Intro
What is the difference between people who get results in the gym and those that don’t? Obviously, lots of factors can come into play, however, the number 1 factor I believe is people who get results go into the gym with a mindset that they are going to war. They are going to war with themselves and they are able to push themselves to the limit day in and day out because of this mentality.
“The only way to be a champion is by going through these forced reps and the torture and pain. That’s why I call it the torture routine. Because its like forced torture. Torturing my body. What helps me is to think of this pain as pleasure. Pain makes me grow. Growing is what I want. Therefore for me, pain is pleasure. And so when I experience pain I’m in heaven. It’s great.” -Arnold Schwarzenegger
One of the best tools for putting yourself into a state of mind where pain is pleasure, where you can handle torture and love it, is music. I call this warrior mode. Having go-to songs that put into into warrior mode is critical to your success and getting a list of your best workout songs is a must.
Hopefully this post will expose you to some great music that will aid you into transforming into into the warrior mindset and get you ready for the gym like never before. Also, below I talk about why going into warrior mode is so critical when you’re looking to transform your body.
I’m going to continually update this so comment below and I’ll add your favorites songs for other people to see/hear. 
Best Workout Songs: Sam’s Current Favorites
Why is having a list of songs for going to war so important?
The causal factor for getting your body to change is shocking it to the point where hormonal signals are sent out that call for adaptation. In other words, the causal factor for getting a bigger chest isn’t “do 5 sets of bench press,” it’s shocking your body and tearing your muscles to the point that a signal is sent where your body responds something like “alert alert, the system is under extreme stress that cannot be handled with the current amount of muscle, adaptation is needed.” This comes from HOW you’re going about the workout (the effort you put forth), not necessarily what it is you’re doing. People love to over-complicate things with elaborate workout routines, rep schemes, etc. Non sense. Put yourself into warrior mode. Go until failure. Get your beastmode on. Bottom line.
When you start thinking of yourself as a warrior as soon as you step foot into the gym, or on the field, or where ever you work out you’ll find a shift happens. You’ll find yourself working harder, you’ll find yourself getting more out of your time, you’ll find yourself pushing yourself beyond what you thought you were capable of. This is called being effective. This is when you will be putting in the work and effort necessary to send the signals to your body to change/adapt. Do this day in and day out, and results are sure to ensue.
Best Workout Songs: Nico’s Favorites
Best Workout Songs: Aaron’s Favorites
Best Workout Songs: Tim’s Favorites
Best Workout Songs: akhan’s Favorites
Questions to ask yourself
When you workout do you act ‘as-if’ you are going to war? Are you competing with yourself with every rep, every set, every minute? Do you have the intensity and focus that you would have in a life or death situation? Are you pushing yourself to the max? Are you going to war with the opponent being yourself? If you answer positively to these questions, you’re on the right track.
Or conversely, are you piddling around? Are you going through the motions? Is your focus elsewhere? Are you kidding yourself? If you answer positively to these questions, you’re probably not going to see results from the gym. It’s that simple.
What are some of YOUR songs that put you into warrior mode? Comment below and I’ll update this post with them.
Great post. As a musician, this is huge for me. My workouts/training sessions feel so much weaker if I don’t have good music on…
Here are some of my favorite songs:
Enter Shikari – Solidarity (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q31kPXG28L8)
Skirllex – Scatta (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nw-YjVp_ibQ)
Skrillex – Hey Sexy Lady (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FMdXOqq3WL4)
Prodigy – Voodoo People (Pendulum Remix) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FMdXOqq3WL4)
And if I’m getting ready to fight/spar… Whitechapel – Possession (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s7JWBaTXtwQ)
Just a few…. my “Work out Mix” is always growing and changing.
Great songs Nico… I just added Enter Shikari to my playlist
Here’s a few fav’s:
A Day To Remember – Monument
Slipknot – Before I Forget
Three 6 Mafia vs. Tiesto – Feel It
T.I. vs. T.I.P. – Big Shit Poppin’
A Day To Remember – 2nd Sucks
Fort Minor – Remember the Name
Fort Minor – Remember My Name and Slipknot – Before I Forget…also on my list.
Slipknot – Psychosocial
Slipknot – Duality
Mudvayne – Dig
Eminem – Til I Collapse
Papa Roach – Last Resort (gets me in lift mode, not necessarily motivating meaning.)
Drowning Pool – Bodies
I have a whole website with nothing but workout songs. I entered it in the “website” field, so it won’t be considered spam, but you should check it out, maybe you’ll like it enough to make it live.
MY WARRIOR TRACK – 300 VIOLINS BY JORGE QUINTERO … ONLY TRACK AS GOOD AS LOSE YOURSELF !!
Looked that song up. I dig it alot!
Sam do you follow a consistent workout routine?
What do you mean specifically? I workout 4-6 days a week. I’m always changing things up though, the specifics are usually not consistent.
Like for legs would u always do squats , leg extensions etc. In the same order with the same rep scheme and same order that u do them every time?
No. I’m always switching it up. Leg day is leg day, but what I’m doing that day changes. My training is based around progressive overload and training to failure. There are many ways to progressively overload. Less rest between sets, heavier weight (failure sooner), more reps (failure after 15-20 reps), super-sets, tri-sets, drop sets, circuit sets, slower reps, explosive reps, more overall work volume, etc. Those are the ones off the top of my head. Basically anything that hurts like hell. Everytime i train I’ve got some variation of how I’m going to progressively overload.
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