Surprising Factors Influencing Your Fitness

All workouts are not created equal. From the weather to your well-being, there are many factors besides the actual choice of cardio that effect the efficiency of your workout. Sights, smells, and sounds can all play a part in your willingness and willpower to complete a workout. So what helps and what hinders? Check it out:

Music:
Clearly we have all experienced the energy burst attained by listening to a favorite pop song. But do you know what it is about a song that "gets your motor runnin?"

According to this New York Times article, songs with a BMP (beat per minute) similar to the the heart rate level you wish to be attain, will up your endurance. During a moderate jog your heart rate will be between 140-160, so a song like Beyonce's "Sweet Dreams" (162 BPM), is perfect. For a slower jog try Lady Gaga's "Bad Romance" (118 BPM). And for a steady paced uphill hike, turn to Riri's new hit "Run This Town" (98 BPM). You can check your favorite song's BPM at Jam Glue to create the perfect playlist.

Appearance:
Many people are afraid to head to the gym in the first place because they dread the thought of having others judge their performance or physique.

"People who generally do not believe they are physically attractive (e.g., hold negative views about their body shape and weight)...will tend to experience social anxiety when they believe others are evaluating their physique."(Research Quarterly For Exercise and Sport)

Stave off an anxious attitude by heading to the gym in style. Nike has a cute, affordable line of running shorts that always get me in the mood to move. Finish Line.com

Smell:
Right off the bat you can assume that an overwhelming aroma of perspiration from the guy on the machine next to you, would illicit a negative association to exercise. But surprisingly, some scents can significantly up your ability to excel. According to this study by the Sense of Smell Institute, Peppermint improves overall performance.

"High levels of Peppermint use were associated with self-reported increases in motivation, energy, speed, alertness, reaction time, confidence, and strength," it states. "Levels of fatigue and frustration were lower."

These benefits were found in all tests of peppermint including both inhalation and consumption.

So how can you reap the rewards of Peppermint? Try sucking on the candy during your cardio, or dabbing some scented oil on your neck/wrists before a run. You can also pick up some Peppermint ChapStick at your local drugstore.