Over the next five weeks I am going to post 5 motivational training strategies that work for me. Here is week one:
Motivation Strategy One: Bagpipes.
For years I trained in a big corporate gym that played life sucking, God-awful, stick a screw driver in my ear, music. I swear they had a contract with the Black Eyed Peas to play that Tonight’s Going to Be a Good Night song four times an hour – God do I hate that song, and if you don’t then you live under a rock because that song has been played so much no one could possibly continue to like it. Anyway, I got an iPod shuffle but I was too cheap/principled to buy music from Apple that I already owned so that didn’t help much. Then I discovered Pandora and it was like the gates from heaven opened to my ears. I can listen to music that actually doesn’t suck! Music like bagpipes. Something about listening to the pipes and drums makes me want to go to war and in a gym that is a good feeling to have. Next time you are standing in a squat rack blast some Scotland the Brave and I bet you kill that set.
Ok I am sure bagpipes doesn’t work for everyone (maybe if you’re a Brit) but we all have that music that makes us want to lift, run, hurt someone…figure it out and that 5th set of deadlifts won’t suck half as bad.
I know they are pretty much just a boy band with a banjo, but tell me this song doesn’t make you want to go running, do some pushups, play the fiddle…
Was that Froning on the keyboard?
This song by Flogging Molly always makes me train hard. I think if I was a fighter I would walk out to this song:
If neither of those songs work for you, this one works for EVERYONE. Admit it, this song rocks!
Music is great motivation. One time I was finishing up a set of pushups and the Go-Go’s song, Vacation, came on and true story–I did pushups for the rest of the song AND IT WAS EASY.
This post just cracks me up. I love your songs!
Thanks! And it is amazing how effective music is in a workout. I remember watching you (Steph) in one of the open workouts and you were really starting to slow down. Then the song Sail came on and it was like someone injected you with energy. All my yelling wasn’t sparking anything but a few good beats and you were at full strength.
Music fuels me 100%. It could be 5am and I’ve had four hours of sleep, caffeine isn’t working, and then suddenly I hear some Pitbull and it’s like I’m ready to tackle anything! One time I was in the gym alone and “Feel this Moment” came on and I literally loaded up the bar heavier than ever and hit some major lifts. A different time, the Dropkick Murphy’s bagpipes rendition of Amazing Grace came on and I literally tried for a muscle-up–I was that confident the music would get me there. I still haven’t tackled the MU yet, but I actually came pretty close with the pipes and drums. 😉 LOVE GREAT MUSIC!!!
my latest motivate me song is “The Pheonix” by Fall Out Boy. It just gives me the kick I need.
Hey Rhonda this is Erik using the main login because I am going to try to embed your song in here — first time I have ever tried putting a video in comment section. We will see if it works. Oh and this song was new for me so thanks for sharing!
If embedded video is not there just go here if you’ve never heard “Phoenix” — http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5hDZbroaQDc
No better song right now to work to than “You’re an Overcomer” by Mandisa
I’m going to have to look that one up!! Is it anything like Britany Spears’s new one…”Work B**ch” ?! LOL.