Get the Right Music to Blast More Calories

Countless studies show that exercising to music motivates most of us to train harder and longer. Deekron, "the Fitness DJ" recently launched a free music site where he creates playlists for different kinds of activities, from running and hiking to weight-lifting and interval training, which may help amp up your workout. After two million free downloads, the music site has been credited by its listeners with helping them exercise more, dropping weight faster and setting new personal bests in races and triathlons.

What's the secret? "Music that is specifically designed for fitness," said Deekron, executive producer of Motion Traxx. While music can be a powerful motivator for exercise, a typical playlist is not always sufficient. His non-stop mixes feature songs that have motivating rhythms and beats per minute based on movement patterns within specific activities. "I synchronize the tempo of the music to the pace of the movements, helping you and the music become one," he said.

Deekron, the Fitness DJ, whose music has been used by more than 10,000 fitness instructors around the world, has come up with a Top-10 playlist to inspire and energize your own cycling workouts and self-styled Spin classes:

1. 105 BPM warm-up "Sound of Everything" by Quantic and Alice Russell
2. 128 BPM "Leave The World Behind" by Axwell, Ingrosso, Angello and Laid Back Luke
3. 146 BPM "All The Right Moves" by One Republic
4. 150 BPM fast sprints "Love Drunk" by Boys Like Girls
5. 115 BPM slow climbs "Paparazzi" by Lady Gaga
6. 127 BPM "Shots" by LMFAO and Lil John
7. 175 BPM fast challenge "Rude Boy" by Rihanna
8. 105 BPM recovery ride "Adir Adirim" by Balkan Beatbox
9. 130 BPM "Uprising" by Muse
10. 98 BPM cool-down "Trust Me" by JT Donaldson

For a free download for your next Spinning workout, try Motion Traxx episode 32 "Get Cyc'd!" an interval mix designed as a Hill Ride. Motivating music will push you and set your pedal pace, while Equinox Fitness Club instructor Gregg Cook coaches and guides your ride. Or log onto That's Fit for our take on cool tunes.

Fitness expert Nicole Dorsey Straff is a Los Angeles-based exercise physiologist and author, and frequently writes about diet, health, and wellness.