Secrets of Success

Music

Turn the TV off and the music on. Can't sit still with upbeat music

Pow Wow Dancing to Fitness

I am usually bored with most exercises. Exercise is especially hard during the winter months in Wisconsin. I am Native American and I am passionate about dance. So I found a way to make exercise fun. I go to YouTube and find a Pow Wow playlist and I play it while I dance around my house. Pow Wows aren't just for Native American people either. If you go to a Pow Wow they have dances called Intertribal where everybody regardless of race or clothes can get up dance. So everybody let's Pow Wow dance!

Playlists

When making playlists for working out don't just pick upbeat songs but pick songs that have lyrics that really inspire you. I find that sometimes even slower songs with inspirational lyrics that you wouldn't consider workout songs work really well for me if I'm at a point in my workout when I am tired but need to push through.

Use a virtual treadmill app and listen to Pandora

I found a couple great apps for ipad that show great trails for running or biking or hiking as you work on the treadmill or stationary bike. And while I'm "running on the trail" I can listen to all my favorite music on Pandora. I want to get in my exercise!

Meditate before you go workout

Do you want to work out, but you've decided your not in a good mood to go, or are tired now, or have no one to go with? Wahhhh...I'm sure we've all been there at some point. This is a way I get over it and find inner motivation.

Become a leader

I became a certified group fitness/aerobic instructor.

Start Dancing

I downloaded music from all my favorite musicals and I dance and walk to my tunes. I love to sing along and groove to the music. I have everything from Sweeney Todd to Wizard of Oz and this even helps when I am cleaning. I belt out the songs and have fun with it. Best of luck everyone=]

Audio Books

I am not a reader but I recently found that books on tape can be a wonderful tool. I get them from the library and listen to them in my car. I control what types of messages go into my thoughts and can decrease the amount of negativity I hear. I just finished Tuesday's with Morrie...and if you havent read it (listened) please do and now I halfway through Buddha. Its great to keep your mind off exercise too

Turn the music on/up!

When I started using my treadmill I could barely finish a programmed workout. After purchasing an inexpensive mp3 player I was doubling my workout time and upping my speed and I never even noticed! I started using it while walking during my lunch hour at work and I walk harder and go further than before. I also return to work a little more upbeat!

Easy Interval Training

I made a mix of music that helps with putting intervals in my walk. I pick music that I like with the pace in mind. I start out with a couple of songs that have a beat that matches my warm up speed, then up the pace a bit until I'm at my target walking speed. For the rest of the workout, I vary the pace from song to song and by matching my pace to the beat, instant intervals! When I get tired of the selection, I just make a different mix. Works for walking, running biking etc. Enjoy!

Losing weight Sevenfold!

One of the members of my favorite band, Avenged Sevenfold said "The best revenge is bettering yourself". That has become my mantra. Their story is so inspiring, and their music has always helped me along. Now it's the soundtrack to my slimdown! I say pick a band that makes you want to move, and GET TO IT!!!

Marching to a different drummer

While many people like to exercise to peppy dance music, or popular tunes, or oldies, I love to walk to Sousa Marches. They have a great walking beat, and are always enthusiastic. You just keep walking, like the energizer bunny, keeping the beat!

Born This Way

At least once a day, I put on my headphones and blast "Born This Way" by Lady Gaga. Regardless of your musical preferences, it is such a powerful message. I sit and take it all in, and I feel confident and motivated. Bonus - It is also a great workout song!


I'm beautiful in my way
Cause God makes no mistakes
I'm on the right track baby
I was born this way

Don't hide yourself in regret
Just love yourself and you're set
I'm on the right track baby
I was born this way

Music

I need a good motivational and energizing song to really get my butt in shape.

Dancing

Feel as if you're just too fat to go outside to let EVERYONE see you walking or trying to work on getting a better life? Work out in your home. It's summer - HUMIDITY here in Ohio, go down to the basement if you have one - put on some Gloria Estefan music (LOUD) and dance away. Without realizing it you'll be sweating - but it's a good sweat

MUSIC IS THE BEST WAY TO GET YOURSELF MOTIVATED TO EXERCISE!

When I lost 70 pounds I knew I needed something to get me excited about exercising everyday. Each night, before bed, I compiled a playlist of my favorite songs for my workout the next morning. This literally, was what kept me going through my weight loss journey! Music can elevate your mood in an instant and make this process a lot easier!

Find a song to pump you up

Mine is "Extraordinary" by Liz Phair. I don't feel gross coming out of the gym or back from working out/being active - I feel like I can take on anything. Find a song that reminds you to believe in your abilities, stay confident, and embrace your bada$$-ness!

Listen to music!

Listen to music whenever you can, especially during down times. It will motivate you to move around instead of sitting complacently, maybe even get up and bust a move!

Use your hands and mouth to play an instrument instead of mindless eating

I decided to learn how to play the saxaphone. When I get tempted to eat or want to ward off the munchies at night, I instead pick up the sax and practise the breathing and hand movements so that I don't make noise for the neighbours.

Download from Amazon, not iTunes

Amazon's MP3 service are DRM-free MP3s that can play on any machine. Their download software will even install your music onto iTunes for you. iTune's are more specific to an iPod and are about $0.30 more expensive per song! That means you'll save $3.00 on a 10-song purchase! Most of the songs are the same on both groups, so why not pay less?

When you fall down, Get Back Up :-)

Give yourself permission to fail. The freedom to fail is the freedom to succeed. You can stumble as many times as it takes, just don't quit. GET BACK UP right away. Listening to "power boost" music helps. This is my "Get Back Up" song.
www.myspace.com/tobymac/
music/songs/Get-Back-Up-
63328651

Keep on exercising!

I feel like exercising until I meet my goal when I have something fun to do such as listening to some great music, or reading (carefully). It never fails me.

Walk to the beat!

Arrange a playlist for walking based on beats per min in each song. Helps me keep up a great pace while enjoying music I love.

Get Up & Move Playlist + Housework = Workout!

I made myself a "get up and move" motivational playlist at playlist.com and I listen to it first thing every day. My young daughter and I dance/sing to/with the songs while I clean up from the previous day's activities. It's fun and it gets in a little cardio that doesn't feel like anything other than crazy good times and the music that I chose for my playlist is the sort of music that always starts the day off on the right foot.

Pandora as Workout Music Player

I don't have an MP3 player, and when I go to the gym, I don't like the music they play at all. I've discovered I can turn my smartphone (I have a Blackberry) into a music player by using the Pandora app. I've created several stations for different moods, and have continuous music I love to listen to without having to buy/ carry another electronic device or even add MP3 files to my phone.