Nothing witty to put here. Just thought it was a funny picture...

If you are anything like me, you want to comletely seperate yourself from the world when you are getting psyched for a particularly tough workout. Sometimes I get really into my music and I start doing my moves all around the squat rack. I don’t care. Laugh if you want, I’m still squatting over 400 pounds ;P

So I though I’d share the top tracks in my mp3 player with you to give you an idea what’s going on in my head if you see me looking like I’m getting ready for a stage dive. I think you’ll be surprised what I listen to…

1. Rage Against The Machine:  Microphone Fiend

I thought noone could do this song better than Rakim (if you don’t know who Rakim is, you should be ashamed), but this always gets me good to go. I got past a major 2 week long sticking point on the bench press the first time I played it. Cop it ASAP

2. Pantera: Walk

This used to be my ring theme back in my pro-wrestling heyday.  This song never fails to get me pumped for training day. If you download it, resist the urge to punch someone in the face the first time you play it.

Audioslave: Cochise

This is what would happen if  you were to cross Rage Against The Machine with the lead singer from Soundgarden. Wait, that is Rage Against The Machine with Chris Cornell from Soundgarden. This is the first single from their debut album, and it never gets old. This song rocks, just like most of their stuff.

Da T.R.U.T.H.: Who am I?

If this Philadelphia MC did mainstream music, he’d be the next Jay-Z. The fact that he makes sick tracks like this that glorify God  gets him major respect points from me. I used to dismiss christian Hip Hop until I discovered this guy a few years ago, now it’s pretty much the only hip hop I listen to aside from anything by Jay-Z. Check it. You’ll see…

Jay-Z: Roc Boys

Off the “American Gangster” album, this song just makes me want to move. I love the horns and the whole party vibe of the track. I have a lot of Jay-Z’s stuff on the ready, but some reason, this is the song that always makes it into the workout playlist rotation.

Every song from the first four “Rocky” movies

The training montages were the best parts of these movies, and still get me pumped up for training. These movies had a way of making the filthiest, nastiest, back alley gyms look like the place to train. they also make it look like you can train for about 2 weeks and be ready to fight a giant Russian boxer who beat your friend to death. Oh well, great music…

So there is just a sample of what’s currently on my workout mp3 playlist. what’s on yours? Is there something I HAVE to get? Let me know. Leave your comments below. I’ll listen to every track, and give a free 30 minute fitness phone consultation to the person that gives me the best song!

Have to see when things just aren't working...

 Sometimes you have to know when things just aren’t going your way, and take a break. I plan on competing in my second powerlifting meet July 17th, but things aren’t looking great for your ol’ buddy Chad. Today marks the third workout in a row where my strength has taken a reverse course, and I’ve left the gym dissappointed in my performance. So, it’s time for a well deserved break. For the next week, I’m not touching any heavy lifts. No heavy squat, bench pressing, or deadlifts. In giving my body a break from the hard training, I hope to come back more energetic, and on the path to power again. I’ll have about 4 weeks to train for the meet after this break, so I should see some decent progress. 

Enough about me, let’s talk about you. How often do you find yourself in the “stink”? That frustrating point at which all progress stops, and you find yourself just kind of going through the motions in your training? Times like these call for some intelligent decisions. When we hit that dreaded training “plateau”, we need to carefully examine what we are doing,  and what we can change to get the oven burning again. Does the volume need reduce? Does the volume need INCREASED? Do we need to lighten theweights, and do more reps? Do we need to INCREASE the weights and decrease the reps? Whatever the reason, it’s time to go back to the drawing board.

Don’t keep doing the same thing day in and day out if it isn’t moving you forward! Make the neccessary changes to keep seeing progress.

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