I can’t necessarily say that I’ve struggled with weight all my life, it was really when I hit puberty when the pounds started to accumulate. Just because my priorities changed, you know, not playing outside or joining in sports, I had other interests… mainly boys and hanging out with my friends.  So it began. I supposed the older I got the more I realized how important it was to make some changes, I just wasn’t sure where to start.  About a year ago my closest friend, and personal trainer, helped me by making up a program for me. I basically do weight training and 20 minutes of cardio Monday, Wednesday and Friday and do some other type of cardio or exercise the rest of the week.  Right now I do 30-45 minutes of either Zumba, Turbo Jam, jogging or yoga.  I cut out most sweets, soda pop, junk food and deep fried foods (I do have my “cheat days” once in a while but I really don’t miss what I have cut out).  Amazingly enough, It’s now been almost 3 months and I’m still not tired or bored of it. In fact, I feel great and that is enough motivation for me to keep going.  I am “snacking” on the Xocai healthy chocolates which have helped A LOT in curving cravings for sweets and, since they are so full of antioxidants (three chocolate nuggets have as much as a pound of spinach). My transformation has begun, slowly but surely. I am already 3 inches (overall) smaller and 12 pounds lighter.

Ok… so the point of this story is really about my motivation. I find that I really cannot workout without music. Zumba is awesome since it’s really just dancing, Turbo Jam has great mixes, yoga I do with relaxing music and when I do cardio or jog it’s always with my trusty iPod. Now, jogging is not the easiest for me but I find that if I mix up my music it keeps me motivated enough to finish my 30-40 minute jog. I get bored easily though (short attention span) so I have to mix it up every week or two. I’m always looking for great music that has the best beat to keep up with my jog, I will post my music every time I change it so you can check out what keeps me pumped, of course, in keeping with the international theme of my blog, it will include music from all over the world and hope that if you come accross this list and want to recommend a song or two (or ten!) please do so. Like I said, I am always on the lookout for great music! You will see that the trend is music from movies I like, predominantly from martial arts or fighting movies. What can I say? I’m a nerd.

Power Mix - Week of August 31st (keeping it from 40 mins to an hour)

Run it – Chris Brown
Wo You Wo De Young – Fahrenheit (Taiwan, I don’t understand a word they’re saying [yet] but if you catch the video on YouTube you will understand my choice)
Rollin – Limp Bizkit
Best of the Best – Stubblefield and Hall (from the Best of the Best movie soundtrack)
Suda el Jamón – Debi Nova (Costa Rica)
Nookie – Limp Bizkit
Remember the Name – Fort Minor
Fight to Survive - Stan Bush (from the Bloodsport movie soundtrack)
You’re the Best Around – Joe Esposito (from the Karate Kid movie soundtrack)
Made – Jamie Scott (from the Step Up movie soundtrack)
Danger Zone – Kenny Loggins (from Top Gun… yes, that’s right!)
The Champion in Me – 3 Doors Down
You Can Do It – Ice Cube
Once In a Lifetime – Keith Urban (Australia – to cooldown/stretch)