Jack is TWO!
10 years ago
Thursday, August 30, 2007
It's possible I have too much time to think
I've decided machines at the gym should have their own little TV screens. And I can say this objectively because I don’t watch TV when I work out. But this morning I was at the gym, using an elliptical trainer that was at least 30 feet away from the row of TVs that hang off of the ceiling (I am spatially challenged, so this may not be true, but the point is, I couldn’t see the screens well.) I am assuming that the purpose of the TVs is to allow all of the people using the machines to watch bad reality shows and the stupid news channels they have on. But here’s the thing. At my gym, only the bikes and the treadmills are really close enough for viewing. If you want to use a different machine, you’re in a row that’s further back. So, that’s my solution. Tiny screens on all the machines, so everyone can watch Coach reruns at 6:30am if they don’t want to listen to Joe Scarborough’s nonsense on MSNBC.
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4 comments:
So I have one comment and one argument:
Comment - Start going to The Sports Club LA and your problem will be solved. You will have your TV on each machine, you just have to be willing to pay for it in higher membership fees.
Argument 1- Unless you are watching the techno/hip hop channel (note to self for new business venture) watching news or reality TV is going to negatively impact the intensity of your workout, relative to the encouraging effects of fast-paced music...as Men's Health Studies have conclusively demonstrated.
Enjoy the holiday!
Jonathan: What is this "fast-paced music" you speak of? I always listen to the Cure while working out. Is this why I a) never break a sweat and b) always want to kill myself when I finish using the elliptical machine?
Fitz, I agree with the point about workout intensity. But what about longevity? I mean, come on. Wouldn't anyone have an easier time staying on the machine for an hour if they were watching back-to-back episodes of Rock of Love or say, Designing Women? And by anyone, I mean anyone but me.
I love Men's Health Studies.
To Daniel...for fast-paced musuc, see M.C. Mario.
To Sarah...let's delve a little further. I agree that longevity would be best attained with a show or movie, however, I have a feeling that workout longevity is not really a goal for individual, but to impress others.
Take this carefully chosen analogy:
When discussing Ex's, I essentially keep two resumes. One to discuss with guys and one to discuss with women.
The resume for guys is the 'everything but the kitchen sink' resume as it is an easy, measurable proxy to establish the alpha male of the cluster. When a guy asks how the gym was today...the answer is "put up about a 250 bench".
The resume for women is very different. My insight into the female gender, thus far, has led me to believe that artistry and beauty, depth of character, etc. are more important to women, at least superficially, than sheer numbers, so this resume of Ex's has been carefully pruned to demostate care and selectivity, "never mind the time gaps, I was celibate during those time periods". Similarly, when a woman asks how the gym was today the answer is "I tried to focus on several muscle groups to maintain my proportions, I saw a yoga class that looked interesting, perhaps next time."
Where am I going with this: when you train at the gym a 30 minute intense workout vs a 60 minute casual workout, you are catering your story to two different audiences. The average person will be impressed that you were on the machines for an hour, never really asking about intensity levels as perhaps they aren't aware, or don't care, of its importance. The Men's Health reader will focus in on intensity over time and not give credit for a lazy 60 over an intense 25.
So the question comes down to...who are you trying to impress?
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