Goodbye Pandora! My new workout motivator: Podcasts
Categories: Healthy Living
Happy Friday! I will not be getting down on Friday because today is a rest day 
and for some reason my body has been super duper tired. More than usual. I’m starting to think that I need mix up my workouts. I would love to do a fitness class at my gym but they’re scheduled either at 5:55 am (no, thank you) or 6 ish, and by the time I get to the gym at 4:30 I want to get in, get out and go home. So I bike, run and elliptical with the occasional lift when I’m feeling tough. I’ve also acquired a bad case of gym tunnel-vision so when I’m there I don’t want to talk to anyone and just live an hour in my La La land. My mantra: go hard then go home and play with my doggie, but today I rest and it’s just grand.
Sophie!
My new workout obsession? Podcasts. So long (for now) Pandora, I have found a new love to stream through my ear buds; don’t get me wrong, I love my tunes. Music makes everything better; however, does anyone else get so lost in their music that they are focusing MORE at the task at hand. You’re probably thinking, duh that’s the point, and yes this is fantastic at work and being productive but when I’m on the spin bike I don’t want to focus on my legs peddling for an hour. Music has always pumped me up but for some reason its become more of white noise than a motivating distraction. When I run, I don’t wanna know I’m running. Make sense? Probably not but it works for me.
So I’ve recently turned to podcasts to power my workouts and I LOVE THEM! I’ve been listening to Jillian Michael’s’ Podcast and I learn so much– it’s like I’m exercising my brain, too 
I’ll select an hour segment, start peddling, and before I know it I’m done with my workout with a new knowledge of nutritional yeast and fat-burning foods. I think it’s because I’m focusing more on what Jillian’s is saying than the lyrics when Pitbull’ is spitting booty rhymes. I’ve realized though that I have to really be genuinely interested in the podcast or I’ll just drone it out and focus on my burning thighs.
And not to be a nerd, but I’m learning so much! I downloaded the TUNEin app on my iPhone and it’s fab.
There are a ton of different categories of pod casts and radio stations to choose from that it’s almost overwhelming. Plus when I’m listening about fitness and nutrition. it’s almost a motivator in-itself without all the heart-pumping base music.
Recently I’ve been toying with the idea to train for and run a half-marathon because it’s (1) on my bucket list and (2) I really want to sport the 13.1 sticker on my car! It excites and terrifies me at the same time. I can be such a head case that I worry that I wouldn’t be able to mentally focus for 13.1 miles of pure shoe-to-pavement running (OH LOOK! A HOT AIR BALLOON, IS THAT A DONUT?). One of my best friends ran a half and full marathon and instead of music she listened to the Harry Potter books on CD. GENIUS. So I think my solution could be either be Mr. Harry Potter or a podcast– either fantastic choices.
Here are some other pod casts that I love:
I LOOOOVE podcasts! I started downloading and listening to them a bit over a year ago and they continue to be my primary entertainment during my commutes! Instead of sitting or standing and being miserable, I do some good quality learning! Every so often, I also put it on for my walk or run, and it definitely helps me forget what I’m doing. I should do it more often, actually. You’re very right.
I also listen to Jillian Michaels’ podcast, The Paleo Solution, and the Nutrition Diva. I also listen to Balanced Bites (also paleo-based, but by women who talk about the biology but also the psychology), and I used to do “Stuff You Should Know,” which was SO interesting (it’s exactly what it sounds like, by two hilarious guys), but at some point they stopped being 20 minutes and started being 5, which was too short for me to stay engaged, although I should try it. But I recommend downloading the old episodes! Lots to learn
I’m going to check out the others you recommended, too.Thanks!
Aren’t they great! I’m definitely going to try the ones you recommended. There’s so many that it’s overwhelming. I’ll pick one at random and give it about 3 minutes to see if it catches my interest, if not then I pick from million others. Not to sound like a nerd, but it’s a never ending amount of knowledge and I love being able to learn something new