My Gut Tells Me
  • Blog
  • Food
  • Motivation
  • Video
  • Links
  • About
  • Contact
  • Megathon

Workout Playlist

1/8/2014

 
Music is a huge motivator for me. It's always been important in my life (yep, band geek, right here), and the right song at the right time can have a tremendous emotional impact. Last night was one of those nights, when I didn't want to get off the elliptical from my warm-up to go to the core class, and after TRX I wanted to keep rockin' so I plugged in and got back on a machine. Now, the machines are about the least effective thing I can do at the gym. I know this. But for not getting myself tangled in ear-bud cords and being able to just rock out to a playlist? Number one. There are moments when, if I could get away with it, I'd be singing out loud instead of just mouthing along, and I'd be the happiest girl on a treadmill. It's about as close to dancing as I get.

So, when I don't feel like working out? It's usually the music that gets me going. I have a pretty good imagination, which can get me in trouble in real life, but I try to use it to my advantage at the gym. Sometimes the music helps, sometimes not. I make up stories in my head, like I'm in some kind of competition and different people are cheering for me, while others are doubting me. Seriously. I make up fake mean girls in my mind just to show them. It's a strange but healthy kind of revenge, since I don't actually have any feelings of needing to get even or "show" anyone in reality. But having some kind of enemy to defeat makes for better warriors, I guess. It's all in the script you create for yourself.

There was one day when Mat and another trainer and a client were watching me and trying to get my attention while I was on the rowing machine. I was oblivious. They couldn't figure out what I was staring at, on the ceiling. But in my head I was on a lake in Muskoka, rowing past pine trees and soaking up the sun. Because goodness knows that the grey crap on the ceiling and walls is less than inspiring! In your head, you can be whatever or wherever you want.

When you have trouble writing your own script, the song lyrics make good substitutes. Sometimes I listen closely to the music and make up video montages in my mind. The only down side to this trick, if you happen to be creative AND obsessive, is that you can waste a lot of time once you're home actually MAKING the videos you came up with in your imagination. Um. Not that I know this from personal experience, or anything.

The point is, that when you find the right music for YOU, it can be a powerful motivator and make something that could otherwise be boring or feel like a punishment, into something fun and creative. Some days, anything with a good beat works for me. Other times, I need very specific kinds of songs. When the voice in my head is mean and nasty, telling me I can't do this, don't deserve to do this, am weak or a fraud, I have to literally drown her out with lyrics that combat those messages. I stream every song of survival, strength, bad-ass warrior superhero ninja, winner attitude directly into my brain and override the mean girl who sometimes lives there.
Hearing a message enough times helps you start to believe it, and if you can't get your own brain to say it, there are plenty of musicians and artists who will do it for you.

So. What I do listen to? Cheese.

Fast-paced, upbeat tempos paired with the hoakiest lyrics that make me feel empowered.
I edit my script.
I tell myself I'm strong. I am a fighter. I can win. I can be great. Hard work and dedication? I have it.
"I can go the distance."
"Just because it burns doesn't mean you're gonna die."
"I had bad habits but I dropped them."

"Right now! It's your tomorrow."
"You're gonna hear me roar."

Check it. Here are a few examples:
LCP
1/7/2014 11:28:16 pm

I won't even walk without tunes...outside, music, on a sunny day, no matter the season...it's my prescription drug!

Lorelei
1/8/2014 03:55:18 am

Thank you!! a suggested 'playlist' is one thing I looked for when I first checked out your blog. much appreciated. :-)


Comments are closed.
    Picture

    Whose blog, now?

    From the gut, about the gut, trying to listen to what my gut tells me.

    I'm just a girl, fighting the same weight battle as much of the population. Lost 100 lbs, working on the rest, trying to find balance between health, fitness, and vanity. I'm also a librarian who wants to share credible information and reliable resources, in addition to my own musings and reflections, what I call "my writing from the gut."

    Categories

    All
    Activism
    Balance
    Binge Eating
    Body Image
    Book Review
    Dieting
    Eating
    Exercise
    Faqs
    Fat Shame
    Goals
    Habit
    Health At Every Size
    Hiit
    Maintaining
    Mat
    Megathon
    Mind
    Motivation
    Music
    My Story
    My Story
    Outdoor Fitness Challenge
    Personal Training
    Personal Training
    Science
    Sleep
    Stress
    Stretching
    Supplements
    Tools
    Weight Lifting

    Archives

    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013

    RSS Feed


Proudly powered by Weebly