My most essential piece of workout gear is my shuffle ipod, because I need good music to stay motivated.  If I get to the gym and I forgot my shuffle or my headphones, forget about it, I’m going home to get them.  I listen to a wide range of music while I’m working out, and I’m always looking for new stuff to keep my mix fresh.  In my mind there are a few different categories of workout music:

• Old School fun songs
• Top 40 upbeat/catchy tunes
• Girl Power
• Hardcore/Motivation songs
• Cool Down/ relaxing music

I need different genres for different parts of my workout.  Fun, upbeat songs to get me moving at the beginning, girl power stuff to keep my confidence up, motivational songs to get me through the tough parts, and slower songs to help me focus on my breathing or take me through cool down.

Over the next couple months I’ll go through each of the genres above and give some of my favorites.  Let’s start at the top with old school fun songs!

Old School Fun Songs

1. Hey Mickey by Toni Basil
2. Jellyhead by Crush
3. King of Wishful Thinking by Go West
4. Jessie’s Girl by Rick Springfield
5. Wanna Be Startin’ Something by Michael Jackson (the link is the Glee performance but MJ’s is obviously better)
6. It’s Gonna Be Me by ‘NSYNC
7. Bust a Move (Glee version) by Glee Cast
8. It Takes Two by Rob Base
9. Faded by SoulDecision
10. ABC by The Jackson 5
11. Gloria by Laura Branigan
12. Mo Money Mo Problems by Biggie Smalls
13. I Wanna Dance With Somebody by Whitney Houston
14. Big Shot by Billy Joel
15. Photograph by Def Leopard
16. You’re the One that I Want from Grease
17. Heartbreaker by Mariah and Jay Z
18. Anyway You Want It/Lovin’ Touchin’ Squeezin’ by Glee Cast
19. Boom Boom Boom Boom by the Venga Boys
20. PYT by Michael Jackson

What did I miss?

PS- My friend at work is expecting a visit from the stork, so guess what I’m making…