It's fabulous that all the machines at the gym have televisions. But one can only watch so much Keeping up with the Kardashians and Millionaire Matchmaker before one has seen all the episodes.
The New Yorker is a little too intense for me to fully concentrate on while I'm working out (plus, there are too many words) and US Weekly is too much of a page-turner, which I can't handle when I'm on a machine.
I know. I have issues. But please help me. I need suggestions from you guys for music I should be listening to make me feel a little more motivated at the gym. I have almost 5,000 songs on my iPod, but I get bored easily. I constantly need new stuff to get me excited.
Since I get bored easily, all that typical workout music, I'm probably already bored by. A good beat is not enough. I have to be entertained on all different levels. Lyrics that get me thinking. Something that makes me want to dance. Just not anything I've heard a million times already.
What's keeping me entertained at the gym right now:
- Lots of Snow Patrol. I'm totally down with Snow Patrol because they have the best of everything. An amazingly fantastic sound and lyrics that make me listen closely and think about. And I'm not just talking "Chasing Cars" Snow Patrol. I'm talking, let's go way back and listen to all of their amazingness. Because it's all really, really good stuff. And it makes me NOT bored.
- Bryan Adams because duh, then I can picture him in my head and how adorable he is and that keeps me entertained for a while.
- Stuff that makes me feel like I'm in middle school like Cute is What We Aim For and Boys Like Girls (the lead singer did go to my high school), The Academy Is, etc. because it's fun.
- Lots of Jay-Z because it's perfect.
- Rascal Flatts because they always make me happy.
- Flight of the Conchords because it's funny.
- Seal, Enrique, Camera Obscura, Cooper, Modest Mouse, Minus the Bear, Young Love, The Ruse, and lots more.
Disclaimer: I'm being somewhat facetious. I really don't have that much of a problem working out. But seriously? It's so much more enjoyable when I'm listening to good music. So please, please, help me.
19 comments:
Dang, pretty much everything you had listed is what i would suggest. I listen to a lot of dance remixes of popular songs when I work out---I can't listen to anything slow or I won't keep going!
Maybe you should start listening to things that keep your mind off what you're doing, like comedy or showtunes? If you think this is a good suggestion (it's what I do), check out shows like Wicked, The Wedding Singer, The Last 5 Years, The Producers, The Full Monty, Rent, Spring Awakening, Spamalot, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels... I have a ton of stuff I could send you.
Also, musical comedy is great- Check out Stephen Lynch if you don't mind being slightly offended!!
book on tape?!
Um, hi, I'm weird and I have King of New York from Newsies on my running playlist. And for some reason, every time it comes on, I get a little extra pep in my step. I just LOVE that song!
I agree with you on this nearly 100%. It's why I can't listen to the typical work-out mixes (plus, I don't like electronic music, generally).
Hmmm. Based on your other choices, I'd recommend Kanye West, Paolo Nutini, The Strokes, and other indie bands (Rilo Kiley, Bright Eyes) that are big on lyrics and melody.
Or you could try getting comedians (ex. Dane Cook..?) on your iPod, or different podcasts (check iTunes for ones relevant to you)?
Ugh. Gym music. It hurts my ears. Often I bring one of my books to read while I'm on the bike or treadmill. I get sucked into that and the time passes quickly.
I have an iPod touch so I put TV shows I like or movies on it so I can watch it while I'm working out too.
As for music, I wouldn't know what to recommend because I don't listen to much at the gym.
I rarely listen to music when I run (I've weaned myself from it), but I like your typical workout-power music: Kanye, old Kelly Clarkson, Madonna, Justin Timberlake, etc...
I also don't have a car, so I think this subs in for my "sing in the car" music!
i lurve to run to kanye, kelly clarkson, aerosmith, u2 (my last mile of the marathon i skipped forward so i could end the race on beautiful day...even though i had already heard it about five times already.)
Someone already said it! Books on tape!
Yeah I seriously get bored at the gym too, it's so bad. But I started listening to some pop yesterday, like Britney, Hilary, Backstreet Boys, oh man. It was awesome, haha. I recommend a pop fest every now and then.
I am exactly the same way. I have a horrible relationship with the gym for this reason. I tend to listen to Ludacris, JayZ, Eminem, etc. And dance type music. Basically anything that i could potentially dance to.
I have a hard time with this too. TV usually helps but not nearly as much as actually being involved with a song, thinking about sex or imagining myself skinny in really fabulous outfits. Tried and true.
In terms of songs, I've been known to love some Maneater by Nelly Furtado, Kids by MGMT, a new guy called Atmosphere, also on the Jay-Z love and depending on how intense I'm feeling...Hide and Seek by Imogen Heap (SUPER intense) or Breathe In by Frou Frou (more soundtrack to my life-ish).
Anyhow, I'm going to go run now because Cape Cod in TWO WEEKS!!
I spent several hours updating my iPod yesterday, because the CD in my new car is, as yet, unconnected, I've been slowly going insane, and had to take my iPod on long drives. Well, any drives, really. So the music I used to thump around the park to (no gym for me - I like freezing my ass off where no one can see my love handles under several layers) is now driving music. Can you see how that doesn't motivate me any more?
So I just banged a whole heap of tryhard angry punk music I used to listen to in like, year 7, i.e Blink 182...and...
Shaggy. And the like. As totally embarrassing as it is, he makes me wanna shake my booty. When I'm listening to, say, Boom Shaka Laka or How Bizarre, I suddenly find my hips gyrating and a huge grin on my face.
I mentioned embarrassing, right?
Too funny... The thought of a treadmill bored me too... I've lost 15 lbs in 4 weeks with a good diet. I have a big poster that depicts a glass of wine and several wine bottles and just dream on about my crazy days working in a wine emporium in Santa Barbara and loving life and the men that came with the varietals. The high of working out these days is whats become of this crazy chick!
I'm the same way...without good music, I just focus on how much my lungs hurt, how my hair is coming out of the ponytail...not really the dedicated athlete I'd like to be!
My ipod secret is that I listen to 70s disco. It makes my happy, which counters all the huffing and puffing.
OK so here's what I got on mine. I warn thee, it's the most random mix in the world. It has to be because I'm training for that race in Sept. The mix works for me because it keeps me guessing during the many miles I continue to robotically run every day. I'm putting explanation points next to the artists who save my life when I feel like I'm dying or might already be dead.
The Arcade Fire
Belle & Sebastian
Bloc Party!
Ciara
Eminem
Gorillaz
Green Day
Imogen Heap
Justin Timberlake
The Killers!
Led Zeppelin
Missy Elliot
Mylo
No Doubt
The Postal Service (not really fast, but helps me think about things like life and work instead of the fact that I just ran two miles and maybe you should stop instead of keep going?)
Red Hot Chili Peppers
Slightly Stoopid!
Sublime
Tim Armstrong
311
I change up the mix every month or so.
With you being a Snow Patrol fan, I must recommend another Scottish band called Frightened Rabbit. Check 'em out here.
What about running along the Charles? I never really needed good beats to get me through my runs when I ran the loops along the river. It's so nice out there!
Map with mileage every bridge to bridge combo: http://www.bostonrunner.com/charles.htm
Treadmills are incredibly boring unless you figure a way to do something while you are on it. I have a treadmill desk and some days I am on it for 8 hours, never notice it but at the end of the day I walked 10 miles! TrekDesk is the best I have seen and you can see it at www.trekdesk.com. Would be much better in the winter months in Boston as well!
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