I love my running music, as evidenced by my Running Songs section on the blog and my detailed race recaps by song. As much as I love my music, I have one little problem – finding NEW music for when I need a change. I don’t listen to the radio and I don’t usually know all the songs everyone discusses on the Twitters. I also don’t go out to bars as much as a single (yes) lady probably should to hear new music. But when you have to wake up early to run 7 miles, the idea of getting drunk and making poor decisions loses its appeal.

So I was excited when Adam from Turn Up My Workout contacted me and asked if I’d like to try out his service. Um, YES.

Turn Up My Workout is simple. You subscribe to the service and then you can select what type of music you like: Hip Hop, Country, Pop or a mix. Then you select your intensity level from Low, Medium or High. And then you get a list of workout songs that will motivate you and that you’ll enjoy! Easy as that.

Adam started this service after losing a lot of weight (over 100 pounds!). What was his most constant motivator to exercise? Amazing workout music. The music pushed and inspired Adam and he hopes a great playlist will do the same for you. As a former DJ and music director, and self proclaimed “freak when it comes to discovering new music,” it makes sense to trust Adam with your workout songs!

For my playlist from Turn Up My Workout, I selected pop music at a high intensity.

I got an email with a list of music. I had a few of the songs already, and some of them I already knew I didn’t like, and I downloaded the rest from iTunes. The list had so many songs that it’s OK if you don’t want to get them all. There is enough on there to pick and choose. The songs are divided into categories; Warm Up, Workout and Turn it Up (for an extra boost.)

I used the playlist thrice. I didn’t finish it during the first run, so the second run was like a whole new playlist. And the third time was just fun. My verdict? I loved it. First of all, it was so refreshing to hear a different set of songs. Second, the songs were fun and fast, just like I wanted! I felt like dancing during my run, and it was great to get to know new music. I’ll be able to listen over and over until I know all the words and can have even more fun with it (the way I am with my current playlists). And then, if I get bored it, I can just get my next month’s playlist from Turn Up My Workout.

Even better, I can pick my favorite songs and incorporate them into new playlists with my old favorites that I’ve been using forever, to make the ULTIMATE PLAYLIST. Turn Up My Workout is really a fantastic way to find new workout music that you might not otherwise find on your own. Some of the songs I’d heard before and really liked, but could never download them because I didn’t know their names. This is a great service for situations like those, too.

I’m not going to show you my playlist because, well, that would defeat the purpose of you trying it out for yourself! But I will say this: thanks to Turn Up My Workout, I found my new favorite running song. Favorite to the point that during my long run on Sunday, I had it on my playlist three different times!

What song, you wonder?

“Whatever You Like” by T.I.

OMG I LOVE THIS SONG. Okay, so something you all need to know about me. I like to listen to really explicit, vulgar songs when I am running. I like to learn all the words to said dirty songs and sing them in my head (or even out loud if no one is around). Vulgar lyrics make me happy.

So when I was looking through Adam’s list on iTunes, I was really happy to see that “EXPLICIT” box next to some of the songs. I had never heard Whatever You Like before (I told you I don’t know new music!) and I can’t get over how in love I am. It really pumps me up to go on a run – especially now knowing I’ve got it 3 times on my playlist. I am even more excited for my half marathon now that I have this song because I plan to include it at least 3 or 4 times throughout the race. What a GREAT song.

That said – does anyone have any suggestions for me for really vulgar, dirty, explicit running music?

It *DOES* need to have a good beat, it can’t just be shouting gross words. This is part of the reason I love Girl Talk by the way – download Girl Talk if you haven’t yet. So please tell me your vulgar workout music — I’d love to hear your suggestions!

Anyway, back to the review. So a subscription costs $7.97 a month and the first month is free. Very worth it for those of you like me who are stupid when it comes to new music. Some questions you might have for me:

Would you subscribe to Turn Up My Workout?

Yes.

Are you going to subscribe to Turn Up My Workout?

No.

Why not? You just said you would, so why aren’t you?

My health insurance premium was  just raised to $700 a month. I have placed myself on a $447 billion spending freeze.

But if you have  the extra $7.97 a month (as I did prior to my massive premium hike) then I’d say it is definitely a great deal. Also. You might be like me and take your favorite song on the playlist and type it in to iTunes or Grooveshark and find out there are OTHER VERSIONS of it.

Um ok so first of all, please listen to the Weird Al version of Whatever You Like. I don’t usually like him much but this version is HILARIOUS. Really, really hilarious. Every line makes me smile or laugh out loud. And then listen to the “Raw session” by Rome. AWESOME for those of you like me who listen to music such as the Counting Crows. A really cool version. Love them both. Still laughing at Weird Al. And still LOVING the original. You can listen to them all for free on Grooveshark or buy them on iTunes.

Adam and I had a lot of fun this afternoon on the Twitters with our new discoveries.

*Baby I can give you everything you please, even share my government cheese and you can have as much as you like.*

OK so get to it, kids. Check out Turn Up My Workout and comment with your suggestions for vulgar, explicit workout music!

This has been a really tough week for me; a good friend of mine passed away unexpectedly. I was riding high from Tuesday night’s wonderful Core Fusion class when a friend called me with the news. Even though I got practically no sleep that night and worked a long day Wednesday, I decided to go to another class. I figured it would help take my mind off things and really, I had no reason not to.

I wasn’t sure how class would go, how I would handle it. I felt sad thinking about my friend Robin yet I was still able to find something that made me smile. The first plank we do in the beginning of class is a plank we have to hold for a very, very long time. For the first time, on this day, I was able to hold the plank the entire time and not collapse. When the plank was over I let out a small laugh. Despite how stressful the day was, how overbearingly sad, I was still able to find joy in something small like holding a plank. That is because it meant so much more than just holding a plank — it was proof that my hard work is paying off. It was proof that we can all accomplish what we want if we work hard and want it badly enough. It was proof that life does go on and we should live it as our best possible selves — as healthy, as strong, as accomplished as we can be. Yes, part of it was physical — I am physically stronger now than I was before this challenge. But it was also mental — I wanted to hold this plank more on Wednesday than I ever have before. I didn’t let myself collapse. I pushed and forced myself to stay in a position longer than it was comfortable (really though, is a plank ever comfortable?). And because of my commitment over the last 3 weeks, it simply was not as difficult anymore.

The rest of the class was just as good. I was able to up my weights for the bicep curls and use 4 pounds instead of 3. Another improvement; another minor victory. Thighs seemed to be getting better. My abs are have not yet improved the way my other muscles have been due to my struggles with the C Curve, but even that I can feel getting better. These small victories push me to work harder the next time, to keep going, to take an extra class. The more my body improves, the more my mind seems to improve along with it.

I know it is hard to stick with exercises that hurt. And Core Fusion hurts. But how great do you all feel when it is finished? And if you’ve been doing it, do you see any improvements in your body, in your strength? Please let me know. For me, I see major improvements in my body and strength, yes, but also in my outlook. I feel like I am a more positive person and while I am distraught over my friend’s death, and tempted to feel guilty for the times I didn’t see her, I feel like I am handling this much better than I would have been just 4 weeks ago. Those last few minutes at the end of class after we finished the hard part and lie in savasana really makes me appreciate how lucky I am. If you are doing the DVDs at home, you should try just laying down flat on your back and just relax with your eyes closed after you are finished. I’m not usually “one of those people” who talks like this, but I really think it adds so much to the Core Fusion experience.

I hope you all have a great week. And please call a friend or family member and tell them you love them.

Thank you all for your generosity in Dori’s Shiny CHARITY AUCTION — we raised over $950 for Think Pink Rocks with this effort alone. The blog world is so amazing and supportive and I cannot thank you enough!

And on to the post . . .

___________________________________________________________________

It is very easy to forget the pain of this class when I’m not in it.

Why is that?! I suppose because I leave class feeling beyond happy — truly ecstatic at times. Last night, I walked home smiling and texting people to tell them I don’t think they could make it through this class. Of course I was being facetious. Kind of.

And seeing results has just been that much more motivating!

Tuesday night’s class was especially great. Tammy was teaching, and it was my second time taking her class. I thought she was great last week and this week I thought she was even better! She made a few funny comments throughout class which was nice. The music was good, too, although she hadn’t heard the playlist herself before. We used playground balls in class, which I normally wouldn’t be excited about but since I haven’t used them yet in this challenge (how is that!) I was actually pretty happy about it. I never would have thought I’d be happy to see that evil red playground ball, but the equation explains it: Red ball = different movements = happy muscles.

We did planks while squeezing the ball between our legs and I actually held my own here. I see and feel definite improvements in how long I can hold my beginning-of-class planks, although they aren’t any less painful. I think I held myself in the position longer than ever last night. I felt a great sense of accomplishment after that.

Last time I had Tammy I mentioned we didn’t do bicep curls. Well, guess what? We didn’t do bicep curls again! I miss my favorite exercise. I think tonight I will try a 4 lb weight for that exercise to make up for it! Think I’ll be able to do it?? (*Note – we do something called hammer curls which works the biceps)

We did lots of very difficult arm exercises though and I loved it. And then we did thighs and I WASN’T MISERABLE! First time since starting this challenge that I didn’t pray for a fire alarm to go off during thighs. I’m not sure what was different, maybe just the combination of exercises? I was able to do almost all of it; I think I only stood up to straighten my legs out once! In fact, thighs went so well that I didn’t push myself as hard as I could have during the last set because I didn’t expect it to BE the last set. I was holding out a tiny bit to make sure I’d be ready for one more. The entire section of class went so quickly I thought there had to be more. But don’t think that means I didn’t get a good enough workout – my legs were SHAKING just like always. Especially when I had to hold the playground ball in front of me and above me while doing the second position plies. I think the combination of exercises we did was just perfect for me.

First time that happened! Hopefully not the last . . .

For glutes we sat on the floor in a pretzel position with the playground ball under our ankles. Very hard and very good butt workout. I liked this because we don’t do pretzel very often. In a fluke a few weeks ago I ended up doing pretzel twice in two days, with two different teachers, but that truly was a fluke! So it is a nice change of pace when we do this move. My left side is still hurting from last week!

I’m especially happy to say that my C Curve is getting better! I really felt like I was almost low enough for it to be correct. I was able to hold myself in that position much longer too. The only time I really struggled was when we put our legs straight up/out in front of us with the playground ball between our legs. I couldn’t find a good position and because straightening my legs is so difficult for me (tight muscles!) I ended up missing out on the exercises as they should be. Tammy noticed though, and after class told me she didn’t have time to fix me but that next time I should keep my legs higher or keep my knees bent at a 90 degree angle. Sounds good to me. I will try that!

I also want to add that on Sunday I went back to Core Fusion Yoga with Barbara. For some reason (ahem, 4 days straight of Core Fusion) I had a very tough time doing something that usually isn’t too hard for me – side planks. Side planks are typically easier than regular planks, but on this day for some reason I really just couldn’t hold myself up on the left side. Barbara noticed my frustration and asked if I was OK. I was fine, just frustrated. We all have off days.

I ran 4.5 miles that morning and my right knee was killing me, so I had to modify my movements throughout the class as well. Class was still wonderful and I loved every second of it. The hour goes by so quickly! The class was much more crowded this time, despite the torrential rains – I think because the name changed to Core Fusion Yoga and more people are interested. I love that more people are interested since I want them to add more classes to the schedule.