Is the 4th of July a chance to celebrate all that is great about America or is it just time to overindulge on hot dogs and apple pie? That depends on who you talk to, and heck, many will take part in both.
When I started to think about what songs would work in a 4th of July workout mix, I was a little stumped, mainly because I just don’t care for modern patriotic songs. They just tend to be ham-fisted and goofy (“Iraq and Roll,” anyone?).
Since traditional patriotic songs don’t make the best workout music, I thought I would put together a list of song dedicated to various states (and cities) in the Union. Happy Fourth, and remember, it’s okay to indulge a little, just get back on your horse the next day: (more…)
Research has shown that listening to music while you exercise improves performance. As for me, I didn’t need research, I know from firsthand experience. I don’t know what I’d do without music while on the treadmill.
Music acts as a motivator, but it also distracts you from negative thoughts associated with fatigue or any insecurities or inadequacies that may creep up into your mind.
While I can be motivated by nearly any tempo if the music is right, research shows that fast paced music, ideally music with a BPM (Beats Per Minute) of between 120 and 140, is ideal for a cardio workout.
That pace also just so happens to be about what the average person’s heart rate is during a normal workout. (more…)
If you have ever seen a picture of the First Lady, you know that the woman is in great shape. You probably also know that Michelle Obama is an avid supporter of reducing childhood obesity in our nation through healthier eating and more active lifestyles. In fact, she launched a health-awareness campaign,Let’s Move!, last year, a campaign that aims to reduce or even eliminate our nation’s obesity epidemic in only one generation. Now, another famous celebrity is joining Michelle in an effort to create awareness for the campaign.
Famous singer Beyonce has released a new music video that encourages children to get up and move. The music video features Beyonce and a cafeteria full of kids who are dancing and having a really good time. Beyonce has remixed her song, “Get Me Bodied,” to create a dance workout video for kids. The song and video are both very lively and really fun to listen to; the goal is that dancing along with Beyonce will help them burn calories and avoid being overweight.
A few weeks back I put together a testosterone-fueled workout playlist that was a bit more for pumping iron than taking a stroll around the neighborhood. Now it’s time for the ladies.
You don’t need fist-through-a-wall intensity in your music to be inspired to workout. Here is a workout playlist from some of my all-time favorite female artists, who also just happen to rock. I’m a sucker for good singer-songwriters and a lot of stuff on the more melancholy side, but they won’t due when we need to get the blood pumping.
I put this list together off the top of my head, so I’m sure I’ll be kicking myself for forgetting someone, but here we go… (more…)
Few people leave Biggest Loser with as little drama as Jennifer Jacobs did in season 11’s week 13. With a weight loss of zero, and one of only two people on her team (lead by trainer Brett Hoebel), Jennifer was automatically eliminated from the game. She changed team shirts six times this season, she guesses more than anyone else ever has, and said when it came time for her to go home she wanted to be “tested based on merit.” When that option arose last night, that’s how she exited.
We spoke to Jenn following her elimination, and she shared with us a desire to pursue a music career. “Music is a big part of my life,” she told us, and she made it clear that in the coming months we should expect to see an album. She also told us about the new person she’s become thanks to her time at Biggest Loser. The outside now matches how she feels on the inside. Hear our entire interview now, and read on to learn more about Jenn’s journey.
Imagine getting a second chance at life, how would you use the rare opportunity? It’s something that doesn’t come along for too many people, but it did for Hilary Williams. Hilary’s the author of Sign of Life, a new memoir in which she shares the harrowing tale of her near-death experience after a near-fatal car crash with her sister on the way to their maternal grandfather’s funeral. Hilary rose from the rubble of that wreck to undergo 23 surgeries to repair her broken body. Told she’d be in a wheelchair or on a cane the rest of her life, Hilary refused to let that be her fate. Today, she’s working on building her music career (Download Hilary’s singleSign of Life from iTunes).
The story will give you goosebumps, and you’ll laugh and cry along with this endearing young woman as she regains her life. While her story is a rare one few people will identify with, it is a human story of strength, resilience and perseverance that all of us should identify with.
In our new series “Fit in Five,” Hilary answers five questions.
Was it a therapeutic experience to share your story?
“It was good for me to get it out on paper and then move on.”
What motivated you to keep with it and persevere?
“I didn’t want to be stuck in a wheel chair the rest of my life. I wanted to sing and get back on the stage. I just kept that in mind.”
Favorite healthy food?
Protein shakes – chocolate powder, kale, and fruit. “You can’t taste it when you mix with the fruit.” And almond butter.
Favorite guilty pleasure?
“Pizza. Jet’s Pizza in Nashville, really deep dish and really fattening.” She likes cheese and pepperoni or vegetable.
Win a copy of Sign of Life! Leave a comment telling us how you’ve persevered through your toughest struggle. We’ll choose one winner March 31, 2024.
DISCLAIMER: Only residents of the U.S. are eligible to win. DietsInReview.com will draw one winner March 31, 2024 and will notify winner via the email used in the comment form. Winner has five business days to respond and claim prize or forfeit prize. DietsInReview.com is not responsible for lost or stolen packages, nor failed shipments due to user providing incorrect address. DietsInReview.com may replace the prize with one of equal value if prize is not available. Prize value is $24.00; not redeemable for cash.
Okay guys and gals, it’s the first week of the new year, and that means it’s time to put up or shut up. That’s right, you’ve made your fitness resolutions, now it’s time to act on those promises to yourself.
Now that the holiday food should be long gone, let’s start thinking about better eating habits and how to get in consistent solid cardio workouts. One of the keys to making real long-lasting changes in your life is positive thinking. Most people won’t get through February with their New Year’s resolution, but you can buck that trend with some positive imagery and positive thoughts.
Here is a collection of songs to inspire you in your early 2024 New Year’s resolution to get in shape: (more…)
The holidays are upon us. While exercise is probably the furthest thing from your mind these days, it’s still a good idea to try to get at least a little exercise in. Otherwise, you may be looking down at the scale on January 1 with an intense sense of dread.
You know you are going to be making New Year’s resolutions in about two weeks, so why not get a head start? You can stay in the holiday spirit while you sweat. Just take along a Christmas workout playlist that gets the blood flowing.
Making a holiday album or contributing a track to a holiday compilation is just about as big of a tradition in the music world as hanging stockings and grandma’s banana nut bread. Here are some of my favorites and a few I’ve discovered while making this playlist. Happy holidays!
Gym Music Playlist of the Week: Christmas Workout Mix
It’s never too late to start exercising. While it’s perfectly safe for most seniors to stay active, there are some challenges, including coordination and balance. Music may be all it takes to remedy that. Not just any music, however – piano music.
According to new research published in the Archives of Internal Medicine, combining piano-based music with exercise may help improve balance in the elderly.
“Each year, one-third of the population 65 years and older experiences at least one fall, and half of those fall repeatedly,” says Andrea Trombetti, MD, lead researcher of University Hospitals and Faculty of Medicine of Geneva, Switzerland. “Exercise can counteract key risk factors for falls, such as poor balance, and consequently reduce risk of falling in elderly community-dwelling individuals.” (more…)
Chicago mom and award winning lyricist Lori Cook was alarmed when she realized the skyrocketing figures for childhood obesity were not declining. She decided to use her creative skills to promote healthy eating habits and exercise to the nation’s children. Her endeavor, called Groovin’ Groceries Children’s Wellness Adventure, is a CD full of music geared towards the younger set. This interactive wellness program is based on the 2024 USDA Food Pyramid recommendations and endorsed by a pediatric dietitian. The CD contains songs that encourage children to sing and dance their way through lessons on the food pyramid.
Written by Grammy award winning artists, the songs contain messages about specific food benefits, recommendations for healthy diet choices and daily exercise. Recent research has indicated the most children in America do not get enough daily exercise. With this musical set, kids are encouraged to get up and move to the rhythms of reggae, R&B, country and disco. The CD also comes with place mats, sticker charts and print materials that encourage grocery store scavenger hunts. (more…)
Halloween has come and gone, and maybe you’ve snagged a little – okay a lot – of your child’s candy for yourself. Before you know it Thanksgiving will be here and you’ll have another couple days of overindulging. Let’s try to counter some of the inevitable holiday dietary mishaps with some regular cardio workouts.
This week, I’ve put together a classic rock workout mix. But what sets these songs apart is that they all have one thing in common: a groove. There are many things in a song that can inspire me. Maybe it’s the lyrics, or the energy of the band. But sometimes, if the rhythm section locks in and chugs along at a steady pace, I get lost in it. And before you know it your 30+ minute walk or run is over.
So, get ready to lock into the groove and burn some calories!
Gym Music Playlist of the Week: Classic Rock with a Groove (more…)
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