On the SECOND DAY OF FITNESS, FitMePink Blog gave to me...MUSIC HELPS SLIM THE HINEY!
That's right! I'm not sure we needed an official study to let us in on this secret, but it's official! This recent study found that people who cycled in sync with music needed 7% less oxygen than those who biked while just background music played.
If I'm going for a casual run, I actually don't mind running without music. Did any of you catch the quote in Bride Wars about iPods? If not, here it is:
"We can't run with an iPod because iPods are for people who
can't be alone with their own thoughts."
I love that quote! But I also sort of disagree! If I'm running a race, going on a long training run, or just need some extra motivation for a tough workout, I. NEED. MUSIC. And not just ANY music will do! Music really should actually be tailored to the workout itself.
Researchers suggest the following criteria for choosing a play list:
- strong, energizing rhythm
- positive lyrics having associations with movement
- rhythmic pattern matched to the movement pattern of the activity
- uplifting melodies and harmonies
- associations with sport, exercise, triumph, or overcoming adversity
- musical style or idiom suited to an athlete's taste or cultural upbringing
- choose tracks with different tempi to coincide with alternate low-, medium-, and high-intensity training
Blah, blah, blah. Great advice, but here's mine: Choose music you like that motivates you to work as hard as (or harder than) you plan on working! Here are a few of my playlist favorites:
- I Can Only Imagine (MercyMe) I love having this as my FIRST song in a race
- I Run For Life (Melissa Etheridge) Another must-have race song!
- Pork and Beans (Weezer)
- Single Ladies (Put a Ring On It) (Beyonce)
- Hot and Cold (Katy Perry)
- Irreplaceable (Beyonce)
- Jai Ho (A.R. Rahman)
- Unwritten (Natasha Bedingfield)
- I Gotta Feeling (Black Eyed Peas)
- Life Would Suck Without You (Kelly Clarkson)
- Party In The U.S.A. (Miley Cyrus)
- Lose Yourself (Eminem) Great for hill climbs!
- Before He Cheats (Carrie Underwood)
The list could go on. I get excited when each of those songs comes on...every time! So for your next workout, feel free to Pump Up The Jam! We all know it doesn't mean you're not comfortable with your own thoughts...you're just training efficiently! Woo hoo!
5 comments:
Wow...the 12 days of fitness are back. I'm glad your computer's working again so you can blog. Great post, by the way.
Hey Robin,
This is Carol(Kim's old roomate from Rick's)I am so sorry to bother you. My old computer crashed and I lost all the recipes from your "Healthy dinner contest" Whenever you get a chance, I would love it if you could send me those recipes again. I hope you guys are enjoying this holiday season and getting ready for Christmas.
Thanks so much!
Love,
Carol
I absolutely cannot workout without my ipod on cardio days, I am SO LOST and unmotivated without it!! I will have to try out your playlist, sounds like a good one!
A friend told me to check out your blog + I'm loving it. Thanks for all the tips + MOTIVATION! I especially like this post-- I bike + swim without music, but for running, it's a must have! I have about half your faves on my playlist + I'm definitely going to add the others now. Thank you!!
I LOVE all those songs. I need new music ASAP but especially before my next big race. I'm coming to you for more ideas.
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