Can Music or TV Cure Bodybuilding Boredom? - written by Francesco A. Castano

Many bodybuilders who have been training for muscle mass realize that weight lifting workouts can become mentally difficult to withstand, especially during high volume cycles, and this emotional barrier causes some to forego the bodybuilding process before substantial results are achieved. Yet, there is a proven method that improves motivation, and can even inspire a bodybuilder to put forth far more effort than otherwise seems possible.

A wide range of individuals use music in their spare time to lift emotions when feeling less than stellar, and this is one of the most powerful weight lifting workout aids for enhancing focus. On the surface, it would seem that any background noise may in fact distract a bodybuilder from his weight training workout obligations, but this is not so, as the mind, when focusing on a weight training set without music, is more likely to begin repelling from the stress that is about to occur, while music can provide a welcome distraction from this reality, one that incredibly can cause a bodybuilder to hoist more weight and perform a set with greater intensity than is otherwise possible.

During times when I have selected music that I either have not heard for an extended period, or when hearing a newly discovered song that I find appealing, I've been able to approach the weights with a level of intensity and focus that has been impossible for me using any other technique. But doing so requires selecting a particular type of music, and this will differ depending on our own individual preferences. If you are not one who listens to music, load software such as Itunes on your computer and sample some free radio stations that play a variety of music (80s, 90s, current, rock, pop, etc), and see if you can find music that seemingly causes your blood to boil, and when you begin to experience an adrenalin surge because of a specific song, you know that this is ideal for a weight lifting workout, and should become a part of your arsenal.

In addition to music, I have started to alternate using songs with watching television programming as I execute my workout sessions, as I've found that a weight lifting routine which otherwise may seem redundant can become quite entertaining with the proper TV programming. I recommend recording programming you find enjoyable on video tape or DVR, and play them during your weight lifting workouts (training at home allows me with the luxury of doing so), as this technique can also distract you from weight lifting workout stress, and put you in a frame of mind where sustaining a 60-90 minute battle with weights becomes far more desirable.

I've never experienced the same motivational surge with television as I have when listening to my favorite songs, so the correct songs I feel have a far more positive emotional impact on a weight training workout, but TV, for me, provides another form of entertainment that can cause a bodybuilding workout session to seem far more sustainable than simply focusing on the sounds of weight smashing together for 60 minutes. With television, I particularly enjoy that time between sets is enjoyable, as opposed to contemplating the intensity necessary for the remaining bodybuilding workout session. I have even at times performed a hybrid, alternating between television and music during the same workout, playing songs as I execute a weight training set, while using television during breaks between sets, and this technique has also worked very well in diminishing negative emotional roadblocks that accompany weight lifting workouts.

Although many bodybuilders have already discovered the power of music to fuel weight lifting workouts, many do not spend ample time diversifying their music choices, as inevitably, regardless of how much inspiration a particular musical choice may offer, after frequent plays, the energizing impact will decline significantly, and those who select with the exact same group of several songs will soon no longer feel inspired. Therefore, searching for a wide range of music is necessary, as cycling through various songs will allow what now may seem old and no longer exciting a chance to renew its potency, and upon returning to your weight lifting workout sessions in several weeks, that identical song will enhance workout intensity once again. Make sure to choose sufficient music to cycle between songs over several months, as this keeps the choices interesting, and will enhance the positive distraction in your weight lifting workout sessions that will keep you consistent and fueled for success.