Seven On… Workout jams

With a little less than six weeks to go before it’s wedding time (!), I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t doing my best to kick my fitness and healthy living into overdrive. Of course, we did just have Halloween, and no kids coming to our door = an entire bag of white chocolate KitKats for the eating. And eat them I did…

Being perfectly honest, this is half blog post, half attempt at motivating me to get back on the treadmill. With the cold settling in and the days feeling longer and longer, it’s more difficult to get off the bus in the afternoon, get in my car, and get my butt to the gym. But I’ll be damned if I try on my wedding dress this weekend and find that my overindulgence has resulted in the fit being any less than perfect.

With that in mind, here is a playlist that I threw together for my Monday run after Spencer and I did a little weight lifting. I ran a very comfortable 5.2 mph for 2 miles and then had a nice 5-minute cool down. Don’t forget to stretch before you run!

Hopefully my workout jams will help keep you motivated as the cold starts creeping in!

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1. Shake It Off – Taylor Swift

I am such a fan of this song! I love the beat, I love the message, and I love that I can listen to it over and over and still get an energy boost. Thanks a bunch, T-Swift!

2. Ships In The Night – Mat Kearney

For some people, this song may seem a little too mellow for running. For me, it’s perfect. Something about the continuous pattern in the background and the tempo keeps me going strong.

3. What I Know – Parachute

The lyrics to this song absolutely break my heart, but the way that the music builds and builds to the final bridge gets my blood pumping.

4. Animals – Maroon 5

This is the second newer song on this list, and it’s because I am in love with Maroon 5’s new album. This one really speaks to me on a visceral level.

5. Wake Me Up – Avicii

Something about a great guitar rhythm is the perfect complement to a run. It’s why I always find myself switching from pop singles to upbeat country jams when I exercise, and this one is the best of both worlds.

6. Does He Know? – One Direction

Laugh at me all you want, but One Direction has some pretty bumping jams. It also doesn’t hurt that they’re all about women being sexy and fierce, which is exactly the persona I need to finish a run strong.

7. Comes and Goes (In Waves) – Greg Laswell

Here’s your cool down! Don’t skip it; your body really does need at least a few minutes to regulate your heart and fill up your lungs. It’s important, and this is a great song that’s perfect for the job.

And here’s a handy dandy Spotify playlist that you can use right from your smartphone!

Do you use playlists to run or lift weights? Do you listen to similar music, or is my awkward showing? I’d love to hear your go-to songs for motivation!