A Fips guide to your workout playlist

So you made a commitment to work out and now you need something to distract yourself from the thoughts that run through your head the entire time you're working out (something along the lines of, "Hey, why don't we get off this treadmill, go home, eat a block of cheddar cheese, and watch The Golden Girls?").  You're in luck: FIPS has put together three work-out playlists that'll keep you focused on your workout, and not how comfortable your couch is.

Overzealous Treadmill Runner

You know this dbag.  He’s the culprit of the headache you get every Saturday morning because he’s running so hard and so far up on the machine that his feet are literally smacking up against the plastic on the front of the machine.  He’s a RUNNER, drenched in sweat, working hard, and he wants everyone to know it—even though more seasoned runners are gliding effortlessly on the machines next to him.  Here’s a list of trite running songs for this jerk (hey, how about you go to the park?  The pavement can take way more damage).  

1.     Run This Town—Jay-Z featuring Kanye West and Rhianna

2.     Born to Run—Bruce Springsteen

3.     Run-Around—Blues Traveler (remember John Popper?)

4.     Runnin’ Down a Dream—Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers

5.     Run to You—Whitney Houston (RIP)

6.     We Run This—Missy Elliot

7.     Life in the Fast Lane—The Eagles

8.     Fast Car—Tracey Chapman

9.     Bat Out of Hell—Meatloaf

10. Harder to Breathe—Maroon 5

Ripped Weight Lifter 

 Any trainer who is worth anything will tell you that it’s consistent weight training that will get you results faster than hours and hours of moderate cardio.  Moral of the story?  The people in sleeveless shirts and tiny, tiny shorts lifting really heavy weights and then dropping them obnoxiously on the floor have more figured out than the rest of us.  Here’s a list of songs to distract them while you’re staring at their rippling muscles. 

1.     Push It—Salt ‘n’ Peppa

2.     Bigger Than My Body—John Mayer

3.     Do Ya Think I’m Sexy?—Rod Stewart

4.     The Weight—Band

5.     Stronger—Kayne West (or, Stonger—Britney Spears)

6.     You Raise Me Up—Josh Groban

7.     He Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Brother—The Hollies

8.     Man in the Mirror—Michael Jackson

9.     Higher and Higher—Jackie Wilson

10. I’m Too Sexy—Right Said Fred 

Leisurely Bike Rider

Cycling can be a great way to get fit.  Look at Lance Armstrong.  Spinning class can be so intense that you feel high as you stumble out.  But guess what?  Leisurely pedaling a bike while reading a book or texting your friends probably isn’t doing what you’d hope it is.  Sure, you’ve ridden 5 miles when you’re done, but you’ve also burned about 100 calories.  Congrats, you’ve burned off that Michelob Ultra you had on Friday.  Too bad you drank another 700 of them!  At this point, you’d burn more calories eating a cheeseburger than you do on the stationary bike.  Here’s a list for your “work-out,” but you probably don’t even need music to pep yourself up, do you?

1.     Bicycle Race—Queen

2.     American Idiot—Green Day

3.     Dare You to Move—Switchfoot

4.     Easy Street—Annie (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)

5.     Last Resort—Papa Roach

6.     Never Gonna Give You Up—Rick Astley

7.     Nowhere to Run—Martha & the Vandellas

8.     Take it Easy—The Eagles

9.     Slowpoke—Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young

10. Wasting Time—Jack Johnson

For random thoughts sent out from the elliptical at NYSC, follow Amanda on Twitter @AmandaWaas.