How Real World People Lose Weight: Johnny Cash Returns!

You know, the nice thing about being in a loosely structured class like circuit training is that there's a lot of opportunity for fun, and I'm very blessed to have a trainer like Ryion Butcher who is all about making it fun.

Now, music is a big factor in working out.  It can drive you to push harder or it can slow you down.  Sometimes, it can drive you away.  Some of us older crowd have issues with the angry rap or the pop music.  when it's a big group, we make some compromises, usually good-natured mocking or "Ryion, please skip that song!" variety (and usually we all agree on those).  One gentleman, Bill, who is an absolute riot anyway, has been for a month saying "We need Johnny Cash!" and everyone laughs it off.

Last Tuesday, however, it was just him and me, so when he suggested Johnny, I wholeheartedly agreed.  After much laughing at us, Ryion found it on Pandora.  Burning Ring of Fire!  Ghost Riders in the Sky!  It was awesome.  These are the songs I grew up with, and I could still sing them all--or as much as I could sing, considering I was pushing level 8 on the treadmill.

Ryion has indulged us with Johnny and friends all week.  It was the most fun--and apparently, it bumped up my performance.  I lost another two pounds this week.

Wanna see me lose 10 pounds in 30 seconds?  It's all in how you hold yourself.

	15-Jan	22-Nov		total loss
weight	169	144		25 lb dec
body fat	38.5	33.2		5.3 dec
chest	38.7	34.7		4.0 dec
bust	41.1	37.7		3.4 dec
waist	39	32.9		6.1 dec
hips	42.8	37.7		5.1 dec
abs	42	37		5. dec
thigh	22	22		no change
calf	15	14.2		.8 dec
bicep	11.6	11.1		.5 dec
forearm	10	9.2		.8 dec
neck	15	13.7		1.3 dec
Total loss				27.3  inches

For those who never had the treat of hearing the Master of Country Music, here's "Walk the Line."

Songs of Circuit Torture

When I'm at home, I prefer quiet most of the time, unless I need something to pump my adrenalin, then I might rock out to some oldies stuff or put The Guild on Youtube.

However, I understand that part of the gym experience is the music.  Got to tell you, though, it's been an experience!

There are times when the base is heavy and the male singer is more screaming musically than singing, that I feel more like I'm in prison than the suburbs.  For some reason, I especially feel like this when I'm on my back doing presses on the medicine ball.  Maybe because I have 15 pound weights in each hand and am wearing black gloves.  Anyway, when songs like this come on, I usually ask for relief before I riot:

Some songs, I enjoy, but they just beg to be joked about.  Like this one.  Whenever I hear it, I think it's Stephen Hawkin's love song:

And I think I know why Harlem is shaking.  Their garbage disposals are all busted and growling.

Of course, the key to all of these is they have a beat.  Most of the folks working out actually prefer these songs to say, something like this:

Of course, that's the stuff I come home and listen to when I need to get the earworms out of my head before I commit self-righteous suicide.  Now, if you'll excuse me, I think I'll make a The Guild CD for Ryion to play while I work out.