WWRC: Workout Wardrobe Rewards Challenge

Looking the part can be half the fun when working out. There is something motivating about putting on your black Nike dryfit shirt with your black Nike training pants, sliding into your black and white Nike Shox, and completing the outfit with your iPod nano attached to your arm by your black and white nano carrier. Now, if you could just pull yourself away from flexing in front of the mirror long enough to get a workout in, then you’d be really looking snazzy!
The truth is you do not need to add a new wardrobe just because you added a new lifestyle change. You don’t even need to match your clothes to your shoes or own an iPod. Instead, you should earn your new wardrobe. I’d rather see people working hard in their college t-shirts and cotton shirts, then see a poser who is dressed the part to a “T.”
Yes, earn the look. There is something exciting about getting a new pair of workout pants or running shoes and trying them out on the treadmill or taking them through a workout routine. I’d almost dare to compare it to middle school and the anxiety of when you picked out your first day back-to-school outfit. Now, I know this may sound silly to some of you, but don’t dismiss this suggestion until you try it!

Here is my workout wardrobe rewards challenge (wwrc) to you:

- Set a fitness or health challenge…ie: Complete a 5k in 1 month OR loose 5lbs in 1 month.
- Figure out the workout wardrobe reward before you start your challenge.
- Complete your challenge and reward yourself!
The wwrc also works good for presents for people you know that might be starting a lifestyle change in regards to health and fitness. This type of reward is one that keeps on giving, instead of a piece of cake or a night of drinking, both in which are divergent to your new lifestyle.

My challenge: Complete 8 weeks of hypertrophy strength training.
My reward: (Besides toned glutes and legs!!) A new Baby G training watch...yes!

Tunes to Tone by…

Whether it is the guitar intro to "Eye of a Tiger" or "Thunderstruck," there is something about those electric chords that get me PUMPED. I can be in a sluggish non-motivated mood, but I know once I hit play on one of my favorite jams, I get the super-power feeling to take on the world. That last statement might be overkill, however there is a direct link to how music plays a role in our motivation towards exercise. I will spare the dissertation on the science over the relationship between your cortex and music, but instead suggest to you a few beats that make my blood pump when it's time to hit the gym.

This Week's Top Played on my iPod:

“Beautiful Day” – U2
“Man in the Mirror” – Michael Jackson
“Wake the Sun” – The Matches
“Let’s Get it Started” – Black Eyed Peas
“The Distance” – Cake
“Sex on Fire” – Kings of Leon
“Burn it to the Ground” – Nickleback
“Black Betty” – Ram Jam
“Middle” – Jimmy Eat World
“Survivor” – Destiny’s Child

Helpful Hint: Changing up your playlist is almost as important as changing up your workout routine. The emotional connection you make with a song will stick with you each time you hear it. So when you start getting bored with a routine or need that extra push to get you through your workout, then change up your play list.