Tag: commercials

Music, rhythm, and workout inspiration!

Music, rhythm, and workout inspiration!

There are a few things about music that I absolutely LOVE:  1) It makes my workout go faster.  1, 2, 3 and you’re done in a flash!  2) It provides a great beat to ensure I keep up with my workout pace. 3) It helps me accomplish my goals through motivation.  These are 3 things that will help you throughout your workout.  Think of it as you + the music vs. your workout! 😉

Think of the world without music.  Now, think of your workout without music.  That would be something that is hard to consider for many of us because we use music to push us through our workout.  The music almost becomes one with us because we want something to focus on besides our actual workout.  Something that helps us become distracted and makes the workout go faster.

Another great thing about music is the beat it provides.  I love this because it helps me stay on pace and go faster even when I am getting tired.  It pushes me and challenges me so that I get through my entire workout and for that reason alone I think music is a perfect combination for working out.  I have noticed that I try to stay with the beat of the music during my workout.  Not that I actually “dance” throughout my interval training workout, but that I rhythmically do the exercises, staying in tune with the music.  It helps me keep pace, stay focused, and makes my workout more fun!  This is what makes music inspiration because it motivates and engages me during my workouts.

Music is a great way to make you happy, change your mood, and can help you accomplish your goals during your workout.  With music, you can train your mind and body to move with the rhythm of the music, making your workout more challenging and fun!  Further, music is a great way to help you accomplish your goals.  Remember that it is important to be happy with whatever you accomplish because that along with music will help you to keep pushing forward!  Music often makes you train harder so that you can pass your fitness and wellness goals.

If music isn’t your thing, try reading a book where you read 10 pages then run for 5 minutes, or some variation that works for you.  The same can work for those who watch tv while they workout. You can run during commercials and walk during the program.  Both options provide great interval training and that’s something that is great for your body.  Interval training has actually been shown to be more beneficial than strictly running or walking.

So, next time you head to the gym, go outside for a run, or start your workout, you may just want to throw your earphones in as well!  Happy skipping, moving, and working out to the music! 🙂

~jj

Drinking game?…How about a workout game instead?!

Drinking game?…How about a workout game instead?!

How about working out alongside your favorite show by playing an exercise game?  Would Olivia Pope or the deep story line of the show help motivate you to exercise?

I was watching GMA not long ago and one of the journalists said, “When Olivia on Scandal mentions the President of the United States it means 5 squats and 5 lunges” or consider the series Chuck and do an exercise when Chuck gets out of the car (after being told by Sarah and John Casey to stay in the car).  I think this is a great idea because you can stay focused on the story line of the show while still getting in a workout.  I have encouraged exercising during commercials in a previous post to prevent people from sitting for long periods of time without moving so this is just another exercise option!  (See Exercise during commercials.)

Working out sometimes seems like the most exhausting thing in the world, especially some days when you have little to no energy.  My suggestion is still to do some type of workout because a workout will help fuel you to stay up and get things done.  Exercise will help push you through the rest of the evening so rather than grabbing a snack or picking up takeout and then sitting on the couch for several hours watching tv, find a way to do some type of workout in the comfort of your home.  An at home workout option also helps encourage you to workout no matter what day of the week it is and prevents you from skipping a workout or making an excuse not to go to the gym!  It doesn’t have to be long, it doesn’t have to involve intense cardio exercises, but it does have to get your heart rate up, get your body moving, and help loosen up your muscles from the stress of the day, giving you a new sense of rejuvenation and relaxation before hitting your bed.  If you let yourself come home and veg on the couch or take a nap, you most likely will have trouble going to sleep, staying asleep, or getting a good night’s rest.  Hence, do some yoga poses (download a yoga app, hit up YouTube, or like me, find a picture that demonstrates 10-15 poses) and do those throughout the tv show you want to watch.  If yoga isn’t your thing, do as I suggested above and do lunges, jumping jacks, squats, low plank, high plank, sit-ups, crunches, etc. during the show when “specific” yet frequent occurrences/scenes take place.

If you don’t like the ideas above or you can’t even force yourself to do those types of exercises, consider a fitness ball ($15 or less) and do exercises on it.  There are simple exercises you can do on a fitness ball, one being sitting on it to practice your balance.  Further, you can do leg lifts, you can lift one leg for balance or lift both and hold your core to work your abs, you can also do push-ups with your legs balanced on the ball, etc.  In other words, you can vary the level and variety of exercises based on your fitness goals all while watching your favorite tv show!

So, next time you think about skipping your workout for the day, think about what you can do in the comfort of your own living room while watching your favorite show.  You will be glad you do something, even if it a light workout.  A light workout is better than no workout, which is why some days a workout at home may be just the thing to do!

~jj

Exercise during commercials or timeouts!

Exercise during commercials or timeouts!

Exercise during commercials or timeouts when you’re watching your favorite sports team!  I typically do something every 30 minutes.  For example, run in place, stretch, do some jumping jacks, pushups, crunches, squats, lunges, walk around your house a few times, etc.  If sitting in a chair, I might do 3 sets of 10 leg lifts.  You could do something like that or something that’s easier or harder depending on what your fitness goals are.  Also, you might consider other types of exercises that can be done with your legs or arms while laying on a bed or sitting on a couch.

~jj

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