Can a Workout Playlist Help Your Fitness Goals?

Image Credit: Pexels

{This is a collaborative post}

A workout playlist can provide many benefits that help you reach personal fitness goals. Some of the toughest regimens, like TUT and HIIT, become easier when listening to music to provide motivation, helping to push past the wall and make any workout more enjoyable as a whole.

The Motivation You Need

A sedentary lifestyle, getting older and even hormones can turn you from a go-getter to a professional sitter. Motivation can come in waves, and you may not be the spring chicken you once were. So, if you're wondering how to get rid of hip fat after a while on the couch, music can help you get off your backside and move some more. Dancing, running, and even a foray into HIIT can become your new normal as you find fun and encouragement while working out.

Pushing Past the Wall

As the old saying goes, No pain, no gain! Actually, that's some of the worst advice ever. Exercise shouldn't hurt, as it can cause serious problems. And if it does, you are probably doing something wrong. However, there may come a point where you hit the proverbial wall. This can be tough to get past, but it has been proven that music can help you push through the fatigue. Listening to music while working out reduces the feeling of strenuousness during exercise.

A Workout Playlist Increases Performance

Around 90% of people struggle to stick with their exercise routines. However, music can provide more encouragement when training. Maybe you want to relive the glamour of the 80s with Rocky montages, or blast some banging Balearic tunes, whatever it is, it can be beneficial:

• Some regimens, such as TUT, require coordination, which music can actually improve.
• Music can also help with endurance as it entertains you during trying exercises.
• The motivation from listening to your tunes can help you power through a workout.

A Happier Workout

Exercise is something everyone knows they should do, but most choose not to. Today, everyone scrambles to be entertained all the time as we consume content everywhere we go. This has resulted in a society that places short-term gratification over long-term health. As such, it can be easy to perceive working out as boring, meaning you won't do it. However, there are ways to make working out fun, such as listening to music or watching music videos as you exercise.

Making Sure It's Effective

Of course, your workout routine must be effective, and there isn't a one-size-fits-all approach to exercises. Sure, there are guidelines, but everyone is different. Think about the intensity of your workout and try to match the music tempo with that. For example, HIIT and cardio exercise would match better with something EDM, while yoga training will benefit from more downbeat tunes. Choose music you actually enjoy, and vary what you listen to so you don't get bored.

Summary

Providing the motivation you need to get up and go is a top reason a workout playlist can be beneficial. However, it has also been shown that music can help increase performance in key areas. Of course, any music you listen to must be appropriate for the training and enjoyable.

 

Do you censor the music your children listen to?

Just recently I’ve been thinking more and more about the music that my children listen to. The majority of music I play is Christian worship songs and thus they do not contain any worrying or illicit lyrics, so all the time we have been listening to this music there have not been any issues. Then for a number of years the only other kind of CD’s I bought were nursery rhymes and kiddie pop songs from the Early Learning Centre.

Now at nearly 11 years JJ is really getting into his music and of course his friends all talk and share music preferences at school. This means we have more recently bought some ‘Now that’s what I call music CD’s’ and naively I had not considered if all the songs on them would be appropriate. I started to buy these CD’s (well OK, they were records thirty years ago) when I was about ten or eleven too and I can’t remember any issues with them back then.

I do recall songs being banned when I was a kid though and the one that really sticks in my mind is ‘Relax’ by Frankie goes to Hollywood. The BBC would not give it airplay and this sent a very clear message that the language in this song was unacceptable. Nowadays sadly there seems to be a lack of what is acceptable and what is not being conveyed to our kids. Some might say it is a good thing that the media are not taking our choices away and it is a parents responsibility to educate and monitor their children's listening habits but I have to confess it is a minefield. There is so much out there, how am I supposed to listen to and censor all music to ensure it is appropriate?

Nowadays songs cover all manner of topics and some of the lyrics and themes behind the songs are pretty appalling. I’m sure we are all aware of rap songs with lyrics which degrade women, promote gun culture and encourage drug taking but how does it now come to a point where one of the very mainstream commercial CD’s like ‘Now that’s what I call music’ contains songs like ‘Talk Dirty’ by Jason Derulo feat. 2 Chainz and ‘Blurred Lines’ by Robin Thicke?

So what is wrong with Blurred Lines you might ask?  I actually had this conversation with my husband and he said to me 'really listen to the words Michelle'. So I did and what did I hear? 'I know you want it'. 'You're an animal', 'You the hottest bitch in this place', 'Must want to get nasty' and wait for it this is the one that really upset me 'I'll give you something big enough to tear your ass in two'. Just imagine how this could pan out, I have two six year old girls who like to sing and dance, putting on little performances and would I want them to sing those lyrics?  No way and I'm sure you wouldn't want your kids to either.

I remember the first time we were all in the car after a school pick up and we played our new Now CD and Talk Dirty started. The first thing I noticed was the beat, it was good, very catchy and I wanted to tap my feet and listen more. Then all of a sudden I realised what I was listening to and also realised that in my body language I was promoting that my 6 and 10 year old children sing about sex and talking dirty specifically.  I think everyone would agree that is seriously not right. Since that first time that song has not been played again and I had to just tell the girls it contains rude words and JJ (at age 10) I was able to explain what talking dirty is. His reaction was one of disgust ‘why would someone write a song about that Mum? that’s disgusting, it should not be allowed on my CD’.

Of course there is nothing wrong with a bit of dirty talk between two consenting adults as part of their private enjoyment but why does it need to be in a song?  If it was in a movie it would be classified as at least a 12A and therein probably lies some of the problem, there really is no sort of corporate censorship of music today.

So I suppose we just have to do our best and censor what we can. I don’t want my kids to live in a bubble, I’m not trying to pretend that bad stuff does not happen, nor that people do have sex. I just want my children to remain children and not to sing about or even have to think too much about sex, drugs, drink, violence, rape, gangs or anything else that should have nothing to do with a healthy childhood. Surely that is not too much to ask, is it?

Go on, tell me your opinion and please share how you have successfully navigated this path with your older kids.

Thanks, Mich x

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Musical Reasons to be Cheerful (Year 3, week 4)

I'm always trying to think of different ways how I might express my Reasons to be Cheerful and this week I realised I had never done a musical edition, so here it is.

I have to tell you from the start that my taste in music is not that brilliant.  I do not have a great breath or depth of knowledge when it comes to music and particularly anything that is popular right now.  I am totally out of the loop.  I listen to Christian worship music 99% of the time, not because I'm brain washed but because I do really love it. The clarity and passion in the voices, the acoustic guitars and those drums, oh yes they take me to another place.

Songs can easily transport me back to another time and place, so I'll share with you a few songs that take me to very happy places -

First up, a bit of Paul Young - I'm 21 and not been with dh long, we both work as Assistant Managers in the same hotel in Eastbourne and after a (very) long shift we would lie in bed and listen to an album called 60s Soul, 90s Soul.  This is one of the songs that stands out for me.  I just played this and asked dh if he recalls this song and he remembered the same time as me, ahh I feel all warm.



Eric Clapton next, I'm not a fan in general, but this was the first dance at our wedding and dh sang it to me and as he is not the romantic type, it meant a lot.



Next I'm in 2006 and this wonderful song has just launched, within a few days I am struck with Bells Palsy and half my face paralyses for a few weeks. In the 6 weeks that followed I did a lot of thinking, praying and laying around listening to this song. Not so much a happy time but a very formative one.

 

Last I'll leave you with one of my favourite Christian songs, the words in this get me very time. I've just had a very enjoyable hour listening and singing along....

 


And now it is your turn, what is making you cheerful and grateful this week?

Why don't you join up with Reasons to be Cheerful this week? It is such a fabulous opportunity to stop and reflect on your life and to see the good in it. Have a read about what I believe and why #R2BC started, it has literally changed my life to have this weekly focus on what is good (or God) in life.  How easy is it to allow things to become doom and gloom?

There are an amazing group of people who join in with this linky, I call them my Cheerful gang and I am so grateful for each and every one of them. Some of them have been here since the very first post back in January 2011 and others just linked up for the first time last week but they all mean the world to me.

So if you want to join in, go for it.  We are a no rules kind of linky - you link up what you fancy (well as long as it is not just a blatant advert), a recipe, the simple things in life, photos, a story - whatever! Add in the blog hop code so people can travel around and then visit others and share the comment love.  I'll come and visit everyone who comments here at the weekend and do my bit....

Have a great week, Mich x

Musical Embarassement

I am laying myself bare here, more open that I have done for a long time! Today is one of those days when I say 'Hi my name is Michelle and I have crap taste in music!'.

The superb Kate at Kate Take 5 has a regular listography linky that she runs and I always have good intentions to join in but it never quite happens, but this week I am getting organised and playing along.  The challenge set is to reveal the first 5 albums I ever owned.

I have to say that my memory is fading a bit with age so I could not swear to you that the 5 I list were my first 5 but they are certainly ones that I owned as a young teenager on vinyl (of course, what else did you have when you were a child of the early 80's?)

1. Prince Charming by Adam and the Ants.  1981 and I would have been just 8 years old. I thought he was so cool and handsome with his make up stripes on his cheek.  I can recall doing the dance with my school friends on the field! .....'don't you ever, don't you ever....'.

2. Now that is what I call Music!  The original album. 1982. It is still in my parents loft and I often wonder to myself if it is worth anything! What classics were featured on here, I loved to boogie to Men at Work 'Down Under', KC and the Sunshine Band 'Give It Up' and Rock Steady Crew 'Hey, you the rock steady crew'. Ohh I loved a bit of cheese even very early on...

3. Cliff Richards, Daddys Home - 1981. This wasn't an album but my Dad bought me the single or at least that is my recollection of the events.  It is hard to think back 30 years you know!  This was 7" single and is the song that most makes me think of my Dad, along with another old Cliff favourite - Living Doll.  Do I like Cliff now? errr no sorry but it will always hold a special place in my heart for this reason.

4. Wham, Fantastic. 1983.  This has to be one album that I am not ashamed to have owned.  To have grown up at the time of Wham and Duran Duran was a massive privilege as far as I am concerned.  Who could not love the campness of George Michael and Andrew Ridgley. I had all the little pin badges - Choose life!, Relax, Go Go, etc.

5. and whilst Wham were great fun, it has to be said that I was a Duranie, they were my preference.  You could have given me Simon LeBon over the Wham boys any day.  Maybe I knew about George even then? So my last album of the big 5 was Arena by Duran, Duran, 1984 and I was the ripe old age of 11 years.  Just getting ready to start secondary school.

I will leave you to have a listen to this complete classic!  Enjoy...

Flashback Friday - Mich, Queen of Hip Hop?

There I was this afternoon minding my own business on Twitter when all of a sudden I got an email notification to say I had a new follower on Twitter (I so must turn those off, what a waste of virtual paper!) and my jaw dropped when it said Eric B and Rakim was following me. That may mean absolutely nothing to you but if like me, back in the late 1980's you were into the Hip Hop music scene and hung around with the a group of ‘beat boys’ that would mean fair bit! Recall the song Paid in Full? That was probably my favourite from them ‘This is a journey into sound…..’ I am humming away right now, much to dh’s annoyance.

I have no idea why I got a follow from them; maybe they are physic and knew that I used to love all this type of music. Oh come on, alright then I do actually still really like this kind of music. I am so old skool! I used to be there with my crew carrying a piece of lino around and a can of furniture polish, while one of the boys had the beat box. No I did not do all the dancing; I had no talent in that area. I was just there to support from the side-lines and get off with the boys! (Sorry Mum)

My memories from this time are pretty vivid; these really were my formative years from about age 13 – 16.

• you could find me wearing Adidas or Nike shiny satin zip up tracksuit top in the brightest colours possible, costing a small fortune and all the better if it was a rare one imported from the US!
• Nike trainers with fluorescent parts or wide laces
• Sasperilla Jeans
• Big gold hoop earrings
• Hair that was far too big, back combed fringes with a ton of hair spray!
• The boys spraying tags onto any surface they could find
•  A black leather belt with big gold buckle that said 'Sexy'.  Ohh yes I had the look!
• Breakdance the movie

So after this reminiscing I had to find you a photo and share as most people will not know this little nugget from my past. When I revealed before on a forum I was part of that I used to be into this type of thing, the women all pissed themselves. Apparently this does not fit with my wholesome image.



OMG, how much mascara Mich?  and that hair??

If I recall rightly, I was doing a 'dying fly!'

Linking up with Karin  at Cafe Bebe for the first time...

My life in Music

I read a blog post last week by the inspirational Mummy Nickie at Typecast. She challenged her readers to open their music library, put it on shuffle, press play and write down for every question, the song that's playing. I have been wanting to do this since and just trying to find the time and seeing as I am avoiding organising Friday nights quiz, what better time than to listen to some tunes!

Oh and one other thing - she reminds us, don't lie and try to pretend you're cool...just type it! I wasn't going to.......honest

So here is mine -

IF YOUR LIFE WAS A MOVIE WHAT WOULD THE SOUNDTRACK BE?

Opening Credits: Nothing compares to You, Sinead O'Connor

Waking Up: Where the streets have no name, Pet Shop Boys (yes this is dh's!)

First Day At School: Love plus one, Haircut 100

Falling In Love: Holy, Holy, Tim Hughes

Losing Virginity: One Love, Bob Marley (well that fits!!)

Fight Song: Wild World, Cat Stevens (I do not even know who he is - another of dh's!)

Breaking Up: I'll be missing you, 112 featuring Faith Evans (Gosh this song ricks!)

Prom: Love shine a light, Katrina and the waves (oh dear dh, were did your taste in music come from??)

Life: The only way is Up, Yazz

Mental Breakdown: Brown eyed girl, Van Morrison (with a breakdown? is that because my eyes are blue?)

Driving: I will Survive, Gloria Gaynor

Flashback: Hand in my pocket, Alanis Morissette

Getting Back Together: Mickey, Toni Basil (oh that so should of been my flashback tune, age 9ish flashing my knickers at school!)

Wedding: Now is the time, Delirious?

Birth of Child: We will rock you, Queen (well I did have twins the second time round!! lol)

Final Battle: Someday I'll be Saturday Night, Bon Jovi

Death Scene: We come to be with you today, Gareth Robinson (very appropriate, as the song is about being with Jesus)

Funeral Song: Things can only get better, Dream (another apt choice for me as a believer that the ultimate life is after death)

credits: The Timewarp, From the Rocky Horror Picture Show

Some funny and appropriate ones in there. I have got to have a good listen to some songs I have not heard in an age and a few I will be quite happy not to hear again. That is the problem with the itunes actually being dh's and I just tag on!

Why not have a go yourself?