I’ve mentioned in a previous post that I have set my sites on winning the Podfitness National Challenge. Last week I received an email from Podfitness asking me to officially review their product on my weight loss site. I didn’t hesitate to say “Sure!” since I love what they do. And I thought my readers here might want to know about it too!
Podfitness is a website which allows you to mix your own music with workouts designed by well-known professional trainers. There are over eighty trainers to choose from as well as a variety of workout options. You select a trainer, select an exercise, select your music, and hit mix. In just a few minutes, your new custom workout is sitting in your iTunes, ready to be downloaded to your iPod! Coolness!
There are other options to be explored as well, which allow you an even greater degree of customization. You can set your workouts to “Home” or “Gym”, and tell Podfitness what equipment you have access to. I, for example, have hand weights, a stationary bike, a treadmill, and stairs. With those options checked, Podfitness “knows” what options to use in my workouts! There is also a dial for controlling workout intensity, and a feedback section where you can rate your workouts and tell Podfitness what exercises you don’t want to reappear in your workouts.
The best feature to me, hands down, is the ability to have workouts set to the music I love. I firmly belive that music is absolutely essential to a successful workout. Without it, I can’t go ten minutes! With it….who knows what can happen!
Recent research shows music, often used in healing, can actually affect brain wave patterns. It can definitely get one energized. Music can oftentimes put you in a more positive mood (often an outcome of exercise in general), which is also beneficial to your health. The more fast-paced the music is, the more adrenaline you might experience. ~Liz Noelcke, Sparkpeople
Of course, the music that motivates one person to exercise may not work for another. For example, I love working out to Rockapella! The beats are not superfast, but the harmonies are incredible and the beat makes me happy! I’ll keep pushing on through all sorts of tiredness because I want to hear the next song. I also enjoy sweating to high-energy Christian pop like the Newsboys. Someone else may prefer Metallica, or Bob Marley, or Sarah Brightman…who knows? The beauty of Podfitness is that you can have your workout with the music that works for you! The only caveat is that the software doesn’t work with music that you have downloaded through iTunes. (something to do with file format issues) However, if you burn your music to cd and then import it back into iTunes from the cd - it will work. Minor hassle, but worth it to get the perfect tunes for your workout!
Of course, having access to professional trainers is no small advantage either! The workouts I have downloaded from trainers like Kathy Smith, Kathy Kaehler, Michael George, and Chris Klughe have all pushed me and stretched me (literally) far beyond what I was doing on my own. After eight months of working out at home, I was getting a little complacent…and a LOT bored. Podfitness has fixed that. Having a friendly and encouraging voice in my ear telling me to up my intensity, tighten my abs, and push harder… It helps like you wouldn’t believe!
I hate to be bored…and Podfitness definitely fights boredom. I can mix up the music, change out the trainers, pick a new exercise… all with a few clicks while I drink my morning coffee! It’s awesome!
What else can I tell you? I really love this service! If they had a t-shirt, I would have bought one already! Even their customer service people are great. I’ve had to call a few times over minor issues, most related to my making sure I really was entered into the National Fitness Challenge - and the guys on the phone have been very pleasant and helpful. Oh - and speaking of the Challenge, it’s not too late to sign up! You have until April 29th to start your 12 week run for the prize!