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.

World by Five For Fighting: This is a great warmup song and it reminds me that I create the world around me. I love the lyrics of the chorus: What kind of world do you want? Think anything. Let’s start at the start. Build a masterpiece. Be careful what you wish for. History starts now…

Don’t Stop by Annie: Sometimes STARTING is the hardest part of my workout. Having a high energy song like this one that tells me to not stop, is very helpful. Plus the chorus sings, “Let’s go!” If I can keep running through this first song, it’s a lot easier to keep running through the whole workout.

Use It To Lose It by SkinnySongs: This week’s song from Skinny Songs sounded kind of lame to me when I first heard it. It sounded like it was trying too hard to be cool. The chorus, however, is so catchy that I found myself remembering it. “You’ve got to use it, babe, to lose it.” Now, I love the song when it comes up on iPod.

Suddenly I See by KT Tunstall: I love this song, because I want to be like the girl that KT is singing about. Plus, it’s written from the point of view of someone just like me, who wants to be the girl that everyone loves.

Live Like We’re Dying by Kris Allen: This song is on the radio every time I turn it on, so it’s hard to escape, but I still love it. It’s a great concept. I love this lyric, “We only got 86,400 seconds in a day to turn it all around or to throw it all away.” Spend your day wisely and spend a few of those seconds making your health better.

Shake That Bubble by Young and Divine: I want to be that “fly senorita” that all the guys want to see dance. Exercising every day is the best way to get to be that girl, so this song is a great motivator for me.

Hard by Rihanna: This is one of those bragging songs. I’m not really the kind of person who ever feels like she’s the “hottest b**ch in heels right here.” I’d like to be that person, so this song is good for me.

I Wanna Life by Goldfrapp: I am total fan of Alison Goldfrapp, so I bought the new album without previewing even one of the songs. After listening to it nonstop for the last week, this is my favorite song for working out. It makes me think about what I want from my life, plus the beat is great for running.

One Step Beyond by Madness: This is the perfect song for the end of my workout. At the beginning of the song, Captain Sensible is yelling at me, urging me to take “One Step Beyond!” I really kick up my workout and run a little harder when I hear his voice and end my workout strong.

Saved By Zero by The Fixx: I’ve talked before how the word “zero” is motivational to me because it urges me to try to get a little closer to size zero clothes. This a great cool down song after a hard workout.

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.

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.

Less Talk More Rokk by Freezepop: I love this song because of the title. I do A LOT of talking about weight loss and fitness just because I write here and I need a constant reminder that I need less talk and more ACTION. Plus, I love Guitar Hero and playing this song reminds me of the game.

I Like To Move It by Will.I.Am: This song was from the movie, Madagascar. If you haven’t seen the movie, then this song might not be as inspirational to you, but seeing all those meerkats dancing to this song made me want to get up and dance myself. I truly DO like to move it!

Destination Calabria by Alex Gaudino Feat. Crystal Waters: I love the lyrics to this song, “Follow me and lets go to the place where we belong and leave our troubles at home. Come with me we can go to a paradise of love and joy a – destination unknown!” I also like the sound of cheering in the background. Sometimes I pretend they’re cheering for me.

Thin! by SkinnySongs: This week’s song from the Skinny Songs album is a good reminder of all the things I need to do to be thin.

Working Overtime by New Order: Sometimes I let work get in the way of the things that I want. I especially don’t want to get to be like the person in this song, so it reminds me that I need to focus on my complete self.

I Can’t Stop by When In Rome: This song is great to listen to when you’re thinking of quitting your workout before it’s completed. The chorus keeps repeating “can’t stop” over and over. It keeps my feet pounding on the treadmill instead of pressing the stop button.

Walk Down by Kyau Vs. Albert: I love this song. It sounds pretty, has a good beat and encourages me to walk a little faster to “try and touch” the singer of the song.

Beautiful Day by U2: The version of this song on my playlist is a Paul Oakenfold remix that is much more upbeat and a great song to run to, but this one has the same lyrics and is just as positive. I like to listen to it toward the end of my workout because by then, I actually believe that it IS a beautiful day!

Wonderful Life by Gwen Stefani: This song is a good cool down song because it’s a little slower in tempo. Here’s the history behind this song: Gwen wasn’t the first lead singer of No Doubt. John Spence was the original lead singer of No Doubt and in 1987, he committed suicide, leaving the Gwen to pick up the pieces. This song is about John and how he should have stuck around for long enough for him to see the success that they achieved.

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.

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.

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.

Shining Light by Annie Lennox: This is a great warmup song. I like to think that maybe someone thinks this about me. I love the lyrics, “You are a force, you are a constant source, yeah you are a shining light.” When I’m starting my workout, I like to listen to this song to get me ready to work hard.

Move It Like This by Baha Men: This song is so fun that I just can’t help but run a little harder on the treadmill when I hear it. I know they are talking about dancing, but it makes me want to do better.

Everybody But Me by Lykke Li: This song reminds me how hard it can be to be fat and want to have fun with everyone, but you don’t. “Everybody’s dancing. I don’t want to. Everybody’s joking. I don’t want to. Everybody’s laughing. I don’t want to. Everybody but me.” Pushing past that anxiety has been the most helpful thing I’ve done for myself and my health.

Beautiful by Moby: If Lykke Li reminds me of how being fat can be, Moby wrote this song to make me feel beautiful. I prefer the Benni Benassi remix, but this one has the same lyrics and upbeat mood.

Working Overtime by New Order: This song reminds me that if I concentrate on work so much that I neglect myself that I’ll be like the guy in this song. It’s alright to take an hour a day to exercise. It’s worth it.

Think I’ll Go To Saks by SkinnySongs: I love this song. I’ve never been able to shop at the expensive stores like Saks or Neiman Marcus because those clothes just never came in my size. I love the idea of being able to try on the clothes in those stores, feel them fit me perfectly and just not buy them.

With Every Heartbeat – with Kleerup by Robyn: This song has a great beat to run to, but I really love the lyrics. “So I don’t look back/ Still I’m dying with every step I take/ But I don’t look back/ Just a little, little bit better” It doesn’t hurt that it has the word heartbeat in the lyrics, so it reminds me that it’s okay to hear my heart pump a little harder.

Movement In Still Life by Bt: “Dance to the beat! Shuffle my feet!” I don’t know why songs that tell me to dance get me running, but they work every time.

Don’t Give Up by Peter Gabriel and Kate Bush: This is a great cooldown song. I really like how she tells him to keep going, “Don’t give up because you have friends. Don’t give up, you’re not beaten yet. Don’t give up, I know you can make it good.”

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.

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.

Shake It by Metro Station: I got this song for free from iTunes. I know the verses have nothing to do with working out, but the chorus sings, “Sha-sha-sha-sha-shake it!” over and over! How could that song NOT be on my workout playlist?!

Hard Currency by Information Society: A couple of years ago, the New York Times had an article about how being overweight can cost you not only in insurance premiums and medical bills, but in lower wages: Extra Weight, Higher Costs – New York Times. For my BMI at the time, it estimated that I would save five thousand dollars a year if I just got to my goal weight. That’s why this song is on my workout playlist, to remind me that I will be $5000 richer when I get to my goal.

Your Body Is A Temple by Argonaut: This song was one of Mike’s and it came up on a shuffle play once. I immediately added it to my workout playlist. With a preacher yelling, “And the bible says that your body is the temple!” it was a shoe-in!

Skinny Jeans by SkinnySongs: This week’s song from the Skinny Songs album is about getting back to a thin weight. It doesn’t really talk to me because I’ve never been at goal in my adult life. I like the song, though!

Walk Away by Kelly Clarkson: This song is on the list because it has the phrase “Walk Away” in it. It’s a high energy song that gets me moving and I like to walk at 4.0 mph while hearing her telling me to keep walking.

Work 01 by Front 242: This song is mostly an instrumental song. Long before The Matrix made music like this popular, Front 242 was making me run. You’ll have to ignore the “another mutilated body” voice overs and just concentrate on the “Is this the kind of work you’d like to do” voiceovers instead.

Don’t Give Up by Chicane: All a good workout song needs is a fast beat and one good lyric. This song has “Don’t Give Up” and a beat that will get your feet moving!

A Little Less Conversation by Elvis vs JXL: I absolutely love this song. With lyrics like, “A little less conversation. A little more action,” it reminds me that I can’t just talk about exercising. I need to DO it!

Running by No Doubt: This is a great cool down song, but I also like listening to it when I’m running. The chorus says, “Running, running, as fast as I can. Do you think we’ll make it? We’re running, keep holding my hand, so we don’t get separated.”

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.

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.

Your Attention by Blue Man Group: This song is fast moving, so it’s great to run to. It also reminds me that I need to be present in the moment. “Your attention, please. Please yell if you are paying attention!” It just makes me want to yell!

Strong Enough by Cher: I know this song is about surviving a cheating no-good husband like Sony Bono, but she keeps saying that she’s strong enough. It’s like an anthem for all those people who want to stop working out as soon as they start. I like to think of the old me who didn’t want to exercise is the person who’s “gotta to go.”

Move Your Body by Eiffel 65: Before auto-tune became a pop music staple, Eiffel 65 released an entire album with it. I love this one because it makes me want to move, even if I’m sitting still. It works wonders when I’m feeling like quitting.

Salad Wrap by Sniper Twins: When I first discovered this song, I wrote about it here: Starling Fitness » Salad Wrap [Shake That Salad] by Sniper Twins. I love this song because it fools me into believing that it’s cool to eat salad.

Jump In The Pool by Friendly Fires: I have no idea where I heard about this song. I love the sound of the music. Just hearing them saying, “Jump in the… jump in the…” over and over makes me want to take big jumps on my treadmill.

Fergalicious by Fergie: I have this song in my workout playlist for ONE line in the song, “My body stay vicious, I be up in the gym, just workin’ on my fitness.” Just hearing that Fergie needs to workout to stay beautiful reminds me that I have to as well.

Move Your Feet by Junior Senior: This song can be a little repetitive, but it sure keeps my feet movin’! “Don’t stop the beat! Can’t control the feet! People in the street, come on everybody and move your feet!”

I’m A Hottie Now by SkinnySongs: This week’s selection from Skinny Songs is a great way to imagine how life will be when I get thin.

Dare To Be Stupid by Weird Al Yankovic: My love for Weird Al Yankovic is well known and one of the reasons is this song. Whenever I feel like exercise makes me look dumb (especially when I’m not doing well), this song reminds me that it’s okay to dare to be stupid.

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.

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.

You Can Always Be Number One (Sport Goofy Anthem) by Disney’s Splashdance: I talked about this song before, but right now this is the song that is number one on my playlist. I listen to it EVERY time I exercise because it keeps me from getting discouraged when I can’t do as much as I’d like. You can read more about it here: Starling Fitness » You Can Always Be Number One.

Bodyrock by Moby: This song has a strong beat, so it’s easy to run to. There aren’t many lyrics, but they get you moving, “Rock ya’all, no stop ya’ll, to the beat ya’all, the bodyrock ya’ll.”

Harder Better Faster Stronger by Daft Punk: I’ve talked about this song TWICE before: Starling Fitness » Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger and Starling Fitness » Hard Body Videos for Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger. This song was my powersong for a LONG time, so seeing it in my workout list is a no-brainer.

Move Any Mountain by The Shamen: This song is from a little-known band in the early Nineties that I have loved for a long time. It has a great beat to run to and with lyrics like, “I will not fail nor falter, I shall succeed. My perception is altered I do believe. Faith is so strong now nothing shall bar my way.” Ignore the white-guy rapping, and it’s a perfect song.

Work Hard by Depeche Mode: “You’ve got to work hard if you want anything at all.” With a message like that, it’s a wonder that this song isn’t my powersong.

Objects In The Mirror by SkinnySongs: I’ve talked about this album of songs TWICE before: Starling Fitness » SkinnySongs: Inspirational Music For Your Workouts and Starling Fitness » Redbook Finally Notices Skinny Songs. If you have trouble getting into the gym to exercise, this song will be your theme song.

Stronger by Britney Spears: It has become the sport of the media to make fun of Britney Spears, but they have forgotten why they noticed her in the first place. I love this song. Not only does the beat keep my feet moving on the treadmill, but the lyrics remind me that I’m stronger than I remember and I can keep going.

Work That Body by Rupaul: Rupaul has a television show called Drag Race and he’s riding high, but he has been around for a LONG time. I love this song from his album, Foxy Lady. It sounds very disco, but all that counting with the voices singing “Reach, Stretch, Push, Up” really keeps me going.

Everything You Know Is Wrong by Weird Al Yankovic: This song is kind of silly and verses sing about everything EXCEPT working out (unless you count the Almighty running past your room in heaven). The chorus, however, reminds me that sometimes I believe things that aren’t true. If I’m feeling like I can’t finish my workout, listening to this song is really good at showing me that I might be wrong.

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.