Phone use has no place at a Brisbane gym which discourages patrons from social media interaction while exercising

IT IS the bug bear of many serious lifters, and now a gym in Brisbane has decided to do something about it, with a sign telling gym-goers to leave their phones alone.

The sign from Snap Fitness Mt Gravatt went viral after being posted by the Gym Memes Facebook page.

A SIGN from a Brisbane gym asking people not to regularly text, use social media or talk on their phones while using equipment has gone viral.

Snap Fitness Mt Gravatt East put up a sign in the gym that reads: “Please do not text or call while sitting on the gym equipment. Some people are here to work out so please be respectful of them. Kind Regards, Snap Fitness Mt Gravatt team”.

A photo of it was posted by the popular Facebook page ‘Gym Memes’, with the caption, “Oooooo tell ‘em!”. The post has received more than 2000 reactions, 183 shares and 242 comments in just over 48 hours after being created at 5.30pm on Monday.

Reactions to the post were mixed with some people supporting it and others defending the use of phones between sets.

“You shouldn’t be in a gym if you have time to text between sets. Should be at home on the couch,” Paul Colombera posted.

Another commenter, Brian Becker was not so supportive of the message.

“Because taking breaks between sets isn’t a real thing. You know what, the next time I see a powerlifter pull six plates, then take a break and check his phone, I’m going to tell him to f*** right off my platform, because I’m there to work out,” Brian Becker said.

The post on the Gym Memes page received more than 2000 reactions.

However, there was another comment that was echoed by Snap Fitness Mt Gravatt East club manager Milan Sekulic.

“There’s a difference between somebody sitting there annoyingly for five minutes straight up texting on equipment people are waiting to use, and sending a quick text responding while you’re resting. I don’t think it’s as black and white as everybody is making it sound,” Jory Fetterolf posted.

Mr Sekulic said that was exactly the meaning behind the gym’s message.

“We understand people who send a quick text between sets or people who track their workouts on their phone and are having a quick look — I know I’ve done that before,” he said.

“What prompted the sign was people who were sitting on a piece of equipment while talking on their phone for about 20 minutes.

“I had four members come to me to say that it was a problem before we put the sign up and then since we put the sign up, about another three people have said, ‘thank god you put that up’.

“We’re just hoping to get the word out there for people to be respectful of other people hoping to use equipment — we’re a fairly small gym with limited equipment and some people have limited time to complete their workout.”