© All rights reserved Keith Crovatt

Listening to upbeat vibrate music during an exercise workout is an excellent method for completing a set. Music downloaded to a MP3 player directs your thoughts and actions while in a gym or jogging outside. Your brain and body react to the tempo, the genre and the volume of music to the ears.

A group of discouraged workout clients were recently polled asking why they feel burned out trying to get back in shape. The most common answers received were boredom and lack of concentration to stay the course.

In the quest to provide the best environment for guests, the health club industry has invested heavily in flat screen TVs and wireless audio transmitters. What they failed to test was the medium. TV is still TV. Whether on a big screen or small screen, the shows have not changed. In fact, if you want a serious down mood, watch the local noon news. That will not get you pumped up to push harder!

In fact, my gym invested in a new wireless transmitter system for the six new flat screens. Guess what? I have never seen anyone actually hookup their headphones to the fitness equipment. Why? It is still TV.

If you choose not to listen to the daily tube antics, you soon find yourself spacing out. You can chat to your neighbor, or hum a song in your head. After awhile, you start to feel the pain of your arms or legs or both. Then you notice the sweat dripping constantly down your back.

You start to think about your body type. You may look around and ponder the bodies that are rock solid and fit. The self conscious voices may start to talk about your "looks". The result of this inner conflict is a slowing in intensity of the exercise. When will this be over? Maybe I will push the "cool down" button on the bike. No one will notice but me.

The secret, my friend, to a vigorous cardio workout that stays the course is positive, lively music. Think about the last time you were singing in the car, clapping your hands and swaying back and forth to a tune. Yes, we all do it hoping not to be seen! Your mental mood is much happier.

The invention of the small MP3 player has transformed the music industry. Now, a computer, the internet and the MP3 player create an on-demand library of virtually any type of music. Music from around the world is easily downloaded and stored.

I have a love for contemporary Christian music. The more drums and trumpets a song has the better. I will get online at night and within a few minutes download music of my choice, my genre, and my tempo for my workout.

After starting out with slower music to clear my mind of the day's events, I step it up to rock the elliptical machine! You will find yourself wanting to sing out loud because this is your favorite music.

What happens next is the miracle. You glance down at the computerized display on the cardio equipment. You are already one half of the way through your workout. This is the best time to ADD more minutes to the clock.

You also have not heard any moaning from your body. You hear no inner voices wanting you to stop. Your mood is incredibly positive. Some songs will actually have the same beat as the pedals on your feet. This is fantastic when it works. You are in the zone now.

After 10 songs are over, you have pedaled right through the cool down cycle and the clock has stopped counting. What a rush that creates. Will you contain yourself and not dance down the hall to the showers?

More than likely, you are reading this article on a computer. Download music from the many sites available for nominal cost. Our website's Blog has numerous links to great music download sites.

In conclusion, skip the TV. You owe that to yourself. Do not allow the boredom and lack of concentration to derail your workout. Power up the MP3, load some great songs with fast beats. Mix up the music tempo if you are moving from one set of equipment to another. It is now OK to sing back to the showers!