Healthful Bites

31 Jan 2012
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Confidence-Boosting Half-Marathon Training Playlist

Running

As you know, I’m very new to the endurance event training world—beginning this week in fact!—so I can use any advantage I can get. :) So I recently picked out several songs that not only pack motivating beats, but also inspiring lyrics (which complement my weekly “quotes to consider” well!). This 38-minute playlist, which should be about ideal to power me through a four-miler plus a quick warm-up and cooldown, will definitely be playing on repeat!

Find my complete Confidence-Boosting Half-Marathon Playlist on iTunes, or click on each song below to download them individually.

“Talk That Talk,” Rihanna, featuring Jay-Z
“Sweat,” Snoop Dogg vs. David Guetta
“Good Feeling,” Flo Rida
“Invading My Mind,” Jennifer Lopez
“Lights (Bassnectar Remix),” Ellie Goulding
“Countdown,” Beyonce
“Give Me Everything,” Pitbull, featuring Ne-Yo, Afrojack & Nayer
“What Doesn’t Kill You (Stronger),” Kelly Clarkson
“I Like It Like That,” Hot Chelle Rae, featuring New Boyz
“Shake It Out,” Florence + The Machine

Photo courtesy of Flickr user Lululemon Athletica

Quote to consider this week:

“The miracle isn’t that I finished. The miracle is that I had the courage to start.” —John Bingham

20 Dec 2011
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Healthful Bites Top 11 Workout Songs of 2011

The holidays are upon us and another year is drawing to a close. It’s a time for celebration and reflection! I sifted through the tunes on my iPod and several “best of” lists to compile my 11 favorite workout songs from 2011. Included are some awesome options for your warm-up, cardio and cooldown—all full of motivating beats and lyrics (“This time I’ve got nothing to waste/ Let’s go a little harder/ I’m on fire” — Breathe Carolina in “Blackout”.)

Click on each song to download individually, or download, “like” or share the whole 40-minute playlist here on iTunes!

“Rumour Has It,” Adele
“Domino,” Jessie J
“Every Teardrop is a Waterfall,” Coldplay
“Turn Me On,” David Guetta, featuring Nicki Minaj
“Otis,” Kanye West and Jay-Z, featuring Otis Redding
“Blackout,” Breathe Carolina
“Get Myself Together,” Robyn
“You Can’t Win,” Kelly Clarkson
“Super Bass,” Nicki Minaj
“The Edge of Glory,” Lady Gaga
“Dog Days are Over,” Florence + the Machine

Click here and here for a couple more Healthful Bites playlists from 2011.

What was your top song of the past year?

Photo courtesy of Flickr user ming1967

I’ll be taking some time off for the holidays, so I will see you back here in 2012. Happy Holidays!

30 Sep 2011
6 notes

You’ll Fall For This Playlist

For this playlist I thought instead of sharing my favorite songs from fall (find my summer favorites here), I could share my favorite songs including fall or about the seasonal changes! Since there aren’t nearly as many fast-paced, cardio-ready tunes talking about or written by “falls” of some sort, this playlist is slower tempo and perfect for a yoga session or a relaxed walk to enjoy the gorgeous fall leaves (as well as vegging out on a rest day!).

Click on each song to download individually, or find the whole 30-minute playlist here on iTunes!

“Can’t Help Falling in Love,” Ingrid Michaelson
“All Fall Down,” One Republic
“Fall For You,” Secondhand Serenade
“Golden,” Fall Out Boy
“Jump Then Fall,” Taylor Swift
“All Falls Down,” Kanye West & Syleena Johnson
“A Long December (MTV 10 Spot),” Counting Crows
“Don’t Want to Fall,” The Narrative
“Free Fallin’ (Live)” John Mayer

What songs are on your playlists this fall?

29 Jul 2011
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“Cool It” With a Summer Flashback Playlist!

Last week on one of the warmest days of a wicked heat wave, I stepped into a 60-minute SoulCycle class. With the warm air sneaking in the front door, radiating off the pedaling people and stuck in the air thanks to a struggling dehumidifier, I didn’t feel like I was bringing my “A game.” But that all changed when the amazing instructor, Jenny, flipped on “Ice Ice Baby.” It was a complete game-changer! For the rest of the class, I wore a smile and felt like I could push myself to the limit. It’s amazing what a fun, pumping song can do!

Inspired by that power, today I have a playlist packed with fantastic ’70s and ’80s tunes—perfect for those who haven’t heard of any of the artists on my more Top 40-style playlists. It’s also reminds you to take plenty of water breaks, since it alternates a bit of “Ice” and “Cold” with some “Hot Stuff!” :)

Download the complete 60-minute playlist or individual songs here, or click on each song title below to purchase that track.

“Boogie Shoes,” KC & the Sunshine Band
“Get Back,” The Beatles
“Under Pressure,” Queen and David Bowie
“Beat It,” Michael Jackson
“Borderline,” Madonna
“Livin’ On a Prayer,” Bon Jovi
“Miss You Much,” Janet Jackson
“Cold As Ice,” Foreigner
“Sunday Bloody Sunday,” U2
“Walk This Way,” Run-DMC
“Rio,” Duran Duran
“Eye of the Tiger,” Survivor (How could I not include it?)
“Hot Stuff,” Donna Summer
“Ice Ice Baby,” Vanilla Ice
“You Really Got Me,” Van Halen

With so many options for retro workout tunes, I’m sure I missed some of your favorites. Tell me about them in the comments!

17 Jun 2011
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Top Tunes: Summer 2011 Workout Playlist

When each turn of the pedals gets more difficult and every step feels like I’m slogging along, nothing gets me moving better than a fast-tempo song beginning to play on my iPod. Pacing workouts to the beat of the music will keep you motivated and working hard—research has proven this to be true! (If you’re really into the finer points of these studies, this one is a must-read. It details what they found to be the exact optimal beats per minute for every song during your workout!)

That’s why I crafted this killer 60-minute playlist, including warm-up, workout and cooldown picks, that will help you enjoy every one of your exercise experiences this summer. It’s chock-full of many current Billboard hits, so hopefully they’re tunes that you haven’t grown sick of yet! Even better news? Just click here to download the entire playlist or each song individually on iTunes—how handy!