Why Workout Playlist Are a Must (Plus a Few Song Recs)

by Lexi Petronis, Glamour

I love my workout playlist so much, I occasionally blast it when I'm not working out. The songs are all appropriately upbeat (also sometimes embarrassing!) and they're instant mood-lifters and energy-givers. Plus I usually end up dancing around like a fool. And there's science as to why!

Studies have shown that listening to music while exercising can improve your workouts: songs can motivate you (study subjects who listen to music work out longer and more intensely) and distract you from things like how exhausted you are. Research has even pinpointed a specific tempo that works best for working out: between 120 and 140 beats per minute. There's even a site (runhundred.com) devoted to finding the songs that fits the tempo.

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Bridgit Mendler--whom you know from Good Luck Charlie and Lemonade Mouth--has a new album, Hello, My Name Is... (it just came out on Monday!), and I have officially placed "Hurricane" onto my playlist. It's not super-heart-pumping fast, but it's got a little funky with good beat (and she has a lovely voice!); it's perfect for that part in your workout where you're almost ready to start cooling down.

Here are a few other random selections from my playlist:

* Andrew WK: "She Is Beautiful"
* Bon Jovi: "You Give Love a Bad Name"
* Carl Carlton: "Everlasting Love" (I bought a disco compilation album years ago; this was on it! A lot of '70s songs are awesome workout songs, I think)
* Jimmy Eats World: "The Middle" (perfect running beat for me)
* One Direction: "What Makes You Beautiful" (it's true!)
* Paul Simon: "Kodachrome"

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OK, what are some of the songs on your playlist--the good, the embarrassing (and the good and embarrassing)?

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