I know sometimes it is hard to do both, however when I do the elliptical, treadmill or bike I find it doable to be able to read, those book holders my YMCA has are great (and they have even ordered more when I asked if they would one time). Sometimes it helps to get a thick large rubber band to more secure the holder to the machine.

Speaking of reading, I just wanted to share an author whose books are very thought provoking-Jody Picoult. I listened to 19 minutes on a book on CD from the library and am now reading the pact. These are so good and when reading and exercising the time flies. I just got Keeping Faith from the library. Just wanted to share.

Thanks lovemylabs I've thought about reading while treading before. Maybe I'll give it a shot.

I usually just think & half meditate while exercising. No music, no TV. Focusing on what I'm doing and letting my thoughts drift has a relaxing effect on me.

What do other people do while exercising? If anything?

I love this post!!! I'm a reader too, on the elliptical/treadmill/whatever cardio machine I'm on. I am a HUGE fan of the celebrity gossip rags...the faker and more outrageous the better! (think, Star, OK!, In Touch etc) and I only allow myself to read them if I am ON one of those machines. Most of them are WEEKLY publications!!!! There's always some new gossip to catch up on!

Our gym has those nice plastic book/magazine holders for the machines too! What a great invention!! My Harry Potter marathon helped me get through hours of walking too.

My gym has TVs too....but you have to have an iPod or radio with certain radio stations (the high numbers like 107.9) to pick up the sound...there are 3 tvs....my time to go to the gym is around 3 pm so sometimes I just watch my story (guiding light) and there's an hour right there. My iPod doesn't have the radio settings but there is closed captioning, though the spelling on CC is awful and bad spelling/grammar just frustrates me...LOL

Of course the iPod with a great mix of upbeat cardio helps....sometimes I just close my eyes and rock out. Really, it's a wonder I don't sing right out loud some days.

What you have to make sure is that you're still working HARD, sometimes I let myself get too into my book/magazine and realize I'm not even going that fast or sweating at all. So I think some people discourage doing any of those things, but honestly, distractions are the ONLY things that keep me plugging along.

Great thread, can't wait to read the other responses!

My gym has Tvs built into every bike, elliptical, stair-climber and treadmill. All I have to do is plug in my earplugs and I can have a full range of shows to watch. I love it because I can catch up on the news and watch the home shows on HGTV that I love. I have even been known to work out longer because I can't stop until I see the end of a TV show.

my elliptical doesnt have a place for books , I usually watch tv while I am using it,and listen to music( the tv is on caption, and the music is blasting). I tried reading on the treadmill at the YMCA here last year when I was a member, and I couldn't do it, it felt weird,and I kept on glancing up. I am glad it works for you! cheryl

I love to read when I am on the bike at the gym! I have a hard time reading on the treadmill--I find I tend to go slower if I try that. I always have great music on my mp3 player. My gym has tv's all over the place--all on caption. Sometimes I'll even pay attention to the sports news and shock my hubby w/ my knowledge!

Love my labs--I really enjoy Jodi Picoult's work. That book is on my Christmas list!

I love to read on the treadmill. I find a book I love and keep it in the car, that way I only read it while I walk, it makes me really look forward to walking everyday.

My gym has a small exercise room that few members use, so I often get the TV to myself. Like Pita, I often extend my workout by ten or fifteen minutes to see the end of a show. I alternate between the TV and my MP3 player. If I'm doing the Stairstepper, however, I need to listen to my MP3 player to keep my focus off how hard it is (for me, at least). I have been known to sing out loud when I listen to it, too. I also read occasionally, especially when I was going to school full-time and needed to crunch two activities in at once. I do like to watch the monitors on the machine, though, and make sure that I'm maintaining a good pace, so reading is not my preferred activity.

I bounce too much on the elliptical to read, which is a bummer cause I would love to combine the two activities. I tried to read my daughter's class newsletter this week and I had to slow down in order to see the words.

I'm pondering audio books though.

I crank up my iPod. I am moving around way too much even on the treadmill to be able to concentrate on a book. I VERY carefully selected my playlist for my workouts. This took some work, but I matched the tempo of the songs to the intensity of the workout because it really bugs me when the beat of the music is different from my feet. Dumb, huh? I also only selected songs with a 4/4 time or something else even numbered because the 3/8 or 3/4 songs were messing with the rhythm between my head and feet also !!! Ha, I think I may be crazy. I have it planned out so that I have a slower tempo song mixed in every 12 minutes or so to have a little break between faster sets.

I'm a BIG reader (I work in a public library) but I just can't read and treadmill at the same time. I have to just zone out to my iPod or pop a DVD in.

Marseille, what have you got on your iPod?

I wish I could exercise and read. I've tried it, but I either slow down so much that it's pointless even exercising or start worrying about losing my balance on the treadmill or cross trainer and yeah.

I *love* audio books, though. They're a great way to make the time pass quickly.

One thing I do occasionally, though, is read while I'm on the stationary bike. I don't count that as my regular exercise, though. It's just something I add in when I am looking for a way to burn a few extra calories when I'm reading something for work and I have the opportunity to get to the gym.

I tried to read on the treadmill. My problem is that my legs are so long that I step on the front of the treadmill if I get too close. If I back up for my legs I'm too far away to read the book. So instead I watch TV or my computer. I've been watching Netflix's online viewing. I watch the old show Sliders when I walk. I'm only allowed to watch on the tread so I know I'll get back on cuz I just gotta see Quinn!

Ha ha Sub! I used to love watching Sliders on Sci-Fi ^^