Binge-Worthy Findings
Men seem to prefer to weight train while viewing stereotypically masculine content. 67% of men prefer to watch Action/Adventure/War TV shows while weight training, opposed to 33% of women. Similarly, 70% of men prefer to weight train while watching sports, compared to 30% of women.
Opposite of the men, women prefer to stretch and work on their cardio to shows that tug more on the heartstrings. 67% of women prefer to watch Drama shows while doing cardio, and 63% of women prefer to watch Drama shows while they stretch; opposed to 33% and 37% of men, respectively. When it comes to comedy, 59% of women prefer working on cardio while watching something funny, as opposed to 41% of men.
Do the genders agree on anything? Yes, in fact: For any exercise, men and women watch the News equally as often. When it comes to being informed, everyone seems to like to stay in the loop.
Now that we’ve covered who is watching what, we can touch on a more interesting topic—why do people watch TV while they get fit? Here are the reasons respondents cited:
- To keep me entertained: 61%
- To distract me: 47.48%
- To pump me up: 33.53%
- To motivate me to finish my workout: 33.09%
- To motivate me to go to the gym in the first place: 13.81%
- To watch a TV show my partner hates: 4.32%
Everybody’s Doing It, but Should You?
Whether you boost the laugh track on The Big Bang Theory while busting out a 5K or kill another deadlift set to American Horror Story, you’re not alone: 38.8% of people consistently watch TV while working out.
More than a third of people who work out watch television while they do so, but is it such a good idea? According to Anna Victoria, a personal trainer and founder of the Fit Body app, “Tuning in to a TV while working on your cardio is a great way to pass the time.”
Victoria warns against using a television when lifting weights. “When it comes to strength training,” she said, “people lose focus on proper form. Bad form introduces poor muscle engagement and an increased risk of injury.”
For weight-training gym rats and cardio queens alike, we hope this read helps you find your groove during your next workout.
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