POLL: What music do you listen to at the gym?

[StageLeft]

I use an MP3 player all the time. If I happen to forget it (very rare, as it's so crucial) I have been known to simply turn around and not workout. My gym currently plays no music, which is great, because with the loud machines in a single room it often becomes white noise anyway.

That said, they have music in the change rooms. They had on frank sinatra yesterday. Look, I get it. You have old and young people in the gym, but F off with that eclectic crap. Just go to a contemporary pop station and leave it. My last gym did play music (like most do) in the weight/cardio room and they often would have disco. It was absolutely and far and away the worst gym music ever. I complained, as did the staff (even to the gym owners), but it never changed.

 

[zebano]

I never take an mp3 player for some reason the trailing cord to the earphones always gets caught on something and causes me grief. I tend to tune out music while working out anyway so it's not a big deal. The only time I listen to it in between sets, it's usually classic rock which is fine with me. That said, I was leaving my basketball game on Tuesday and could hear the music coming from the weight area... Macarena

 

[SlitheryDee]

When I'm lifting I avoid the headphones because I don't like having to pull one out and say "What"? every time someone says any little inconsequential thing. People usually leave me alone on the treadmill so I listen to audiobooks while I run. I listen to audiobooks when I run outside too. My gym usually plays hard rock all day, which would be my preferred workout music anyway.

 

[conorvansmack]

The music at my doesn't irritate me enough to prompt me to bring my iPod.

 

[SociallyChallenged]

I used to use my iPod all the time, but I kept forgetting it and now I've decided that it makes me stronger mentally to focus on the movement and to control my intensity levels in the absence of music since it can't always be there. I would advice doing this every once in a while just to focus on the movement and the mental aspect of working out. It seems pointless to always be distracted doing something most people say they enjoy.

 

[irishScott]

My University's gym has a deal with MTVu. I ignore it.

I never listen to music when I work out anyway. Can't stand ear plugs, and it's a distraction besides.

 

[StageLeft]

When I'm lifting I avoid the headphones because I don't like having to pull one out and say "What"? every time someone says any little inconsequential thing.

Thankfully people infrequently talk to me. Once every three-four workouts I get a "are you using this" and the person indicates with their hand anyway, so that's it! Audiobooks are good for slowish cardio, though. I got through a few books that way.

 

[wheresmybacon]

I absolutely need my headphones when I do cardio. For weights it varies. If it's crowded I'll put my headphones on and pull my hat down low. I don't want to be talked to when I'm lifting.

 

[SneakyStuff]

MP3 player all the time, need my own music to get pumped up. I hate lifting without it!!!

 

[SWScorch]

I bring an mp3 player loaded with an eclectic mix of death metal, bluegrass, country and rock.

 

[Cerpin Taxt]

I'm weird about music. When I listen to music, I have to pay attention to it. That's how I enjoy music. I can't lift weights and listen to music because I need to concentrate on lifting. It cracks me up when I see people like at Starbucks reading a book with their headphones on. I'm left thinking... if you had some good music to listen to, or if you actually appreciated music, you wouldn't be able to tune it out enough to read your book.

Yeah, I know that makes me kinda snobby, but whatevs. Music is a passion of mine, so I really get into it, and I prefer to listen to music that actually requires some attention to appreciate it fully.

 

[StageLeft]

I'm left thinking... if you had some good music to listen to, or if you actually appreciated music, you wouldn't be able to tune it out enough to read your book.

I can appreciate that point of view, but personally I listen to music as much as possible, and I would listen while reading, although probably only something light like a magazine and not a novel. If I was being snobby I could say that you only appreciate music at the conscious level but I appreciate it at a deeper one and, like rain, it gets me wet whether I pay attention to it or not and my passion for it makes its full absorption quite impossible to resist, despite any efforts to the contrary and where my conscious mind is. I don't believe that, though, but maybe a little I do

 

[silverpig]

I listen to classical while on the treadmill. Liszt, Chopin, Debussy.

 

[zebano]

Originally posted by: Cerpin Taxt
I'm weird about music. When I listen to music, I have to pay attention to it. That's how I enjoy music. I can't lift weights and listen to music because I need to concentrate on lifting. It cracks me up when I see people like at Starbucks reading a book with their headphones on. I'm left thinking... if you had some good music to listen to, or if you actually appreciated music, you wouldn't be able to tune it out enough to read your book.

Yeah, I know that makes me kinda snobby, but whatevs. Music is a passion of mine, so I really get into it, and I prefer to listen to music that actually requires some attention to appreciate it fully.

Just to be a book snob:
I'm left thinking... if you had some good book to read, or if you actually appreciated literature, you wouldn't be able to tune it out enough to listen to your music.

 

[brikis98]

I've learned that I literally cannot hear any music while doing Crossfit workouts. I'm so focused on what I'm doing and the intensity tends to be so high that all other noise effectively gets drowned out.