Change up the music to jumpstart your workout

If your workouts are falling a little bit flat lately, one thing you can try is to change up the music play list on your IPod, MP3 player or stereo. Or, if you don’t listen to music much in the first place when working out, give it a try.
Either way, a good, new beat could really get you jumping again.
Pick songs based on what you’re trying to accomplish and what will get you in the right mood to do it. If you already know by heart the order songs will come up on your Ipod or MP3 player, it might be time for a change.

If you’re going for a long jaunt on the treadmill or elliptical, or a run outside, then lots of kinds of music will do. Hard rock like Metallica, Kiss or Guns N’ Roses might do the trick, or maybe dance music, like Rihanna or Lady Gaga will get you going faster. If it’s rap that gets you moving, then download some Kanye West, P Diddy or go old school with the Beastie Boys.

If you’ve got a heavy day in the weight room, you might not want to feel like you’re at a dance club. Then get a hard rock beat going that will have you ready to squat or bench press to your max.

Here are some good ones to try below, but the best part is coming up with your own music play lists. Put some time into it, just like you research planning a menu or setting up a training program. Another idea is to trade music with friends and see if they have some tunes you can borrow. Or, keep a notepad by the radio or TV and write down the names of songs you hear that would be good to work out to so you don’t forget them.

My essential workout playlist

Guns and Roses “Welcome to the Jungle,” “Sweet Child of Mine.”

Metallica “Enter Sandman,” “For Whom the Bell Tolls”

AC/DC “Thunderstruck,” “Back in Black,” “Highway to Hell,” “Along Way to the Top”

Rolling Stones “Start Me Up,” “You Can’t Always Get What you Want.”

Kiss “Rock and Roll All Night”

Queen “We Will Rock You/We are the Champions”

Van Halen “Jump,” “Right Now”

Ozzy Osbourne “Crazy Train”

Foo Fighters “Learn to Fly”

And, of course, from “Rocky” …  Survivor “Eye of the Tiger”

 

For some newer rock and roll, try listening to The Killers