Tunes to Move You

There have been many times when I dreaded spending 45 minutes to an hour on a treadmill just staring at a wall or watching a blip crawl around a screen. Then I discovered what so many others had already learned. Music is a powerful motivator. I tuned in to my favorite radio station, and all seemed right with the fitness routine. Right up until the song ended and the commercials started. Time to find a new workout motivator. I found one of the best fitness partners when I got an mp3/ipod music player.

During the Olympics I was reminded again how music can be used to get them pumped up for competition and for motivation during workouts. Every time I noticed Michael Phelps, he had his ipod to get him psyched up and focused. It must have helped some, look what happened in the swimming competitions.

Music is a natural performance aid and can change my mental state from a mediocre workout level to inspiring me to perform at a peak level. Also when I am tense, another style of music can calm me, and mellow my mood.

Nothing can get you in the fitness mood like music. When listening to music during training, I get totally absorbed in it. I shift my focus from the minor aches and pains I may have from working out and just get into the rhythm of the beat. The result is I work harder and your body appreciates it and rewards me with the results I want.

When I was in the military, we used marching and running cadences to accomplish this. Ever hear “I don’t know, but it’s been said…Air Force Wings are made of lead” or “Ain’t no sense in lookin down, …Ain’t no discharge on the ground.” well never mind, that’s a topic for different blog.

Personally I have found that ZZ Top albums like Afterburner, or Eliminator, are a perfect pace for my workout. I have the tunes loaded on my ipod, and after about 5 minutes of warm up, I’m ready to hit it hard.

So if you’re in the mood, make yourself a playlist, and get into it. If you don’t feel like researching your own tunes, go online. There are sites that sell workouts in mp3 or ipod format. Search on combinations of: fitness mp3/ipod or cardio mp3/ipod.

Enjoy!