The Genius Phone Hack That Helps You Watch Netflix Shows at the Gym
Once I realized I could download Netflix on my phone to binge on all the good shows while simultaneously clocking cardio at the gym, the revelation was a game changer that made going on the elliptical feel like a guilty pleasure. (No, the phone screen is not too small. And yes, it makes workouts fly by!)
When I began watching season two of 13 Reasons Why, though, I began to dread lifting weights since it would require me to de-throne my device from the ledge of my cardio machine, and take a break from my show. If only strength training machines had their own TVs, I thought.
After I tried to hack it by holding my phone while using the squat machine – not easy - or propping it in a nook on the lateral pulldown machine - it was too low to see the screen comfortably - I found the perfect solution: a magnetized phone mount that I could use to stick my phone just about anywhere at the gym.
I tried the Under Armor mount, which expands to accommodate any size device and its case. My phone felt pretty sturdy after I locked it place.
With my wireless headphones in - I'm wed to my Apple Airpods, which you can tap to pause and restart your show - I set out to locate every magnetic surface at my gym. There were a lot, like the dumbbell rack, for instance. Metal!
I particularly liked sticking my phone at chest-height on one side of the barbell rack, which awarded the perfect view while I used dumbbells for bicep curl squats and weighted stationary lunges.
Now that I'm a pro - I can't work out without my magnet! - I've also planted my phone lower, just above knee-height, so I can watch my shows while I do floor exercises like heel touches in crunch position. Because you have to keep your upper body off the floor to prevent your knees from obstructing your view, they beat sit-ups and seem to engage my abs just as well.
One of my favorite places to hang my phone is on the cable machine at eye-height, since there are so many exercises you can do - like standing tricep extensions and bicep curls using the rope or regular handles - while you watch.
I also like using the ankle cuff attachment for side-leg lifts, which work your inner and outer thighs or butt depending on the direction in which you move your leg. While watching particularly engaging scenes, I'll sometimes do every variation so I can stick around.
Now that my workouts include trolling my gym for magnetic surfaces, I double down on all my exercise reps once I find a setup that works. Even when I'm not using the mount's magnet, the shape of the accessory, which is pretty slim and can't possibly weigh more than my iPhone 6, helps prop my screen at a slight angle when I place it on the floor. It's ideal for pushups and commandos, which I miraculously have stopped hating since I began watching Netflix during sets.
Now that I'm halfway through 13 Reasons Why's latest season, I'm even more motivated to stream season two of The Bold Type get in the best shape ever. Trust me: You need this magnetic mount to live your fittest life.
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