The Sweat-It-Out Soundtrack

Looking for a great workout after bariatric surgery in Michigan? Make a playlist!

From the primitive rhythms of cavemen to the harps of the ancient Egyptians and the dance halls, discos and dubstep of today, music has always been an important part of human culture. But in every society, music is never alone—those infectious rhythms have always been inseparably connected to dance.

This is because music has an unparalleled ability to get us moving. When an energetic song starts playing, our toes start tapping, our heads start bobbing and, if the moment and song are right, we may even feel irresistibly pulled to our feet to cut the rug with the best of them.

But music’s uses as a movement motivator go beyond your high school prom or ballroom dance class—putting together the right playlist can help you take every workout to the next level after bariatric surgery. Years of research have proven how well music boosts our mood and endurance during exercise. Creating a motivational playlist can help you power through a workout even when fatigued, helping you not only go further and faster, but enjoy it more, too.

It doesn’t matter what activity you’re using as a weight loss workout—a playlist with some pep can help you optimize every movement. Here are some tips on finding the perfect songs for your weight loss surgery soundtrack.

• Keep it quick. The very best songs for your workout playlist will be fast and rhythmic, with a great beat to match your strides or reps to. Coordinating your movements to music is a proven way to make exercise more efficient, but can also make you feel like you aren’t working as hard. The best tracks will have a fast tempo and driving beat, usually falling somewhere between 120 and 140 beats per minute (Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” is around 120 BPM; “Beat It” is around 140). To find the BPM of your favorite songs, check out songbpm.com or try a smartphone app like Cadence.
• Keep it familiar. Music often has such a strong effect on us because we associate it with events in our lives or feelings we had when we listened to a song before. Tracks you love and have listened to often will elicit the most positive emotional response, making them the very best choices for your playlist. Conversely, you might want to avoid any songs you associate with bad experiences or negative emotions.
• Keep it inspiring. Choosing a song with a powerful motivational message or lyrics that mean something to you can really boost your playlist’s impact. For a great example, look no further than the world’s most decorated Olympian. Michael Phelps famously listens to an inspiring, stimulating playlist of rap songs before Olympic events. Think of songs that have strong messages you can relate to, or tracks that make you feel like you can accomplish anything.

If you’re looking for a way to make the most of every workout, a playlist may be just what you need. Use these tips to start putting together the soundtrack to weight loss surgery success. Before you start dancing around too much, check with your bariatric surgeon to ensure you are ready to keep up with the beat.

What songs have helped you stay motivated after bariatric surgery? Share them with us in the comments below!