Attention gym-bench hogs: Try lifting more than your phones

SPOTLIGHT / RISE OF THE PHONE DRONES

Is the mobile phone reducing our fitness along with our attention spans?Credit: Getty Images

I see them all the time at my gym: the phone drones. Mr Grey Crew-Cut on the leg press, pushing out a desultory set of reps before reaching for his phone and descending into yet another YouTube or Insta black hole. Ms Purple Headphones, cranking out the odd biceps curl between chatting to friends and scrolling through her playlist. Mr Walkabout, pacing up and down as he reads his messages between sets on the lat-pulldown, his towel and water bottle acting as an “I don’t want to share” forcefield around the equipment.

Much has been said about the mobile phone’s superpower to distract. But what about at gyms? Exercise is, after all, an attention-based activity. Is the mobile phone reducing our fitness along with our attention spans? Especially since we’re checking our phone, on average, once every eight minutes, according to a 2022 Australian survey by reviews.org. A 2017 US study found texting during exercise reduces your balance by nearly 50 per cent, echoing an earlier study confirming smartphone use in the gym decreases exercise intensity.

In his 10 years in the fitness industry, Mandra Taulu, a manager with Vision Personal Training in Sydney, has noticed a marked increase in gym bunnies being distracted by their phones. It’s more a problem, he says, in “big box facilities” than in smaller studios because of fewer structured programs, less supervision and more opportunity to hog equipment.

“If you want to achieve an efficient workout,” he adds, “turn off your notifications or put your phone away.” Greg Callaghan

WEAR / WINTER WARMER

Waterproof and crafted from recycled materials: great for apres-swim or mid-couch-potatoing.

Are you a cold-water winter swimmer or an ice-bath aficionado? Either way, you’ll want to know about Toasty ($289), a jacket specially designed for chilly adventures. This 100 per cent weatherproof, moisture-wicking, fleece-lined design is intentionally oversized so you can use it as a changing tent if required. Crafted from recycled materials, its use extends beyond the beach: think camping trips, cheering from the sidelines on a Saturday morning, even Netflix binges on the couch. It’s also available in children’s sizes ($219) to keep those Nippers toasty, too. Frances Mocnik

WATCH / GOING FOR GOLD

Paralympic athletes Curtis McGrath and Angie Ballard model the RM Williams-designed Paris 2024 uniform with chef de mission Kate McLoughlin (right).Credit: Nikki Short

Smiles are rarely seen on the runway at Australian Fashion Week, but amateur models at the R.M. Williams show in May decided to grin and wear it while launching the official team uniforms for the Paralympic Games (August 28-September 8 in Paris). The outback-inspired attire pays tribute to Indigenous culture while featuring easy-access details such as side-zipped sneakers and elastic waists. Elements from The Journey by Indigenous artist Rheanna Lotter, seen on tees and jacket linings, capture a story of teamship and challenges; Akubra hats continue the narrative. “We’re one of the few national teams to wear their country’s story,” says chef de mission Kate McLoughlin. “It’ll be great to bring that spirit to the Champs-Élysées.” Damien Woolnough

SHOP / KILLING TIME

Three weeks’ battery life, suggested workouts, built-in maps and playlists: the Garmin Forerunner 365.

The first thing you notice about the Garmin Forerunner 965 ($999) – pitched as the ultimate running watch – is the screen. The watch boasts everything an amateur athlete could hope for: about three weeks’ battery life, suggested workouts and built-in maps. But what stands out instantly is the gorgeous, full-colour AMOLED display, one of the most impressive on any smartwatch. For those looking to take their fitness game to the next level, this Garmin is a smart bet. The watch can store songs from Spotify, make contactless payments through Garmin Pay and automatically come up with a training plan for your next race. Oh, and did we mention the screen? David Swan

Irish writer Alan Murrin’s debut novel is set in 1994 – before divorce became legal in his home country.

READ / SHE WHO DARES

Imagine living in a country where unhappy couples are doomed to stay together because divorce is illegal, and society turns a blind eye to men who cheat but condemns unfaithful women. That is the scenario in Alan Murrin’s debut novel, The Coast Road (Bloomsbury; $33), set in County Donegal, Ireland, in – wait for it – 1994. The local community is divided when Colette Crowley, a hauntingly beautiful poet, returns home after having left her husband and sons, who still live there, for a married lover in Dublin. Chaos and heartbreak ensue as she is punished for her choices. A chilling reminder of the unequal impact of unfair divorce laws. Nicole Abadee

LISTEN / GIFT OF THE GAB

The Blindboy Podcast host, who sports a plastic bag as a mask to protect his identity.

When he first ventured inside a young woman’s bra, the host of the eponymous Blindboy Podcast, then 15, found a large crumb … a Digestive biscuit crumb. Recalling this anecdote in a recent episode of his long-running weekly show, Irish comedian Blindboyboatclub (to use his full moniker) went on to discuss the IRA’s use of Digestive biscuits to temper the recoil of their improvised grenade launchers during “the Troubles”. This led to musings on the similarities between Digestives and the unleavened bread used to make communion wafers for Catholic Mass, the miracle of transubstantiation and the origins of Protestantism. They’re examples of the meandering journeys he undertakes each episode – made all the more enjoyable by his curiosity, humour and that mesmeric Limerick accent. Paul Connolly

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