I see folks reading or watching television during their workout. They have these huge frowns on their faces, and look like they would rather be scrubbing toilets than there in the gym trying to get back in shape.
If you absolutely hate what you are doing, you won’t do it for very long. You will find any possible excuse to skip getting some exercise.
You need to add music to your workout! If you are working out at home, crank up the stereo full blast and just start letting your body move to the beat of the music. In the gym, I use a little iPod Shuffle with upgraded ear pods so they stay put during my workout.
The first 15 – 20 minutes you will want to take it pretty easy, allowing time for your muscles to warm up, and mostly to let the outside world start to slip away, so you can get your head into working out.
Something like Drift Away by Uncle Kracker is a good starter song for me. Listening to Toby Keith singing Crash Here Tonight melts my heart, relaxing away just about any stress hanging around in my mind.
Now, when you are about ready to start getting into your workout, jump on a treadmill, or just start walking, and let Trace Adkins sing to you about how you are one Hot Mama.
Make sure you have a gym towel within reach though because you will be drooling all over yourself. *smirk*
By the time he starts singing Honky Tonk Badonkadonk to ya, your hips and arms will start swinging to the beat automatically and everyone around you will wonder what you are smiling about.
If I am having a bit of a man hating day, listening to Miranda Lambert singing about how she is gonna show him that little girls are made of Gunpowder and Lead, helps me blow off a little steam! Heck, just about any music by this lady adds some extra motivation to my workout.
If I follow that up with something like Rockstar by Nickelback, or Hurts So Good by John Mellencamp, you will likely catch me playing the air drums on the treadmill console, smiling, and happier than a ‘possum eatin’ poo poo. C’mon now! Ya have to make it fun!
Okay, you can quit growling at me about you not being a country music fan. I don’t care if you listen to Fall Out Boy, Oasis, Slipknot, or even Metallica. The only thing that matters is that you love it enough to get lost in the music and it gets your body moving.
Although I change up my playlist often, this is an example what I am listening to on my iPod Shuffle when I am working out in the gym.
Warm Up or Cool Down
Toi – Corneille
Drift Away – Uncle Kracker
Here I Go Again – Whitesnake
Take Me There – Rascal Flatts
Sweet Child of Mine Sheryl Crow
This Woman Needs – SHeDAISY
Crash Here Tonight – Toby Keith
Wonderful Tonight – Eric Clapton
Here Without You – 3 Doors Down
Every Rose Has Its Thorn – Poison
A Little More You – Little Big Town
Ready Set Don’t Go – Billy Ray Cyrus
Like a Butterfly – A Very Special Cowboy
Weight Training and the Treadmill
Rockstar – Nickelback
Country Girl – Rissi Palmer
Heartache Tonight – Eagles
Walk Away – Kelly Clarkson
Sharp Dressed Man – ZZ Top
Free and Easy – Dierks Bently
Rock and Roll All Nite – Poison
Real Good Man – Tim McGraw
Life Is a Highway – Rascal Flatts
All Jacked Up – Gretchen Wilson
I Ain’t No Quitter – Shania Twain
Rock This Country – Shania Twain
Hurts So Good – John Mellencamp
Dirty Laundry – Lisa Marie Presley
Redneck Woman – Gretchen Wilson
Here for the Party – Gretchen Wilson
Babyy Likes to Rock It – The Tractors
Strokin’ (Long Version) – Clarence Carter
Honky Tonk Badonkadonk – Trace Adkins
Gun Powder and Lead – Miranda Lambert
Mockingbird – Toby Keith & Krystal Covell
I’m Just Talkin’ About Tonight – Toby Keith
If Your Going Through Hell – Rodney Atkins
Keep Your Hands To Yourself – Georgia Satellites
I Love Rock ‘N Roll – Joan Jett & The Blackhearts
Heaven Heartache and the Power of Love – Trisha Yearwood
