What Do You Listen to While Exercising?

[grlNIN]

I made a playlist for when i get to the gym but i rarely find myself using it, aside from maybe 1 or 2 days. I know this has more to do with the T.V.s that are ever present and the fact that there's usually something good on but i need to break it up with some music to get me energized.

I typically mix in a lot of rap & punk with a little bit of older metal a la Iron Maiden. I just hear this kind of stuff and want to floor it on the treadmill and it just automatically gives me this kick ass and take names motivation.

So what does it for you? Do you guys have rotating playlists or listen to anything different or more specific?

[envirogator]

While running, I keep my playlist on shuffle and never skip to the next song...kind of a like a self-imposed punishment to keep going until the next song...When lifting typically just new songs that my wife and kids have downloaded...makes me feel younger somehow...

[cupcakelove]

I usually try to listen to my podcasts during a workout. They seem to pass the time quicker than music for me.

[Chigworthy]

My listening varies a lot. Sometimes I listen to old Ron and Fez from the file library (or elsewhere......), other times I plug into the TV audio thingy that my gym has and watch horrible network tv that infuriates me. When I listen to music, it is usually very experimental wierd stuff like Dissecting Table or Neurosis or anything in between.

[Tall_James]

I have about 2,500 songs on my iPod. I set it to shuffle and go. The only thing that sucks about that is that I put songs on there for my kids so I might be in the middle of a workout and something from "High School Musical" might show up right after the Black Crowes.

[grlNIN]

My boyfriend wants to invest in audio books and half of me thinks it would be cool but overall i feel like it might be too dull to listen to.

Has anyone ever tried this and like it or not liked it?

[King Hippos Bandaid]

I usually walk or jog with a friend, so we just talk sports girls and tv

when i walk with my wife we just talk about the day and stuff like that

[Chigworthy]

My boyfriend wants to invest in audio books and half of me thinks it would be cool but overall i feel like it might be too dull to listen to.

Has anyone ever tried this and like it or not liked it?

I actually tried listening to Kitchen Confidential (which I had already read twice) while working out, but I didn't like it. I have never really liked audiobooks to begin with, so I am biased.

[douchebagsean]

My boyfriend wants to invest in audio books and half of me thinks it would be cool but overall i feel like it might be too dull to listen to.

Has anyone ever tried this and like it or not liked it?

I personally find it difficult to work out to audio books, for me if the narrator is interesting in his or her interpretation or inflection in his/her voice, etc then ill give the audio book a listen to, but for me there arent many books i can work out with.

[grlNIN]

The idea of it alone just doesn't seem very stimulating and for me as a reader really takes away the pleasure of just reading and finishing the book. It really comes across as cheating in a way.

Last night i brought a book that i read not so successfully ont eh treadmill and the opposite while on a recumbent bike while listening to Tommy Boy.

[Chigworthy]

I really wish it was easier to read while exercising. I see people on the stationary bikes doing it successfully, but on the elliptical, the "shelf" to put your reading material on is just too far away for my eyes to read while moving around without giving myself an aneurism.

[grlNIN]

I would never dare on the elliptical. Even on the treadmill the light above wasn't so great and i didnt want to hold the book up to my face like im some smart POS that can't help but be an intellect at the gym.

Fortunately, i've been lucky to have some good movie on when i get to the gym. Over the weekend we watch Delirious and Raging Bull and last night Tommy Boy was on.

[JustJon]

For years, my workout album was Bad Religion - Stranger Than Fiction, but I got into podcasts last year and prefer listening to them while working out now because it distracts me from the working out better and makes it easier to get thru.

[drusilla]

at my gym each cardio machine has its own tv with a headphone jack so it just makes the workout fly by. i can't listen to music when i work out. i'm pretty sure i'm alone on that one, but it just bores the shit out of me. not even my normal head banging shit that you would think would pump you up. the tvs are the best thing ever. as for weights i usually go with nothing. i kinda got used to not having anything when i had my personal trainer, so i just count down for myself & keep on moving. for a while i was listening to the kid stay in the picture, but i found that i wasn't able to pay that much attention to it. so i don't think books are the best idea if you're scatterbrained like i am.

[HBox]

I'll listen to any music when I'm doing weights but when I'm on a cardio machine I take my PSP with me and stick it on a little ledge on the front of the machine and watch some Simpsons, Family Guy, Futurama, or Venture Brothers.

[Skellington]

Ministry or anything 140bpm and over. For cool downs i'd listen to Radiohead, then go home and pop open a beer and have a cigarette. My gym days were counterproductive.

[GonzoStyle]

i listen to mostly hip hop when i do cardio, I mainly stick to stuff that I can sing along to cause it helps with the boredom of spending 45 minutes on a machine. I get weird stares when I start singing too loud, especially if its something like "dead wrong" by biggie.

Guilty pleasure is my gay fixation on 70's disco divas. I will totally jack up my work out when either "hot stuff" by donna summer, "i will survive", or "lady marmalade" comes on my ipod. Yes I sing to those too, I just lack any shame filter.

[Freitag]

One of the best motivators in working out, especially with the monotony of riding a stationary bike or walking is listening to music.

So I figured all of us can suggest 10-20 songs that we listen to while working out to pump ourselves up.

This includes everything - don't try to mojo it and put songs that can be perceived as artistically uncool or unpopular - it's what gets you moving and maybe get other people moving as well.

My list:

Desire - U2
Breadfan - Metallica
Banditos - Refreshments
Superman Theme - John Ottman from "Superman Returns". (I like this arrangement a little better, it's faster with a better mix on the horns)

Battle Theme (from Flash Gordon) - Queen
99 Problems - Jay-Z
You Really Got Me - Van Halen
Dirty Deead Done Dirt Cheap - ACDC
Voodoo Chile - Jimi Hendrix
Fire Woman - The Cult
Walk - Pantera

What do you got?

[ahhdurr]

I've been trying to put together a mix to listen to that would be good tempo/motivational for hitting the heavy bag - so far I have

Cure for the Itch - Linkin Park
Shipping up to Boston - Dropkick Murphys
Breathe - Prodigy
Goin Down - Xecutioners
Name of the Game - Crystal Method (which is bad as fuck to hit the bag to)

I need more if anyone has suggestions.

[Marc with a c]

eye of the tiger. over and over and over.

[PhishHead]

eye of the tiger. over and over and over.

thats why you are so sexy

[grlNIN]

My Playlist right now:


Liz Phair-Never Said
Rancid-Radio and Time Bomb
Ghostface-Back Like That
Kanye West- Good Life and Stronger
Iron Maiden- Run to the Hills and Hollowed By Thy Name
Flogging Molly-Cruel Mistress and Devil's Dance Floor
Depeche Mode- Policy of Truth
Nirvana-Rape Me
Nelly Furtado- Promiscuous and ManEater
Choking Victim-Money and Suicide(A BEtter Way)
Social D- Bad Luck and Ball & Chain
Madonna- Like a Virgin
Lil' Scrappy- Oh Yeah(Work)
Rilo Kiley- Breakin' Up
Tiger Army- F.T.W. and Nocturnal

[Marc with a c]

thats why you are so sexy

you are so right.

[Thebazile78]

I either swim or attend classes at my gym, so I've never thought about this myself. The classes come complete with music but you can't exactly bring your iPod into the water, so I don't think of it.

Admittedly, it might be kind of neat to listen to something upbeat while swimming laps,- I think I would go with some Carmina Burana, Flight of the Valkyries, Night on Bald Mountain and Mozart for swimming; yeah, I'm a nerd. Deal.

The only tech-related thing I've considered for working out is the Nike shoe that GPS-tracks your route when you buy their shoes...you can get the gadget on Amazon and it synchs up with your iPod Nano to computerize all kinds of route, speed and mileage data so you can track your training better than trying to use a pedometer.

[grlNIN]

This question was brought up either last night or earlier today but do they make an mp3 player that can sustain in water?

Is it even possible? I said i wouldn't put it past it to be invented but logically i dont see how it'd work.

[Thebazile78]

This question was brought up either last night or earlier today but do they make an mp3 player that can sustain in water?

Is it even possible? I said i wouldn't put it past it to be invented but logically i dont see how it'd work.

It's possible, I'm sure, because there are dive-boxes for cameras, but I'd be curious to know the practical issues, like where the headphione wires go and how you'd attach the darn thing to your suit without having it interfere with your stroke.

[grlNIN]

Maybe run it up the interior of the suit?

When i work out i run the wire through my sports bra right to the side of my neck. This way when im in full action they stay just where they are and the chord is no longer than it needs to be to reach my ears.

[Thebazile78]

Maybe run it up the interior of the suit?

When i work out i run the wire through my sports bra right to the side of my neck. This way when im in full action they stay just where they are and the chord is no longer than it needs to be to reach my ears.

That's kind of hard with a standard Speedo . . . if it slipped I think I could be mistaken for a pre-op tranny.

[grlNIN]

Thr chord, not the player itself. I dont know where the mp3 player would go unless they built in a pocket on either side of the chest?

[TheMojoPin]

This way when im in full action

Dammit, this makes it sound like you go to Ninja-Gym. No fair.

[grlNIN]

SPYNGA Gym.

[TheMojoPin]

Double-dammit!

[Thebazile78]

Thr chord, not the player itself. I dont know where the mp3 player would go unless they built in a pocket on either side of the chest?

I could sew a pocket inside my suit, no problem, but the player and case would have to be no larger than the Shuffle. Anything bigger would get irritating after a few minutes.

With the player in place, running the cord through the suit wouldn't be a problem.

[grlNIN]

Let's set this plan in motion and make millions.

[GonzoStyle]

My Playlist right now:


Liz Phair-Never Said

Lil' Scrappy- Oh Yeah(Work)


so ghetto

Mines

Canibus - Genabis
Canibus - M-Sea-Cresy
Biggie - Niggas Bleed
Jay-Z - Blue Magic
Big L - All Black
50 Cent - Ayo Technology
Outkast - Bombs over Baghdad
Tribe Called Quest - Excursion
R. Kelly - Fiesta
Jay-Z - Where i'm from
Biggie - Just Playin
Biggie - Gimme the loot
Nas - NY State of Mind
Kanye - Barry Bonds
50 Cent - In da club
50 Cent - How to rob
50 Cent - Amusement Park
Justin Timberlake - My Love
House of Pain - Top o' the morning
G-Unit - G'd Up
Biggie - Warning
Elvis Presley - Viva Las Vegas
Donna Summer - hot stuff
Britney Spears - Ooh Ooh Baby
No Diggity - Blackstreet
T.I. - What you know?
T.I. - Top Back
2pac - Ambitions az a ridah
2pac - Hail Mary
Ace of Base - All that she wants
Yung Joc - Knock it out
Yung Joc - It's goin down
Slick Rick - Childrens Story
Rakim - Follow the leader
Rakim - Know the ledge
Kool G Rap - Brother on the run
Remy Ma - Bilingual
Gloria Gaynor - I will survive
Immortal Technique - Dance with the devil
Mobb Deep - Give it up fast

[Ritalin]

I'm constantly shifting my music around.

I have a playlist on my IPod called Run and Bike, and I drop whatever I think I would like to listen to and set it to shuffle. There's about 300 songs in there.

There is a definite documented correlation between listening to music with a faster beat and more effective cardio workouts. If you listen to music you will get a better workout than you will if you plug in and watch the tv, so try it. It's hard enough to get to the gym and on the machine to begin with, so you might as well maximize your time there.

(people who walk on the treadmill and talk on a cellphone drive me nuts. Why bother?)

[Marc with a c]

ace of base?

[Ritalin]

ace of base?

Bell Biv Devoe

[Tall_James]

This question was brought up either last night or earlier today but do they make an mp3 player that can sustain in water?

If they can make stylish jewelry for use in the water I'm sure they can come up with something.

http://www.myrtlebeachrestaurants.net/nonsense/speedo.jpg

[focal eccentric]

pretty much two requirements for my running music:

1) faster than my running pace
2) louder than my breathing

that seems to help.

[grlNIN]

I also don't know what type of headphones/earbuds you guys use but i recently bought a pair of Skull Candy earbuds and they are THE best things i have ever used.

I normally despise earbuds and they never fit or feel comfortable but these are simply amazing.

The best part is that they're a mere $14.99 at Target.

http://www.skullcandy.com/

[SPeeDy_Freak]

For my running on the treadmill, I listen o "The Rocky Story". It is a compilation of songs from the many Rocky movies and really pick me up when I work out.

[Bama]

I ditched my ipod about 6 months ago. It started feeling like a crutch. Whenever the battery died I felt like I couldn't go to the gym.

[Ritalin]

I ditched my ipod about 6 months ago. It started feeling like a crutch. Whenever the battery died I felt like I couldn't go to the gym.

I do that.

[TeeBone]

So what does it for you? Do you guys have rotating playlists or listen to anything different or more specific?

PHISH - anything from 1998.

[The Jays]

I need a beat when I exercise, I can't use music thats going to make me feel like I should be kicking ass. So, I listen to house mixes. Now that I have the Inno, I listen to BPM.

[Ritalin]

An article in the NYT about this subject, hot off the presses:

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/10/fashion/10fitness.html?th&emc=th

[Thebazile78]

An article in the NYT about this subject, hot off the presses:

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/10/fashion/10fitness.html?th&emc=th

I was just coming here to post that!

Between the science and the personal surveys, I found it really interesting.

[grlNIN]

That's pretty neat.

I always made the correlation between faster or catchier music to having a steadier workout. I guess the trick is really to arrange the playlist right because even now i have songs i get to and skip-which throws me off my pace.

I wonder what kind of B.P.M. most 70's disco songs have. I know they mentioned Abba and i eat that terrible music up with a huge spoon.

[Thebazile78]

That's pretty neat.

I always made the correlation between faster or catchier music to having a steadier workout. I guess the trick is really to arrange the playlist right because even now i have songs i get to and skip-which throws me off my pace.

I wonder what kind of B.P.M. most 70's disco songs have. I know they mentioned Abba and i eat that terrible music up with a huge spoon.

Disco = Dance Music

I think that something like "Fernando" or "Dancing Queen" would be slower than something like "It's Raining Men" or even "In the Navy" . . . or the queen-mother of all Omega Moo beltfests "I Will Survive" (true, it starts slow, but it picks things up quite nicely...I'd probably use it as a warm-up song, myself) . . . but since it's dance music, I think it would work if you arranged it right.

[grlNIN]

I'm going to download the Bee Gees when i get home and possibly investigate some 80's music. I know Duran Duran has some songs that would be good to workout to.

Now that i think of it, a n era-centricplay list would actually be pretty sweet.

Also, completely unrelated but the Karate Kid theme.

[Thebazile78]

I'm going to download the Bee Gees when i get home and possibly investigate some 80's music. I know Duran Duran has some songs that would be good to workout to.

Now that i think of it, a n era-centricplay list would actually be pretty sweet.

Also, completely unrelated but the Karate Kid theme.

I think that Hungry Like the Wolf is probably one of the best running tunes EVER.

[SPeeDy_Freak]

In addition to "The Rocky Story" Cd, I also listen to Billy Idol's Greatest Hits.

Lots of good up-beat songs there.

His cover of The Door's "LA Woman" is awesome.

[JohnWC]

Daft Punk - Discovery

Best album to run/work out to. Not something I would normally listen to but it really works.

[MHasegawa]

Xm 110, the classical channel. In some cases I have the tv on hockey or basketball at this point in time.

[Team_Ramrod]

I used to listen to some Beastie Boys.... Then I started listening to Free FM shows of R&F.

Now that my only excersize is jacking, I guess the only thing I listen to is the sound of my hand hitting my stomach.

[cougarjake13]

various heavy metal to get me pumped up

[grlNIN]

I listened to the Karate Kid theme about 7 times last night while running.

[ToddEVF]

I know that because I don't go to a gym and just work out at the house I can basically play anything. However those times that I did go to the gym my playlist consisted of Apoptygma Berserk, VNV Nation, Tech N9ne, and Funker Vogt.

Industrial seems to be easier for me to work out to. But oh well. . .

[SPeeDy_Freak]

I LOVE my XM Nexus radio,

Not only can I put my Rocky CD on it in MP# format, but I can record a channel for up to 12 hours for random music while working out.

It's is so much smaller than my iPod 30BB that I barely know it's there.

[GonzoStyle]

I listened to the Karate Kid theme about 7 times last night while running.

I love the rocky theme but not the fanfare theme, I love the theme "final bell" I think it is, whatever the theme is from rocky 2, with the bells intro, sounds a lot like the initial intro fanfare but much cooler.

Aside from my heavy hip hop rotation, I also love disco music for cardio, donna summer especially, abba, etc. For weights I like hard hip hop, especially just vicious or angry lyrics, like battle songs especially to get pumped, 2pac, Canibus and Eminem are optimal.

[GonzoStyle]

also the homosexual in me loves the new britney spears album, its so good.. I just cant help it!

[ryno1974]

I listen to R&F replays. I wish I could listen live, but y inno antenna is good for shit and unless I am standing in a corn field with it held over my head I cant get a decent signal.

Anyone know if antenna headphones are worth the money? Will they work inside the gym?

[SPeeDy_Freak]

My playlist (Rocky)

Redemption
The Final Bell
Going the distance
Rocky Theme (Gonna Fly Now) - John X Remix
It's a Fight
Eye of the Tiger
Living in America
No Easy Way Out
Hearts on Fire
Rocky Theme (Gonna Fly Now)
War
Training Montage
The Measure of a Man

[grlNIN]

I'm going to spend some time today to better craft the playlist i have because ive been skipping through lots of songs.

[OSWorker]

yea, for workout music, you basically need hard-hitting euro-dance music.... nothing else does the job really. Search around on itunes for "euro club hits" or check this link:

http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZSearch.woa/wa/advancedSearchResults?albumTerm=Euro+Club+Hits+Vol +

[jetdog]

I've had a two-stage video/music thing going for me ever since my wife bought me a video iPod:
episode of No Reservations while on stationary bike
book on tape (coincidentally it has been "Kitchen Confidential" lately) after, while hitting the weights.

[K.C.]

Actually, while I do like music while I'm running, I find that I get better performance out of myself when I run without listening to anything.

Not sure why that is...maybe set and alter my pace better when I'm paying attention, than when zoning out listening to music.


When I do listen, though, I have an Inno so I usually use that and hit up one of the rock stations on XM. I do have some stuff loaded into it, but I don't listen to it that often.

[jennylee324]

yea, for workout music, you basically need hard-hitting euro-dance music.... nothing else does the job really. Search around on itunes for "euro club hits" or check this link:

http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZSearch.woa/wa/advancedSearchResults?albumTerm=Euro+Club+Hits+Vol +

[Mike Teacher]

My playlist (Rocky)
The Final Bell
Going the distance


Wow cool thread.

And here I am thinking I'm the only one with the full Rocky soundtrack. And who listens to it a alot. Bill Conti nailed that one. Nailed it stomped it flat.

Going the distance is The best song for boxing. Ever. The pacing, the horns, and the use of the bell at end of song [as in round in the movie] = superb.

Fanfare for Rocky; well I feel I can climb a friggin mountain while hearing that; the horns at end? the runs? sheeesh.

Final Bell also rules; the song after that Rocky's Reward is besdies a superb piece for strings [quartet?] it brings me to tears.

Philadeliphia Morning feels exactly like a hungover morning.

Geez, Mike you sound like you have a fetish for the movie! I sorta do. I saw it the week it came out and when you see a movie where the entire audience is on its feet cheering and screaming at a screen, you dont forget that movie.

Sorry to derail

=

ELP: Fanfare for the Common Man
ELO: Fire On High [the 12 string guitar part]

Great work out songs, IMHO

and of course, metal. Maiden and Van Halen. Women and Children Frist or Fair Warning

[OSWorker]

....yeah -- i agree, people are basically getting sick of the same old rock/hip-hop/r&b bullsh*t :wallbash:..... and there is just this big upsurge from a new style coming out of Europe:thumbup: -- best place i've found it so far is a compilation series called 'euro club hits' on itunes -- or check this link: :clap: http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZSearch.woa/wa/advancedSearchResults?albumTerm=Euro+Club+Hits+Vol +

[ohioscouser]

Ron and Fez replays on my ipod from audible, My workout usually lasts around 2 and a half hours so its perfect.

[Ritalin]

So I was working with this 22 year old kid - nice kid - who asked if he could play music from his Ipod while we worked.

I said, sure.

He said, I've been listening to this great band lately. He turned it on. He asked me, have you ever heard this before.

It was Hall and Oates.

I made him put the greatest hits album on my iphone, and I've been listening to it and laughing while I work out for the past week.

(think about this: if you're 22 today, you were born in 1986. fuck)

[ohioscouser]

(think about this: if you're 22 today, you were born in 1986. fuck)


I was born in 1987 :bye:

[ahhdurr]

Tried listening to R/F today while doing strength... almost dropped a bench press on myself. New policy: wait now until Ron is serious before doing anything.

[joethebartender]

While I'm running...I usually listen to the sirens behind me.

[angrymissy]

My boyfriend wants to invest in audio books and half of me thinks it would be cool but overall i feel like it might be too dull to listen to.

Has anyone ever tried this and like it or not liked it?

I tried this, specifically for the gym. It didn't get me motivated to work out. They were great for my long 1x week commute to work though.

What did help me not be bored at the gym, was my video ipod. I downloaded all the old Sealab and Harvey Birdman episodes and propped up the ipod on the treadmill, and loled.

[Piuki]

My most usual form of exercise is yoga and/or pilates so I listen to whatever trippy yoga music the teacher puts on. But if and when I am "working out" I listen to NIN "Pretty Hate Machine" and Hole "Live Through This". I hate working out, anger works.

[Bowel]

Usually listen to trip-Hop or Industrial/Techno.


Bands like:

Mum
Bjork
Massive Attack
Tricky
Chemical Brothers
Zero 7
Meat Beat Manifesto




Or, I'll listen to stuff that I've never heard before and give it a try. Recently, a band called The Submerines, some chick who's huge in France named Camille and some Swedish chick, Lykke Li.

[Ohiorunningrick]

I mostly run, and my favorite tunes are...
Clutch-Elephant Riders
Black Crowes-Sting Me
U2-City of Blinding Light
Pearl Jam-Corduroy
Coldplay-Clocks
Johnny Cash-Get Rhythm