Hello and Happy Monday!
The workweek started extra early for me since I had to be at the gym when it opened. My shift today was busy from start to finish. I had several appointments, including one follow up appointment with a women I met with several weeks ago. After never working out in her life before, she has been coming to the gym three times a week and said her energy level is dramatically improving. Exciting!
Before I left for the day, I sat down with my boss to discuss the water fitness class I will be teaching… tomorrow. I’m beginning to realize things happen fast at our gym and I will be teaching my first group exercise class tomorrow afternoon. I am nervous and plan to spend some time today downloading energizing music and planning out my class. The instructors who previously taught this class said that the participants seem to enjoy music from the ‘50s, ‘60s, ‘70s and ‘80s. Time to download some upbeat classics!
Workout
After I was done at work for the day, I changed clothes and hopped on the stair master to kick off my workout for the day. After 20 minutes, I decided to follow the functional training workout that one of the trainers at the gym detailed on the whiteboard.
I did two rounds for a total of 30 minutes. Since I only had to spend one minute doing each exercise, the workout was the ultimate boredom-fighter. It was great!
Before I left, I pulled up the FitnessGlo website on my phone and did a 5-minute express stretch workout video. It was a fabulous way to cool down.
And speaking of FitnessGlo, the winner of yesterday’s free FitnessGlo 90-day trial is…
- Steph: “I work from home and live in a rural area- ok pretty much out in the woods. Driving to a gym at lunch or after work not really an option 25-40 minutes away in either direction but it is nice to run for almost an bour and not see a car or human!! Just me and my running buddy, Harley my black lab!! I would love to try barre, yoga, or core since I don’t get much of those on my own.”
Congratulations! Please email me at pbfingers@gmail.com with your mailing address and we’ll get you access to the site right away!
Lunch
Lunch today came together quickly once I arrived home.
I made myself a peanut butter-topped English muffin and served it with raw red pepper and a sliced pear.
Simple and satisfying!
Question of the Afternoon
- Name a few of your favorite upbeat songs from the ‘50s, ‘60s, ‘70s or ‘80s that you think would make great workout songs! I’ll be sure to share my playlist with you guys once I have it assembled for those of you who love throwback tunes!
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For workouts, I gotta go with the 80’s: Eye of the Tiger, St. Elmo’s Fire and King of Wishful Thinking are a few of my faves!
Stevie Wonder – Signed, Sealed, Delivered, I’m Yours!
love that song!
One of my absolute favorites!
good luck teaching your class tomorrow! i’m sure you’ll do great and everyone will have a blast 🙂
your lunch looks delicious. i love munching on raw bell peppers, especially red and orange!
Roxette! ooooo she’s a little bit dangerous 🙂
Cyndy Lauper “She Bop” – 80’s classic!
“Pour Some Sugar on Me” – Def Leppard. I’m a Houston Rockets Power Dancer and this has been our theme song for years! It’s been in my workout mix since I started as well 🙂
Yes! Greatest song ever!!
The Twist by Chubby Checker!
You have to use some of the songs from Glee…they are oldie songs revamped into newer versions that are amazing!!!! I just downloaded Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go and it gets me moving at the gym when it comes on 🙂 GOOD LUCK TOMORROW!!!
That’s a cool idea! Never thought about using them!
I’ve always been a runner but recently wanted to start adding more strength training to my routine. I tried to do some workouts at home, but I was limited to what equipment I have (and what I can do in my apartment!) So, I joined a gym that teaches Les Mills classes (trying my first Body Pump tonight after work!) I really like the circuit workouts you post here, and my gym has a “functional training” area set up, so I feel like I could definitely take advantage of that. My question for you is, do you print out your workout or look at your phone to keep up with the order of the rotations? And how do you keep track of the minutes? This will be my first time working out in a gym, and I’m a little unsure of how people go about these circuit workouts (and how to not make a faux pas to reveal how little I know)!
I just downloaded a great app called HIIT trainer or something like that. It’s really nice and beeps when you have 2 seconds left in any interval and works over my headphones
I was thinking Wham too (Wake Me Up before you Go Go), Duran Duran, ABBA, Dr. Hook, The Cars, to name a few.
How fun! You will be amazing!
that lunch looks delicious!
everyday people- sly and the family stone
groove me- king floyd
keep on pushing- king harvest
iiiiiiiiiiii love everyday people! 🙂
Ooh good luck tomorrow! I’m terrible with naming songs that are current let along the oldies…I could sing them from start to finish and never know the name or artist!
YMCA was the first song that popped into my head.
Tequila -The Champs, The Beach Boys, The Beatles, Chuck Berry, & Little Richard are great upbeat oldies. The Hawaii 5-0 theme song is upbeat & different.
How fun!!! GOOD luck! You’ll totally rock it, though 🙂
anything ABBA is fun!
James Brown – “Gravity” or “Living in America” OR Talking Heads “Burning Down the House”.
“Knock on Wood” by Amii Stewart is an 80’s favorite of mine!
just downloaded it! thank you!
Hungry Like A Wolf
Lionel Ritchie – All Night Long, Cyndie Lauper – Girls Just Want To Have Fun, Aha – Take On Me, Wham – Wake Me Up… Can you tell I’m a sucker for 80s music? 🙂
Goodluck with the class I’m sure you will do great!
I took a class once where the instructor did a throwback to all swing music…It was a little different but I really enjoyed the different upbeat music 🙂
A step class I went to used “Walkin’ on Sunshine” and it was PERFECT.
I second this. Such an energy-filled song!
The BEATLES! You can’t go wrong with the Beatles… CCR, Cream, Jimi Hendrix, Led Zeppelin, This is the music I work out to. It makes me feel tough! 🙂 My high school days were in the 80’s and I can’t take any of the music from those days!
She drives me crazy by fine young cannibals, and jessies girl by rick Springfield, are two of my favs
she drives me crazy is one of my favs, too!!
How exciting!!
There are so many winners from 50’s – 80’s but if you want to throw a new song in I can’t get enough of ‘Get Lucky’ the new daft punk song. It is seriously catchy and I can’t help but dance when it’s on!
Good luck with your class tomorrow! That’s so exciting. I know you’re probably a bit nervous (which can’t be helped), but I’m sure you’ll have a blast and that everything will go swimmingly (get it!?).
Good luck with your class tomorrow!! I have never taken a group class with 50’s, 60’s, 70’s, or 80’s music!
I teach a water aerobics class! They are so much fun, its such a new and exciting way to get people interested in exercise. Their favorite songs are Twist and Shout, Wait a minute Mr. Postman, RESPECT, and love shack! Haha Have fun with it!
perfect! off to download mr. postman right now! thank you!
Build Me Up Buttercup
So awesome, your new gig looks like a blast! I’m teaching a functional training class in the morning so am looking forward to doing a workout similar to what you just posted!
I always default to just about any song from The Go Go’s for upbeat 80s music as well as Wham!, Toni Basil’s “Oh Mickey”, “We Didn’t Start the Fire” by Billy Joel (it’s a mini history lesson with a catchy beat.) 🙂 ‘Tusk’ by Fleetwood Mac really builds up into a fun marching band song, ABBA “Dancing Queen’, ‘Take a Chance on Me’, ‘Footloose’ by Kenny Loggins, Smooth Criminal by Michael Jackson, 1999 by Prince, Bust a Move by Young MC. Good luck!
Too bad you don’t need songs from the 90’s. I could totally help you out with that..um..Spice Girls anyone?? 😉
My spin instructor plays Tiffany’s I think We’re Alone Now – it somehow works amazing as a spin song! Lately I have been listening to dance/cardio style mixed versions of old music such as Air Supply (Making Love out of Nothing at All) which is so fun…To me, all 80’s music was awesome – Debbie Gibson, Madonna, the song Manic, Footloose…should I continue? lol
Come On Feel the Noise by Quiet Riot is perfect for working out and Ive had a lot of teachers use Magic Carpet Ride by Steppenwolf. I think you should bring em into the 90s when you gain a following 🙂
quiet riot is awesome!
Youtube Billboard Top 100 hits + whatever year you need music for. It’s the best thing ever!
Pretty dresses! And that pear looks diiiivine 🙂 Good luck with your first water fitness class- if the music is indicative of the participants, they’ll be awesome!
Would “Splish Splash” be too cheesy for a water fitness class or spot on? 🙂
Ahhhh! I feel good…. Na na na na na na na!
I just taught my first class too! It was nervewracking and a little bit random, but I’m glad I got the first one out of the way! You will do just fine 🙂
I did an 80’s spin class and used:
Bon Jovi
Pat Benatar
Cyndi Lauper
Gun n roses
kim carnes
toni basil
hope that helps!
All time favorite 80’s SONG Holiday-Madonna! Not sure why, but it just gets me GOING! Have an amazing week 🙂 Love + Shine Courtstar
Abba is always fun and very upbeat – perfect for dancing (even in the water!)
How about the 1940’s?? This sounds crazy, but I love Glenn Miller “In the Mood” to run to.. keeps me running to a beat..
You Make My Dreams Come True – Hall & Oates
Higher Ground – Stevie Wonder
Queen!
Come on, Eileen! and Sweet Caroline
I really like that you post your gym’s functional workouts. They are so great! I wonder if my gym would be up to the idea?
You’re gonna do great tomorrow! As a fellow teacher, one of the best pieces of advice I ever got was: If something messes up, just act like that was meant to happen! 🙂 Song ideas:
– Conga by Gloria Estefan
– Jump by Van Halen
– Push It by Salt n’ Pepa
– Livin’ On a Prayer by Bon Jovi
I also wanted to recommend Jive Bunny’s “swing the mood” , it is a mash up of a bunch of songs ranging from Glenn Millers In The Mood, wake up Little Suzy, Rock around the Clock, etc. it is incredibly catchy and really fun to work out to (my kids, ages 3 and 7, love love this song!
I also wanted to recommend Jive Bunny’s “swing the mood,” it’s amash up of a bunch of songs ranging from Glenn Miller’s In The Mood, Wake up Little Suzy, Rock around the Clock, etc. it is incredibly catchy and really fun to work out to, and kids, ages 3 and 7, really love this song!
Run around sue! And ” sherrie ” ( that may not be the name lol it goes sherrie,sherrie baby etc lol) Barbara Anne , strawberry fields- the Beatles 🙂
baltimora – tarzan boy
material girl – madonna
higher love – steve winwood
string along – ricky nelson
eye of the tiger – survivor
king of wishful thinking – go west
LOVE old music
have fun:D