Tuning Yourself Up While Listening to Good Tunes

Ladies and gentlemen, START YOUR ENGINES! When I got up today, I thought about how we sometimes take better care of our cars than we do ourselves. Granted, we need our cars to get from point A to point B, but why do we insist on taking care of the “service engine” lights in our vehicles and not willing to do that for ourselves?

My “service engine” light came on when I was 34 years old and weighed over 400 pounds. My knees hurt and I knew I wasn’t going to live if I continued carrying more weight than I could lift in a gym. That was my wake-up call. My lights were flashing. I was headed for a breakdown and badly needed a life tune-up.

I started losing weight by cutting back on the tempting foods along the “gauntlet” of fast food restaurants. Simultaneously, I got my wheels moving by walking, an incredibly simple yet amazing way to burn calories and lose weight. But I do know how boring a workout can be without good distractions. I rely on music to keep me going. The happy, high-energy fun of a great 70s or 80s song – a song with positive lyrics gives much-needed encouragement to my spirit and makes me feel good about myself. I love the driving beats of dance music and really hard rock – these songs keep my feet moving and help me play through the initial “burn” of exercise, propelling me to keep going to help give my body the tune-up and service it needs and will need for the rest of my life.

Today, I am going to share with you the workout music mix on my iPod. Here are my caveats:

• If you are going to sample and/or download any of these songs please be advised some contain explicit lyrics not suitable to all audiences or sensitivities.
• This list represents almost 1 1/2 hours of music, so I am in no way saying you need to work out for the duration of the playlist. Do what you can but always consult a doctor as to the limits of your physical activity.
• These songs are personal favorites of mine, but by all means use whatever songs motivate you to get up, move around and exercise.

Everyone…start your engines…3…2…1…GO!

• “Goody Two Shoes” – Adam Ant
• “Break My Fall” – Tiesto
• “Charlie’s Angels 2000” – Apollo 440
• “Night Fever” – Bee Gees
• “People Hold On” (12” New Jersey Jazz Mix) – Coldcut featuring Lisa Stansfield
• “Let’s Groove” – Earth Wind & Fire
• “Romancing the Stone” – Eddy Grant
• “Empire State of Mind” – Jay-Z (featuring Alicia Keys)
• “Adrenaline” – Gavin Rossdale
• “Backwards” – Apartment 26
• “Flawless (Go To The City)” – George Michael
• “Green Light” – John Legend featuring Andre 3000
• “No Such Thing” – John Mayer
• “Separate Ways (Worlds Apart)” – Journey
• “Where the Streets Have No Name” – U2
• “Incredible” – Shape UK
• “Makes Me Wonder” – Maroon 5
• “Rock With You” – Michael Jackson
• “Take It Away” – Paul McCartney & Wings
• “Controversy” – Prince
• “When I Grow Up” – The Pussycat Dolls
• “Rise” – Samantha James
•  “Miami” – Will Smith

Whew! That’s a lot of music! I’m sure you have so many other songs that keep you going. I’d love to know what they are! No matter what, though, heed your own engine lights and take care of yourself. Remember, you are worth just as much maintenance as your car, even more. And whatever songs get your motors running, get your wheels turning so your engines are finely tuned to run for a good, healthier and much longer time.