Got Me Workin' Day and Night

Sometimes a successful workout depends on the right soundtrack. Stuff the right music into your mp3 player or smartphone and you just might want to drop it like it’s hot in between sets of shoulder presses.

Here’s a taste of the music that pushes me through upper body training sessions.

Lat Pull Downs to “I’ll Keep Holding On” - The Marvelettes

Bench Presses to “Heartbreaker Pt. 2” - Alice Russell

Dumbbell Flys to “Haitian Sensation” - The Blue Method

Bicep Curls to “The Groove Line” - Heatwave

Hammer Curls to “Let The Beat Hit ‘Em” - Lisa Lisa and Cult Jam

Side Lateral Lifts to “Self Esteem” - The Offspring

Push Ups to “Tightrope” - Janelle Monae

Tricep Kickbacks to “I’m A Man” - The Spencer Davis Group

Overhead Extensions to “Stone Free” - Jimi Hendrix

Planks to “Transcend Me” - The Bamboos featuring Alice Russell

Wiping Sweat, Stretching and Moaning to “Black Hole Sun” - Soundgarden

The results? Sexy shoulders and back, toned arms, and the strength and energy to carry overstuffed shopping bags from Nordstrom Rack! Hit me again, Lisa Lisa!

The Diva Diaries--What I Wore to the Gym

A Valentine’s Day workout demands heart—preferably one that’s beating.  For last Tuesday’s masochistic marathon my workout wear covered all the traditional bases—a cherry red bandanna and a blue T-shirt sporting a big red heart.  The best thing about the heart was that it pointed the way in case CPR was needed.

At spinning on Thursday I was the Woman in Black.  I wore a black girl-shaped T-shirt emblazoned with a white “USF” and black padded bike shorts.  A pale gray bandanna atop my head did little to absorb the river of sweat and tears that poured down my face.  Black workout gear is the best choice for hiding sweat stains and making me look composed and utterly in control, even when my legs buckle as I walk out of the spinning studio after class.

I wrapped up my week at the gym today in a pair of black yoga pants, a thrifted T-shirt that speaks fondly of some little-known coffee shop in San Francisco, and my ever-present bandanna. Today was strength training and step class.  No drama, only pride in a butt well maintained.  I've earned the right to wear my Wonder Woman T-shirt.