John Legend Archives - Margo Donohue

Brooklyn Fit Chick’s New Year’s Workout Goals

Plus: Top Workout Songs of 2014 (and the Worst!)

Hey there! Hi there! Ho there!

I can’t believe this year is finally heading out the window and could not be more grateful to see it go. Not sure what you all have been through in 2014 but I have dealt with health issues, family issues and all sorts of stressful things that have made me feel a little less buoyant than normal. However, I will not allow the past to interfere with my future pleasure so today I am just talking about the good stuff and getting ready for the fabulousness that will be 2015!

First I will do a little housekeeping on the latest BFC things, the Book Vs Movie podcast update, my fitness goals for 2015 and then my picks for the best workout songs of 2014. So let’s do it! (The Brooklyn Fit Chick Vlog to return next Sunday with a fantastic New Year’s/New You Giveaway!)

Book Vs Movie Podcast: Margo Porras of She’s Nacho Mama’s Blog and I are working our butts off to get our new website off the ground plus we are using a fancy podcast service called “Libsyn” to get it out to y’all without all of the drama of our previous service which shall not be named. To get ready start reading Joe Klein’s Primary Colors which was turned into a movie in 1998 and directed by Mike Nichols whom we sadly lost this past year. Read the book and/or watch the movie to prep and we will post the details on our Facebook page here: https://www.facebook.com/bookvsmovie?ref=br_tf

Tria Hair Removal System: Still using my fabulous Tria hair removal system and am so far impressed with the results. There is less hair growing around the back of my ankles and the side of my face which is making me very happy. I am also using it on my upper lip and underarms and will offer a full review in a week or so.

CrossFit Goal for 2015: As you may know I am a “Fit Bottomed Girl” who contributes to fitbottomedgirls.com. The gals at FBG asked me (BFC) if I had any fitness goals I want to accomplish and the first thing that popped in my mind was the box jump. I am terrified of performing a box jump but know that if I can overcome my fear—it will make me feel like a rock star to land a good one just once. Coincidentally a new CrossFit gym opening in Brooklyn (the largest n the borough) called Crow Hill Cross Fit (http://www.crowhillcrossfit.com/) and they said if I want a real trainer to teach me to box jump—then they have me covered. So THAT is going to my first fitness goal to tackle this year. (Stay tuned for updates on this!)

The Crow Pose: My second fitness goal is to perform a crow pose. I am not sure how I will manage it but it has been the one pose in yoga that vexes me and I just want do it once to know how great it feels. And then, hopefully, do it many times after that. I will let you know what steps I am taking to make this happen. (Wish me luck!)

And now for something completely different—the Brooklyn Fit Chick Top Workout Songs of 2014!

I have been churning out a couple of playlist each month for the last few years and think I have it down to science at this point. Today I am featuring the songs that made me want to work harder and inspired my students to give a little extra effort during class. So here they are in particular order:

KONGOS/ “Come With Me Now”

Technically I am cheating here because this song came out in Africa in 2011 but they were only introduced in the U.S. this past year so I am putting this in the 2014 column. “Come With Me Now’ has a fantastic hard-driving beat and always made people’s heads bop along to the music.

Mark Ronson (featuring Bruno Mars)/ “Uptown Funk”

Come on—what better song came out this year? Everything about it says move your butt and have some fun. A funky, modern masterpiece that makes you want to sing along and dance with abandon.

Avicii/ “Wake Me Up”

Swedish hotboy Avicii knows how to put together a tune and this one is just about scientifically proven to be THE MOST PERFECT warm-up number for any kind of class you teach. Seriously—I am his biggest fan now.

Dear Rouge/ “I Heard I Had”

This band is from Vancouver and they are winning all sorts of radio contest in Canada. “I Heard I Had” is about as great as a “second” song for a playlist as it gets. Download it now!

OneRepublic/ “Love Runs Out”

A foot-stomping favorite in my classes that always gets people into the best mood.

Taylor Swift/ “Shake It Off”

I don’t care about her dating life nor will I hassle her because she claims to be a New Yorker now (as if!) but damn this woman knows how to write a song that cooks! “Shake it Off’ is just about as perfect of a pop confection as it gets. Brava Taylor!

John Legend/ “All of Me” (Tiesto’s Birthday Treatment)

This is another perfect song for a warm-up that puts people in a good mood. Sweet, romantic and dancy—what is not to like about it?

And the worst workout song for 2014——-“Fancy” by Iggy Azalia

Someone told me Iggy Azalia would be THE big deal this past summer so I started including this dreadful song in my classes. A tuneless,annoying piece of tripe that make me want to gauge my eyes out with my thumbs. My take on Iggy Aazalia? NO. Thank. You!

But if you must hear it for yourself…

That’s all I have for today folks. I am so looking forward to all of the media reviews, playlist, Vlogs, giveaways and gear reviews for the new year. Let’s bring on 2015!!!

(If you are reading this on a different site or a different feed than Brooklyn Fit Chick, it has been taken without permission.)

Until next time…

Ox Ox,

BFC

Brooklyn Fit Chick

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BROOKLYN FIT CHICK’S PLAYLIST

“All of Me” 50-Minute Ride

Hey there! Hi there! Ho there!

Are you ready for a new playlist? This time I wanted to return to a few songs that had previously been “retired” from my classes plus introduce a couple of tunes you may not have heard before. This is a 50-minute interval “ride” that you can use on your next run, bike ride or treadmill workout that will help keep you motivated to keep moving.

So let’s get started and as always—send me your favorite song suggestions!

All of Me (Tiësto’s Birthday Treatment): John Legend

This is one of those songs that I find myself singing along to every time it comes on the radio and grateful I work from home alone so no one can hear me as I couldn’t hold a note with a handle. Anyhoo, here is a pumped-up of version to get your workout started.

Leopard Print Pill Box Hat: Beck

I am a big Bob Dylan fan and this might be my favorite cover of a Dylan song to ever. (Okay—All Along the Watcher by Jimi Hendrix is a strong number two.)

Come & Get It: Selena Gomez

I pray she did not write this for Justin Bieber… that little creep.

Breathing Underwater: Metric

Yesterday two of my boot camp dudes complained this song made “no sense” because “you can’t breathe underwater.” (Sigh—try to inject some culture in people and they get so literal!)

The World I Know: Collective Soul

This is one of those songs that always reminds me of the mid-90s (Sigh, again.)

Hypnotize: The Notorious B.I.G.

Be sure to use the “clean” version if you are playing this in a class!!

Let Forever Be: The Chemical Brothers

Noel Gallagher of Oasis co-wrote this tune and sings the vocals which is why it is so awesome. “How does it feel like—to wake up in the sun? How does it feel like—to shine on everyone?” Love it!

Paralyzer: Finger Eleven

This song gets the whole room to work harder and sing along.

Left Hand Free: alt-J

This is a brand new song from an indie based in Leeds, England and it made stop and take notice the first time I heard it.

Came Back Haunted: Nine Inch Nails

Trent Reznor came back from a long absence writing movie soundtracks to resurrect the Nine Inch Nails last year and this is my favorite song from that album. Perfect for interval sprints.

Sirens: The Pack A.D.

This band is from Vancouver and they can rock out.

Ring of Fire: Social Distortion

This is an example of a song that I used to play weekly and then just had to stop as it was starting to get on my nerves which is just NOT okay. Glad to be able to enjoy it again and hope you do as well! (The live version in the video is super-fun.)