Lose Weight by Listening to Your IPod/MP3 Player

Whether you are doing cardio, lifting weights or aerobic exercise, listening to music can actually improve your workouts. Despite contradictory studies of the past, most researchers now agree the tempo of music you listen to will correlate directly with the tempo of your workout.

There are so many websites and discussions on the web for the best workout music, but here are a few of my favorite websites to buy music to pump up your workout:

• Power Music- No matter what your music preference is, this is THE place for those great mixed CDs you hear in every aerobics class or gym. Everything from Power Pilates CD, to Rap-n-Step, to the high tempo Desperate Hot Wives (my favorite)
• Cardio Coach- This is more than just music. These are guided workouts for any MP3 player and any exercise machine. It features incredible music, personal coaching and motivation.

If you are a runner, not to fear. We have a growing number of resources on the web to maximize our runs. There is a growing trend in the running world to match your stride with the beat and tempo of the music you are listening to. However, I have struggled to create the best playlist, filled with songs with the right beats per minute, for my cadence. Fortunately, there is a great site called JogTunes. Better yet, the creators of Jog Tunes also have a blog called Music Paced Running. Check it out today and you will see more productive and more enjoyable runs immediately.

There are even a couple of companies profiting off the mix of running and music. Nike and Apple have paired up to create a sport kit. You can even create a virtual locker room where you can track your progress. This is a great tool that tracks your pace, distance, time and calories burned. You can even access your POWER SONG at any time to give you that needed boost.

Don't like wires or carrying an MP3 player while you run? Check out DaDa. These shoes have the MP3 player built into the heel and tongue of the shoes, hold 100 songs, has a 6 hour battery life and best of all, wireless headphone that work up to 30 feet away. The shoes have a USB port on the side of the shoe that allows you to "operate" the shoes. And they look really cool too.

Here are some of my favorite workout/running songs:

• Sabotage by Beastie Boys
• Mr. Brightside by The Killers (150 bpm)
• Enter Sandman by Metallica
• Temperature by Sean Paul
• Gold Digger by Kanye West

What are your favorite songs?