A Soundtrack Your Workout Plan

Alfred | Anderson

College is a time of self-exploration. It is full of friends, excitement and unfortunately, stress. From late nights to early mornings, it is easy to slip into unhealthy habits. Fast food restaurants are everywhere, work is abundant and sleep is hard to find. Along with maintaining a healthy diet, taking a gym class or participating in any kind of physical activity is beneficial to your health.
Music is an excellent motivator, as well as a great tool because it provides an extra spark during your workouts. Whether you like hip-hop, pop, or rock and roll, there are plenty of songs that can guide you on your fitness journey. Here are a few:
“The New Workout Plan” – Kanye West: Released as a single from Kanye West’s debut album, The College Dropout, this song provides a satirical commentary on the fact that women are often valued solely for their bodies and men for their money. However, it is also a bouncy hit that works well with almost any workout.
“Push It” – Rick Ross: Easily one of his best, “Push It” comes from his debut album, Port of Miami, “Push It” samples the song “Scarface (Push It to the Limit)” from the film Scarface. The song chronicles a “rags to riches” story, from peasant to kingpin, much like the story of Scarface’s Tony Montana. It is easy to picture this as a great workout song just because of the sample “Push it to the limit” which repeats throughout the song.
“Jungle” – X Ambassadors and Jamie N Commons: This theme is a triumphant one that mixes elements of rock and hip-hop and has been used as an anthem for the 2014 FIFA World Cup as well as Netflix’s Orange is the New Black.  The official remix adds a verse from hip-hop legend Jay-Z and is an open invitation to take a trip to the wild side.

“Put On” – Young Jeezy Feat. Kanye West:  Arguably one of Jeezy’s best songs, “Put On” embodies the concept of working hard and doing the best you can for your city and loved one. Kanye West ends the song with a heartfelt verse speaking on the death of his mother as well as his ill will towards people that have done him wrong. It is the perfect “me vs. the world” workout song.
“Started from the Bottom” – Drake: As the lead single from his third studio album, Nothing Was the Same, Drake keeps it simple with a catchy hook and catchy verses, showcasing his talent for radio friendly bangers. Here, Drake shares with us the struggles he faced on his way to stardom, ultimately conquering the rap game, but this song can also help you too, as you seek to conquer your workouts.
In all, there are so many different songs that can provide motivation, but they key is finding music and songs that work for you. It does not have to be a specific genre or artist. You have to find what music motivates you and helps you give your all. That, along with consuming the appropriate amount of calories and staying hydrated, should greatly increase your chances of success.