don’t know what to do with out them. No cell phones.

I actually don’t really mind. I am usually so focused on what I am doing that I don’t notice what people are doing on the cardio machines next to me.

The weight machines are different, if you are holding up the line of people because you’re texting or chatting, that is just rude. But if someone wants chill out on the treadmill/stair-master/elliptical and catch up with friends, meh!

That girl in the picture isn’t hurting anyone. ANY exercise is better then no exercise right?

As for the coughing, I actually do that, but I have a lung issue that makes me cough when I do cardio. I ALWAYS clean the machine before and after and use my own towel to cover my mouth when I cough while running.

-Jessica

Cell phones at the gym are a definite no-no! I’m not even sure why people bring their phones with them out of the locker room – I always just left mine in my locker.

But then again, I guess I’m even more easily annoyed than you – I don’t even like it when people talk to each other at the gym! Anything that disrupts my happy little sound bubble makes my workout more tense and less relaxing.

Cell phone use at the gym doesn’t really bother me since I have my ipod on the whole time. I don’t do it myself. It is possible to give up the cell phone for an hour or so! What really, really annoys me is people that use their phone in the bathroom. While they’re doing their business! People at work, at the bar, etc do it all the time! Gross!