I love to work out, it is one of my favorite things to do. I work out every day for over two hours. When I am going to workout I always make sure I bring my iPod. The iPod helps me to run because it makes it seem much quicker than it was, and is also very soothing. I also workout with my iPod. If I am lifting I will put the earplugs into my ear and the iPod into my pocket. That is the way I would play it (when I am running I hold it). The days I workout when I do not have pockets, well, I hold it while running but I do not listen to it while lifting because I have no where to put it. A few days ago I bought that new strap made for the iPod for when you are working out. If you do not know what it is, it has a case to put the iPod in and velcro (sp?) that straps around it so you can strap it around your arm. It makes it easier to use while working out so you do not have to hold it.
Okay, now that that is over, here is what I wanted to ask: When you are working out, what helps more? Music or focus? I have read articles that say completely different things, and both saying they are facts. One article said music helps to workout because it makes you workout for longer, makes working out easier, and just all-around helps. They said it was a fact. Another article said that focus helps more. It said if you focus on the certain muscle you are working out then it will help it to get bigger, and will make the workout more effective. It also said that music does not help and keeps you off focus, making the workout less effective and said that it would be a pretty useless workout. It said that this was a fact.
I have been researching these and they all say the same thing. Can anybody here who took a workout/muscle class, or anyone with any experience in these situations, or just anyone who knows the answer to this question please respond? Thank you.
ID:185547
 Jan 4 2006, 4:45 pm
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For running, music definatly helps take your mind off of the discomfort, thus allowing you to run longer and making it more enjoyable.
However I think it's more important to have focus in a workout, so while some music in the background may be alright, earbuds tend to make you focus more on that than the task at hand. | |
Its all in your head. Your muscle gets torn either way (thats how you build-up muscle) , whether you feel the burn or not.
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I stood in a very low, deep zenkutzu-dachi for like, ages. I played my gameboy so I would be distracted from the burning!
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I'm no expert, nor have I ever heard anything from any experts, but to me it seems that it shouldn't have any major effect either way... At least not physically...
As XzDoG points out below, exercise works by tearing your muscle fibers... Straining your muscles against resistance (weights, hydraulics, springs, etc) causes tiny rips to the muscles themselves... Muscle is then built when the body heals these tiny injuries... The body goes a bit further than necessary (to help guard against the damage in the future), and this adds more muscle mass... So, music or no, as long as you're causing the same amount of damage to your muscles, you will get the same effects... Now, here's where the music/focus thing might become a factor... Music helps to distract your mind from the pain of exercise... You'll be able to do more for longer... However, this same distraction might also cause you to not pay attention to which muscles you are flexing, and which way you are flexing them... So, if you're trying to work a certain specific group, by doing a certain specific movement that isolates/targets that group, you might end up drifting out of the proper movement if you're not paying careful attention... So, I suppose it really depends on what you're going for: If you're simply doing a general workout, working everything more or less evenly, and/or doing a broad range of exercises, music should be helpful... You'll be able to get a longer workout in... If you're looking to bulk up a specific muscle group, and you need to be doing a specific motion, music might end up causing you to lose out if you aren't paying attention to exactly how you're moving... | |
I'm fat, and we fat people usually dislike exercise. On the occasions I have run, I usually listen to music. It helps me run, otherwise I'm like: "why am I doing this again?"
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Another thing with me is that when I workout at the paticualrily intense periods of time, I find my self zoning out of the music and into the act.