April Playlist: Spring into Fitness!

Happy April, everyone!  And happy SPRING!

Everything is in bloom where I am, so I'm trying to get outside as much as possible.  It's so beautiful!
My challenge for you is to exercise outside, wherever you are, whenever you get the chance.  If you live in a place where working out outside isn't feasible, try incorporating this season into your workouts by wearing spring-colored workout clothes!  Old Navy has some great, bright options.

So SPRING into FITNESS and start this warm-weather season off right.  Tis the season for leg-bearing shorts and dresses and tops that show off your shoulders and arms.  So don't just enjoy the benefits of exercise...enjoy them outside with this happy music!

1. Beat It - Michael Jackson
2. Good Girl - Carrie Underwood
3. Fat Bottom Girls - Queen
4. Brokenhearted - Karmin
5.  SuperGirl - Saving Jane
6. You Can't Start the Beat - Nikki Blonsky, Zac Efron, John Travolta, Elijah Kelley, Queen Latifah & Amanda Bynes (from Hairspray)
7. What Makes You Beautiful - One Direction
8. Mo Money Mo Problems - The Notorious B.I.G.

Interval Playlists: December

It's December 5th and that means we have a new playlist out for this month!

1. Upgrade U - Beyonce
2. Countdown - Beyonce
3. Get Me Bodied (Extended Mix) - Beyonce
4. Flat on the Floor - Carrie Underwood
5. The Show Goes On - Lupe Fiasco
6. Super Bass - Nicki Minaj
7. Waiting on a Saint - Hank Whitaker ( Click HERE for Hank's Music! )
8. King of Anything - Sara Bareilles
9. Can't Hold Us Down (feat. Lil' Kim) - Christina Aguilera
10. Dirrty - Christina Aguilera
11. Fighter - Christina Aguilera

I couldn't let Beyonce's songs out of circulation in this month's mix, so "Countdown" and "Get Me Bodied (Extended Mix)" are still here, but I've added Beyonce's "Upgrade U."  I'm not sure if they'll stay until January because I want to ensure I don't get tired of these songs!

Lupe Fiasco's "The Show Goes On" was love at first listen with me.  I actually first heard Lupe on The Colbert Report when he was the musical guest star and I was impressed.  I didn't expect to like his music but I think it's a perfect accompaniment to any running playlist.  Especially this song that is all about pushing through hard times.  That is why it is strategically placed in the middle of my playlist because the middle of my run is the hardest time to keep going!  There's waaay more motivation towards the beginning and the end!

The other songs in the middle of the playlist are just happy songs to me.  Nicki Minaj's "Super Bass" always puts me in a good mood, and Hank Whitaker's "Waiting on a Saint"is fabulous.  Hank is a songwriter in Hollywood and writes these songs for other people, not to perform them himself, but used to perform with his other bands.  His music is really catchy and will put a smile on your face. Plus, did I mention he's my big brother?? (A link to his music is up in the list of songs).


Lastly, Carrie Underwood's "Flat on the Floor" is a song that has been with me through many a workout since it came out in 2007.  It's just one of those powerful kick-butt songs, which may be a trend when you see that there are three similarly-messaged songs by Christina Aguilera.  Oh, so I guess the secret is out:  I really like diva voices.  They are strong and when I'm working out, strong is what I want to hear!  That's why I picked these three songs by Christina.  You can't sit still during something like "Can't Hold Us Down"!



Happy running!  For those of you starting exams, stay strong and get some workouts in during the chaos of finals!

Love,
Sarah

Interval Playlists: November!

I'm starting a new series in this blog about workout playlists.  This is the first installment.  When I listen to music as I workout, it's usually when I run or dance because I don't seem to need musical motivation while strength training.  However, music is always welcome for sit-ups, pushups, squats, or what have you :).

I keep my iTunes on shuffle on my computer.  This way I get to hear all of my music because I tend to forget I have some songs until they pop up randomly.  I think it's important to vary the music you exercise to, or you could quickly become bored with it.  Sometimes I like a song so much that I'll listen to it 2-3 times in a run, but I know better.  I'll get bored.  The next time I run and hear that song again, I'll probably slow down.  Seriously!  This happens!  If I really like a song, I'll run fast.  If I don't, I'll run slower...maybe even want to walk.  Long distance running is as much mental as it is physical, so you want music you're into so you keep going!!

This is why I'm creating this blog series:  Interval playlists.  They may be monthly or maybe even weekly depending on the music, but I want to share the music that gets me so amped during a run with you!  SO, here is my playlist for November!

Long story short:  Beyonce.  OMG.  I feel like I don't even have to say anything more.  Just close this page, go download all her music, and run out your front door.  She's so cool and aside from me wanting to be close friends with her, her music just makes me want to move.  Mostly it makes me want to dance, but I find that it's really odd to break out in dance in public, so I opt to run instead.  I keep the playlist on shuffle, too, as to eliminate any premature boredom with the playlist.  So the Beyonce songs make me feel empowered, as if I'm her or something, and make me want to run forever.  When I feel like stopping is usually when "Run The World (Girls)" sneaks on, telling me it'd be lame if I walked during that song, so I keep running.  The FOOTLOOSE songs make me want to dance too so it keeps you moving.  "Fake ID" reminds me of the new Footloose movie in the Honky Tonk where they do the dance that I so desperately want to learn (watching that scene is like, "I have red cowboy boots...I was born for this! LET ME DANCE").  Plus, that kind of music just makes me happy because of my Appalachian heritage ;).  You can't help but smile when you hear "Footloose" and "Let's Hear It For The Boy",  and J-Kwon's "Tipsy" is a throwback to like, 2004, which was a great year, so as far as I can see it, good year =  good memories = happiness = run faster.

1. Fake ID (Feat. Gretchen Wilson) - Big & Rich
2. Footloose - Kenny Loggins
3. Get Me Bodied - Beyonce
4. Check On It - Beyonce
5. Party  - Beyonce
6. Love On Top - Beyonce
7. Countdown - Beyonce
8. Run The World (Girls) - Beyonce
9. Tipsy (Radio Mix) - J-Kwon
10. Let's Hear It For The Boy - Deniece Williams

Add a few of these songs to your playlist and have a blast running to them!  Comment below and tell me what music you have on your playlists right now.