The Cell Phone Workout ...

[Under The Radar]

I read this on Brooks Kubik's Blog:

 

You may have seen it some time -

 

1. Do a set of bench press, squats, curls, or any other exercise.

 

2. Sit down on a bench.

 

3. Pick up cell phone.

 

4.Talk on cell phone, look at Instagram, Facebook, Youtube, Twitter, News Feed, or whatever ...... for 2 to 3 minutes.

 

5. Do next set.

 

6. Repeat steps 2-4.

 

7. Continue for the entire workout.

 

That's the cell phone workout and it's probably the most popular and widely performed workout in the world.

 

So, turns out an older and seasoned lifter was in a commercial gym watching a gentleman perform the cell phone workout to a tee.

 

The older lifter, wanting to help out, thought he'd approach the man with some advice.

 

"Excuse me, but can I give you a tip that will double or maybe even triple your results?"

 

"I mean ...... if you are interested, of course."

 

That caught the guy's attention to which he replied, "What is it?"

 

He probably thought it was steroids, or the latest super supplement, or the most recent mega muscle blitz blast program.

 

"Turn off your cell phone and don't turn it back on until your workout is over."

 

The man looked up in disbelief.

 

"But what will I do in between sets?" he asked

 

"Focus on the next set"

 

And then the older lifter walked away to resume his own workout.

 

Brooks Kubik stated at the end of the blog post he thought that was pretty solid advice ...... maybe the best advice the other guy had ever heard regarding resistance training ...... hopefully he was paying attention.

 

I'll just say I thought it was great advice myself.

[Andy_K]

I'm sure someone will say this to me at some point. I pick up my phone between every set.

 

Then I'll show them the popular app I'm using to plan exercises, time rests, log workouts, and track progress.

 

Point is, as with many things at the gym, it's easy to judge and dismiss what someone else is doing as 'wrong', but you don't know their situation or goals. Best to just live and let live.

[Under The Radar]

I'm sure someone will say this to me at some point. I pick up my phone between every set.

 

Then I'll show them the popular app I'm using to plan exercises, time rests, log workouts, and track progress.

 

Point is, as with many things at the gym, it's easy to judge and dismiss what someone else is doing as 'wrong', but you don't know their situation or goals. Best to just live and let live.

 

You are the exception to the rule (though I'm pretty sure you know this).

 

Personally, I would never *myself* broach the subject in a commercial facility. I wouldn't care enough and agree with the "live and let live" philosophy.

 

In my private gym (personal training clients) I have a no cell phone policy barring an emergency.

 

The psychology of exercise ...... the mental game ...... is FAR more important than the physical aspect (again, I'm pretty sure you know this).

 

It's funny, years ago when I personal trained out of a large commercial gym, my clients would ask me why the guy on the exercise bike ...... talking on his cell phone or reading the newspaper ...... had a poor physique.

 

My answer?

 

Because he has a poor exercise program.

 

Learning to work hard in the gym ...... to train through physical discomfort with proper form ...... is a skill. It is a skill that can be learned and does not come naturally to most people. Gotta love how well these fundamentals are taught in the cardio theaters (the treadmill room laced with giant movie screens)

 

Sports psychology talks about broad external focus versus narrow internal focus. To be successful in moving the barbell, dumbbell, or one's bodyweight through space and time ...... in a meaningful way ...... requires a mastery of narrow internal focus.

 

That's why the old-timer, from the blog post, mentioned doubling or tripling his gains. Is the average trainee making gains while texting at the gym ,or posting to Facebook, in between sets? Sure, something is better than nothing.

 

However, any serious trainee knows that the best results come from years of dedicated effort using nothing less than inexorable purpose. An understanding of the mind muscle connection and mastering concepts such as pre-workout focus, pre-set focus, and intra-set focus.

 

Some of the women I've seen post here over the years acknowledged it wasn't until they started strength training at a high level ...... such as the popular 5 x 5 training protocol (pioneered by Reg Park in the 1950's) ...... that they saw drastic changes in their physiques. One cannot work truly hard on a loading pattern like that with distractions. One must have complete and total focus.

 

I respect your posts and almost always agree with them ...... whether they are related to exercise or relationships.

 

Your use of the phone at the gym ...... in the manner you describe ...... makes you an outlier. The average phone user at the gym is not using technology to log and map out their progress.

 

But, like you said, to each their own. I just thought it was an interesting story ...... and I happened to agree most people would significantly ramp up their progress in the gym if they were less distracted by technology.

[thefooloftheyear]

Its not just cell phones.....Its also playing with their music devices and bullshytting with the other people in the gym....

 

People dont realize how the mind/body connection work...When i train, I am doing nothing but focusing on the lift/movement and what effect it has on my body...I talk to no one and dont pay attention to the surroundings..I envision each and every fiber of the muscle group contracting and the blood rushing to the area....Its what has made me reach my maximum potential, IMO....I waste no motion ..

 

Personally I dont care what anyone else does, thats their business..But its rude and inconsiderate to others to waste time unneccessarily dicking around with electronic devices or excessive talking when others want to train and have to wait until you are done..I know that its necessary to rest between sets but people get carried away...

 

Back in the 80's I trained at a very serious place...Of course, no phones then, but they had a "floor guy" that just walked around and yelled at people for wasting time, talking, or acting like morons...Don't know if that would fly today, but no one dicked around in that place...You went in there and kicked ass...or you werent welcome....

 

Mine stays in the car...If there is a real emergency, they will know how to reach me...

 

TFY

[Noproblem]

I use the smart phone to listen to songs sometimes, and on some exercises I leave it on the floor so I can focus on my training

or listen to other people's gossips

[Emilia]

I wouldn't care except all that fiddling around delays their sets so on the rare occasion that they are hogging something I need, it pisses me off

[jonsnuh]

I tend not to care about what people think at the gym.

 

I bring my phone to keep track of my workouts with the app I'm using, and I use it as my music player on the treadmill.

 

I know what workout is really working my triceps though-- holding my phone while in bed (bad habit, I know).