Starling Fitness: Daily writings on Fitness, Diet, and Health

For the next few weeks every Monday, I’ll share a playlist of songs that I have in my Workout Playlist on my iPhone. I’ll include clips to listen to, where you can buy them and why I have them in my list. Just so you know, I do get a portion of the sales of these songs from Amazon, so if you buy them, you’re helping me out.

Running by No Doubt: This is a great warmup song. It has a slow beat and it says the word running over and over, so it actually makes me want to start running. Plus, nothing beats Gwen Stefani at waking me up in the morning.

Time To Start by Blue Man Group: This song has the words, “It’s time to start” right at the beginning of the song, so I like to play it at the beginning of a workout when I need to run. It was even my powersong for a while. I love it when they say the Rock Concert Movements. It makes me want to jump and yell and bob my head to the music. “Ready Go!”

Around The World by Aqua: I love this song because she talks about cooking healthy food. A while back, I was adding my treadmill mileage up and imagining that I was running around the world, so the phrase, “around the world” means that to me as well.

Zero by Seven Red Seven: I know this song is supposed to be about someone who feels worthless, but it really doesn’t represent that to me. I might never get into a pair of size zero jeans, but I like to work toward that goal. With lyrics that say, “I am zero,” over and over, it helps me imagine myself thinner.

Shake Your Bon-Bon by Ricky Martin: I don’t care what anyone says. No one can shake their bon-bon like Ricky Martin. When I feel like I can’t run anymore, hearing this song puts a little kick in my step. Plus he says, “Go around the world in a day,” which reminds me of the miles that I’m racking up to go around the world.

Blowing’ You Off At 8 by SkinnySongs: This week’s SkinnySong is about a woman who has the best day of her life when she meets up with a past boyfriend who dumped her. He notices how hot she looks now and wants her back, but she doesn’t want anything to do with him. It’s the perfect revenge song for anyone who has been dumped because they’re too fat.

TiK ToK by Ke$ha: This is just a fun bit of fluff song that just makes me want to get up and move. It’s got a great beat and it talks about going out on the town. It says the words, “Don’t stop, make it pop!” so many times that I just can’t stop my workout!

Running Up That Hill by Placebo: Although not as run-worthy as the Kate Bush version from thirty years ago, this song is a great workout song, if only because it says, “running up that hill” so many times. I like to play it toward the end of my workout when I need to slow down, but keep on running. “It doesn’t hurt me!”

The Youth by MGMT: I like this song because of the lyrics, “The youth are starting to change, are you starting to change? Together, together, together, together!” I like to imagine all the changes that I’m making to myself and how they will help me be a better person. This is also a slower song that good for your cooldown.

Bandy Bandy by Zap Mama: This song is so mellow that it’s really only good for stretching at the end of your workout, but I love it because it urges me to “wave” my body. A bandy bandy is a type of cobra, so imagining my body like a lithe and agile snake is a great way for me to get my post-workout stretch done.

Listen to the clips for these songs. If you find just one song this week that motivates you to exercise, then buy it and make it your powersong when you’re working out this week. I bet you’ll find that you’re more willing to get your butt to the gym and your workouts are easier.