That that don't kill me, can only make me stronger. I need you to hurry up now, cause I can't wait much longer. Kanye West, Stronger

Friday, March 21, 2008

I Can Hear Music


I know I haven’t been updating my playlist recently. It’s mainly because I have become obsessed with Sleep Through the Static, by Jack Johnson and Be, by Common and those are the albums I have been listening to—although they are not the best to work out to!

So I went to Virgin last night to see if there is anything interesting out there.

Here's what's on my radar:
Randy Jackson’s Music Club
Danity Kane-Welcome to the Doll House
Now That’s What I call Music 27 (I have almost all the songs!)
Step Up 2 Soundtrack—I had the whole first Step Up Soundtrack on my playlist at one point!

Other places I look for new workout music are:
- Vh1 Morning Jumpstart:
-Itunes (the spring break mix and Best of 2007 are pretty good):
-America’s Best Dance Crew-Great Music Ideas on this show. It’s also a great show to watch at the gym!
-The radio-I need to get the radio attachment for my nano!

A few outside recommendations:
Radiohead and Muse—several guys tell me they love to workout to these bands, I’m not sure they are for me!

Albums I found surprisingly wonderful to work out to:
-Everyday by Dave Matthews Band
-The Devil Wears Prada Soundtrack
-Grey’s Anatomy 2 Soundtrack

And here is one of my old playlists that I listen to every once in a while. I broke it up by genre the best I could!

Pop/R&B

Mambo #5-Lou Bega
That’s My Name-Lil Bow Wow
Black Horse and Cherry Tree-KT Tundstall
Let It Out-Hombres
Fergilicious-Fergie
No, No, No-Destiny’s Child
Jumpin Jumpin-Destiny’s Child
Am to Pm-Christina Millian
Do Something-B-Spears
Boys-B-Spears
Outrageous-B-Spears
About Us-Brooke Hogan
Get Mine, Get Your-Christina Aguilera
Dirty- Christina Aguilera
Goodies-Ciara
Oh la la la-Danity Kane
Smooth Criminal-Michael Jackson
100% Pure Love-Crystal Waters
Like a Boy-Ciara
Life is a Highway-Tom Petty
Boy is Mine-Brandy
I do-Toya
Rhythm Dancer-?
Buttons-Pussy Cat Dolls

Rap/Hip Hop
Family Affair-Mary J Blige
Hip Hop is Dead-NAS
Hot in Here-Nelly
Show me the Money-Petey Pablo
Suave-Calle 13
Come to Me-PDiddy
This is Why I'm Hot-Mims
Lighter’s Up-Lil Kim
Poppin Them Thangs-G-Unit
Crush on You-Lil Kim
Give it To Me-Timbaland
The Way I Are-Timbaland
Party Like A Rockstar-Pet Shop Boyz
Hate it or Love it-50 Cent
Beautiful-Ludacris

Rock/Alternative

I Hate Everyone-Get Set Go
So Much to Say-DMB
Wake Up Call-Maroon 5
We Used to Be Friends-Dandy Warhols
The Way We Get By-Spoon
As-Har Mar Superstar
The Way We Get BY-Spoon
Sexy Mistake-Chalets
Intergalactic-Beastie Boys
I Me You-Jim Noris
Monster Hospital-Metric
Kaboom-Ursula 1000
Kryptonite-3 Doors Down

9 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hi two questions. Thanks for the playlist- I will check out some of those :)

Do you buy on itunes all the music you listen to you?

Also, I have really poor posture (hunch over). I have tried doing some yoga poses to help improve it, but really the posture improvement only will last during the exercise.
a) do you have any specific exercises- maybe more traditional types like with a dumbell that you recommend for the upper back?
b) any recommendations in general for improve posture- it's really not natural for me!

Sorry for the outline format- habit from school! haha

Simple and Divine said...

Hey Melissa! I'm Julz and I've been reading your blog for quite some time now! I love it and it's SO helpful! Here's my dilemma though...I have a FEAR of spinning. I don't know why, it's pretty unfair to judge it, as I've never taken a spinning class in my life. I'm nervous though. At 5'9 if I do the stationary bike my knees ache with too much pressure! But I want to try Spinning...what do I need to know before I go??? (PS) Can I add you to my blogroll? I've only just started my blog, but I love yours and would love to add you if that would be okay!

Anonymous said...

Hi Melissa,

That's a cool heart!

Do you read Hungry girl- her products are always so processed, so I never get useful tips. You don't seem to eat processed stuff, so that's why I'm not sure if you read it.

The one thing I have picked up though is her love of Tofu Shirataki . I have heard mixed things about them (ie their smell-yuck!)have you ever tried them? What do you think?

Anonymous said...

On the days you over due it and pull a muscle besides rest is there anything else you recommend? How many days are you supposed to rest?

Also, I did lunges yesterday for the first time and felt nothing. I know it was because I was doing something wrong. First I was a little wobbly on the going back up, also, is is supposed to be quick or a slow movement where you stay there for a minute or two. Thanks for all the tips. Your website is so great! There are so many food blogs, but no many exercise ones

Anonymous said...

opps.......I meant not many.

Why do I catch things after the fact!

Melissa said...

Hi Susan,

I do buy most of my music on itunes. I used to use limewire, but it kept crashing my computer.

For posture, I recommend the New York City Ballet Workout, either the book or the dvds. I find when I do that workout regularly, I see a difference quickly.

Also if you lie on your stomach and lift your arms, back and legs-hold for a second and release, you will stregthen your back. Just arch to your flexibility level.

Keep mindful and consistently reminding your body to sit and stand up straight will help create muscle memory. Strong abs makes good posture easier too.

I would look at fitness or shape's websites for specific exercises.

Julz!

You are not the only one who fears spinning, but it is so much fun! There are two types of classes, really energetic classes with fast, usually popular music where you are up and down on the bike and more of mental journey rides where the instructor leads you through a climb or simulated ride. In either case, you control the resistance on the bike and how hard you petal, while the instructor will encourage you to work hard, it is ultimately up to you. So give it a try!

Feel free to add me to your blogroll! I'll check your blog out too!

Rebecca,

I used to read hungry-girl, but I couldn't deal will all artifical sweetners all the time. I did try Tofu Shirataki once and threw them out after one bite. They were weird limp and squishy. If I want pasta, I want pasta!

Dee, I would rest two to three days, with lots of gentle stretching or until the tenderness is gone. Take the first few workouts short and easy, gradually building to your former levels.

You might have strong legs, but add some over head presses to your lunges or try walking lunges and you should feel a differnce. Just doing a couple sets of lunges might not be enough, you might do front, back, walking and squats to give your lower body a challenge. Or if you don't have that much time add weights.

Simple and Divine said...

Hey melissa! Thanks again...quick question (about spinning again haha) how do I judge how intense I should go. Ah I feel like it really is not for me, my knees are INCREDIBLY sensitive. I can run, no problem, but on a stat. bike, I really can get myself into trouble so I usually stay away from them! Grr

Melissa said...

Hi Julz,

If spinning is to much for your knees, but all means find something else you love. Always trust your body and go with your gut. Perhaps swimming?

It is interesting that running is no problem, but biking is, usually its the opposite.

While I would advise you not to spin if you feel any pain, if you want to try it, you can keep the resistance light enough, so you just feel it, but not enough to be cause any pain whatsoever.

However, you won't get as much of a workout. Spinning bikes are very different from stationary bikes, they are very easy to petal quickly on at low resistance. ALthough no resistance is potentially as dangerous as too much, because your legs will be flying around without control.

Melissa said...

Hi Julz,

If spinning is to much for your knees, but all means find something else you love. Always trust your body and go with your gut. Perhaps swimming?

It is interesting that running is no problem, but biking is, usually its the opposite.

While I would advise you not to spin if you feel any pain, if you want to try it, you can keep the resistance light enough, so you just feel it, but not enough to be cause any pain whatsoever.

However, you won't get as much of a workout. Spinning bikes are very different from stationary bikes, they are very easy to petal quickly on at low resistance. ALthough no resistance is potentially as dangerous as too much, because your legs will be flying around without control.