TOP TEN WORKOUT SONGS FOR MARCH

I know the month is almost over, so this list seems a bit late. But i’ve been working out to this playlist and i’m so in love with it that I had to share it with you guys. They’re also some of my favorite Spring Break songs


10. Weightless - Natasha Bedingfield

Natasha is such an underrated pop artist. She writes all of her own music and her songs are always filled with uplifting messages. After a hard run, this is the song I like to unwind to. I breathe in deep, I close my eyes and think about how I awesome I am for running my heart out. I think about how far i’ve come in my journey and in a way, i feel weightless. 



9. Won’t Back Down (feat Pink) - Eminem

This song is my running song. Let me be more specific, this song is my, “crank the speed up to 9.0, run till my legs collapse, heart pounding out of my chest, beat my best mile time” song. 




8. Life Is Getting Better - Javier Colon

This song is a little cheesy, but I absolutely love it. Sometimes when I’m lifting weights, all I want is a cheesy inspirational pop song to keep me going when I want to give up. This song in particular reminds me of far i’ve come. Which is something I so desperately need to be reminded of when I’ve got so far to go.



7. So Good - B.o.B

This is good running song too. I know it’s 3:40 minutes long because when this track comes on, I challenge myself to run until the song is finished. 




6. Angel With A Shotgun - The Cab

I love how epic this songs sounds. The choir at the beginning reminds me of The Lion King and gets me pumped up. I usually start my runs off with this song. 



5. What Doesn’t Kill You (Stronger) - Kelly Clarkson

Dude, don’t even get me started on the crush i’ve had Kelly Clarkson since I was 14 years old. She’s got talent, she’s got curves and her songs are amazing to work out to. ugh… when I reach my goal weight, i’m gonna ask her to marry me, i swear it.



4. Dang Girl - Family Force 5

Not only is this a great workout song, but it’s been a perfect Spring Break song as well. When i’m working out and this song comes on, I remember “Dang, I gotta look good for the beach!” 



3. Sunrise - Childish Gambino

Every Childish Gambino song is a good workout song, but this is my favorite one. On the days that I wake up early and squeeze in a quick run before work, this is the song I play. It makes me think about who I was a year ago. A 340 pound kid, sleeping my life away! YET, here I am now working out endlessly to reach my goal. It just me proud of myself. 



2. Forever - Blessed By A Broken Heart

I never thought this song would be so high on my list, but I LOVE running to this song. The music consistently pushes me to run faster! The key change hits and I’m running on like an 8.0, mouthing the words to myself and air drumming! It’s one of those songs that makes me completely forget i’m working out. 


1. Some Nights -  fun.

Like most people, I’ve fallen head over heals in love with fun.’s new album, but this song is a stand out for me. Some Nights has become the soundtrack to my whole BE BRAVE Movement. It makes me reflect on all the crap I went through with Biggest Loser, the depression that followed shortly after and the road to redemption that i’m currently on. This song means something to me. It inspires me. It’s my anthem.

Do you guys have any good workout songs?? Share them with me! I love getting new music for the gym.

#bebrave

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How To Improve Your Running

I ran my fastest mile today! 13 minutes! Which I know isn’t that impressive, but what ev’s, I worked my ass off for that 13 minutes! I pushed myself harder than I ever have and it was totally worth it. I guess you could say I have a love/hate relationship with running. It’s my least favorite exercise but the one I’m always the most proud of.

So I came up with some quick RUNNING TIPS to help you if you’re trying to improve your running experience. I mean, i’m no professional, but i’ve been able to cut my mile time in half just from doing this stuff. 

1. EAT A GOOD MEAL -

My best runs have always been when I’ve eaten a healthy meal about 2 hours before hand. My body has time to digest the food and i’m filled with energy by the time I get to the treadmill.

Eating 10 minutes before I run does nothing for me! Even worst, not eating before running obliterates me! When I don’t eat, my mile times are pathetic! Without eating, I don’t have the energy to go 100%.

Food can make or break your run!

I mean, you wouldn’t go on a road trip without first filling your car up with gas, right? The same goes for your body.

Eat something! Eat well! and your running will drastically improve!

2. CARDIO FIRST -

I try to do 60% cardio and 40% strength training when I workout. I think that’s a pretty good balance for weight loss. 

My routine is always been to do my runs before my weights. Whenever I’ve done strength training first, it never ends well. My body will ache and beg me not to go hardcore on the treadmill. Honestly, who wants to start a run feeling sore?

My best workouts always come when I run first. It gets my heart pumping and sends a signal to my body that it’s time to get to work! Plus, it feels awesome to sit on a bench after running and just do some bicep curls. 

3. WEAR FITTED CLOTHES -

This one seems like a no brainier, but i’ve fallen victim to the comfy sweat pants trap one too many times! Wear clothes that fits! Don’t be the person pulling up their shorts during a run. Not only is it annoying as hell, but it takes your focus off of your workout.

Also, wearing clothes thats too tight can be really uncomfortable. You need to be able to breathe when you run! That’s kind of important. So dress comfortably and I promise it’ll improve your running. 

4. WORKOUT BUDDIES! -

The next time you go to the gym, take a friend with you! Make a friendly bet that the loser has to buy smoothies and then race your heart out! You’ll be surprised how a little friendly competition can improve your workout. 

5. GO HARD, BUT NOT THAT HARD - I can always tell when I push my body too hard. I feel abnormally weak afterwards and sometimes I’ll even get sick. 

Push yourself, go hard, but don’t go so hard that you make yourself sick! Sure you finished that mile faster than you ever have, but it’s not worth it if you’re too sick to finish you’re workout. 

6. SET THE RIGHT EXPECTATIONS - You probably won’t cut your mile time in half over night. You probably won’t be able to keep up with someone who’s in much better shape than you. Set the right expectations for yourself. Don’t go into the gym and say “I’m gonna run 18 miles in an hour today” because you’ll only bum yourself out if you don’t reach that goal. 

Make goals for yourself, but make them realistic. I swear, nothing feels better than hitting a goal you’ve made for yourself. Don’t make that fantastic feeling unattainable! 

7. MAKE A WORKOUT PLAYLIST -

This is probably THE MOST IMPORTANT RUNNING TIP I could give you!

I’m super duper cereal you guys, a strong playlist is an absolute must!

Music has the power to push you more than anything else! I know when I run, I need to have a strong beat blaring in my ears to keep my mind off of how hard my heart is pounding!!

I don’t care if you’re feeling tired or ugly or heartbroken, everyone has that one song that takes them to another place. A song that makes you forget you’re even working out. A song thats your anthem. 

Make a playlist full of anthem songs and you’ll notice the music pushing you through your miles!

—-

So those are just some tips that have helped me improve my running. Hopefully some of you can benefit from these tips as well. 

Also, If you guys have any advice for me, please feel free to comment! I still think of myself as fitness newbie and I need all the help I can get!

#bebrave 

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Feels Like Today - Rascal Flatts
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Track: Feels Like Today

Artist: Rascal Flatts

Album: Feels Like Today

Plays:

“I woke up this morning
With this feeling inside me that I can’t explain
Like a weight that I’ve carried
Been carried away”

#treadmilltracks

How The Story Ends - B.Reith
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Track: How The Story Ends

Artist: B.Reith

Album: How The Story Ends

Plays: 0

I often refer to my journey as a story. I’ve been doing that since I was a kid. In fact, one of the more annoying qualities I have, is an incisive knack for finding appropriate literary and television correlations for life.

I remember in high school I had this really dumb catch phrase “Do it for the show.” 

Which simply meant, MAKE LIFE INTERESTING.

If your life were a play, a movie or a television program, would you watch it?

To do something for the show was to make your life worth watching… carpe diem and all that jazz. 

But as I mature, i’m finding that life has a much deeper meaning when you refer to it as a story, because what you unintentionally do is admit that your story has an author. And if your story has an author, you can begin to trust that the future is already written and thus not needing of your excessive stress. 


The other day I drove to a gym that’s about 20 minutes way from my house. It was a cool night, so I rolled the windows down and opened my moon roof. I love doing this! I hardly ever get to because Florida’s so hot, but this night was perfect.

There’s something about resting my left hand outside my window and rolling my knuckles in the wind that makes me feel alive. 

I drove down a long country back road with my entire iPod on shuffle. Much to my surprise, a playlist of laid back inspiration songs formed without me ever skipping a track. 

At a red light, a strong gust of wind kissed me on my cheek and made me feel like I was on the right path.

It was… peaceful. 

I consider that peace the calm before my internal storm.

I parked my car and looked up at the sky through my moonroof. I felt an anxiety brewing inside of me that I haven’t felt in sometime.

You know in The Sixth Sense when they say you get really cold and the hairs on the back of your neck stand up when a ghost is near? Well, true to fashion, the ghost of my insecurities appeared in my passenger seat. 

For a while I just sat with him. The music played like a background score and he just sat there looking at me for almost a half an hour. I began to feel incapable of success. Like nothing I ever did would be good enough. Like there was really no point in trying.

I thought to myself “You know what, I’ve been working out everyday this week. My body deserves a rest.” Which is true! Your body does need rest, but I wasn’t leaving because I wanted a rest, I was leaving because I got scared. I once again, let my fear dictate my behavior and I was not happy about it.

As I reversed out of my parking spot and drove through the silent parking lot, a song began to play.

“How The Story Ends” is one of my favorite songs, if only because I relate to it so strongly. So as i’m driving through the parking lot, overcome with defeat, I hear a voice sing:

“Every great story that’s ever been told has a hero that would of been ordinary, except for he endured the impossible”

I feel like I saw those words slip out of my speakers. Those words were the words I used to live by and here I am too afraid to walk into a gym. What the hell was wrong with me? I know better than that. I know that I have to bare through this sucky second act if I want a happy ending. I know that I have what it takes to be successful at this. So why was I leaving? Why was I doubting myself? Why am I still afraid of ghost?

“Come on T, Do it for the Show”

The song climaxed and I immediately U-turned on the quite country back road. I sped back to my parking spot and literally leaped out of Honda Accord. 

I walked into that gym knowing that I’ve already done the hardest part! I walked inside! Anything I did from that point on would be a win for me.

ROCKED that gym for over an hour and walked out feeling like a champ. 

I can’t say that the perfect song will always come on and change my bad mood. I can’t say that inspiration will always find me. But what I do know is that every great story that’s ever been told has a hero that would of been ordinary, except for he endured the impossible.

We all have the ability to make our stories redemptive… we just have to want it bad enough! & I know as a certainty that the desire for greatness will get me through the horrible in-between period and lead me to an ending that’s better than I can imagine. 

Just be patient

it’ll all be worth it in the end. 

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“I know how the story ends

& it’s good

It’s good

So much better than the way it all began

Oh but, I know it gets rough in the middle

Swimming up a stream, surviving seems impossible

But I know

that’s what makes the end so good”

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Wait - Group 1 Crew
[Flash 9 is required to listen to audio.]

Track: Wait

Artist: Group 1 Crew

Album: Outta Space Love

Plays: 11

I got a feeling that somebody needs to hear this song

#treadmilltracks #valentinesday

The Show Goes On - Lupe Fiasco
[Flash 9 is required to listen to audio.]

Track: The Show Goes On

Artist: Lupe Fiasco

Album: Lasers

Plays: 5511

This was the very first song i listened to after The Biggest Loser told me I didn’t make the show. 

Of course the rejection made me upset, but I think I knew somewhere deep down that this wasn’t the end for me. 

So many times it felt like life wasn’t going according to plan, but actually it just wasn’t going according to my plan! Gods plan is bigger and better than mine ever could be. & I may not always understand it, but I faith the future will be better.

Typically, disappointment is a result of guessing the ending wrong. I thought “wow, this is my chance. This is my moment. My entire life was been building up to this. I was destined for this.” and I wasn’t. Biggest loser, like most of life’s disappointments, was just a learning experience to get me ready for something else. 

My imagination was limited. All of the hopes I had in biggest loser involved me mimicking someone else’s happy ending because i could not fathom my own original resolution. 

God is better than that. 

& while there are times that he’ll introduce new characters or story arcs that leave me feeling heartbroken, i have to understand that he has the foresight to understand the significance of every scene. That while I might rack my brain trying, I’ll never quite understand his intentions behind certain preconceved plot points.

AND THAT’S OK. 

I’ve accepted this.

I can either waste my time trying to figure out why God wrote a scene that left me distraught - OR I could hurry to the next act where things are sure to get better!

Call me delusional or naive, but in my heart I have to believe that there’s a reason for everything and that every scene of our story is intended to lead us towards a happily ever after. 

Things will go wrong but the show goes on. Don’t let the struggles of the past keep you from embracing the future, because it was designed specifically for you and it will be wonderful beyond description. 

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“So no matter what you been through, no matter what you into

No matter what you see when you look outside your window

Brown grass or green grass, picket fence or barbed wire

Never ever put them down, you just lift your arms higher

Raise ‘em ‘til your arms tired let ‘em know you here

That you struggling, surviving, that you gonna persevere

Yeah, ain’t nobody leaving, nobody going home

Even if they turn the lights out, the show is going on”

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#TreadmillTracks

Runnin' - D-Pryde
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Track: Runnin'

Artist: D-Pryde

Album: The Mars Mixtape

Plays: 363

Just Keep Running


#TreadmillTracks

Move Along - The All-American Rejects
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Track: Move Along

Artist: The All-American Rejects

Album: Move Along

Plays: 12713

#TreadmillTracks

Suddenly - TobyMac
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Track: Suddenly

Artist: TobyMac

Album: Portable Sounds

Plays: 10

Sometimes it’s in an instant

Sometimes we wait for years

But it comes down to the moment when faith eclipses fear.

Your wandering is over

The other side is real

You’ve broken through

Your mountain moved

And mercy is revealed

His mercy is revealed, yeah

Yesterday is long


#TreadmillTracks

Go - Boys Like Girls
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Track: Go

Artist: Boys Like Girls

Album: Love Drunk

Plays: 7696

“Little change of the heart, little light in the dark

Little hope that you just might find your way up out of here

‘Cause you’ve been hiding for days, wasted and wasting away

But I got a little hope, today you’ll face your fears”


#TreadmillTracks