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Next time you're sweating it out at the gym, pump up the volume on your iPod. Recent studies showed that women who listened to their workout tunes a bit louder than usual not only increased the intensity of the workout but were in a better mood too. During the study, women who listened to loud music did 36 reps of the leg press, compared to 29 reps for women who listened to low or medium-volume music and 26 reps for those who listened to no music at all.

While the findings were true for both cardio and strength training exercises, the difference was most noticeable in participants who were pumping iron. Could it be that listening to music takes your mind off the fact that good grief, this hurts like heck? Yep, study author Janet McMordie tells MSNBC: "Psychologically, music gets you pumped up and it also distracts you from what you're doing," she says. Additionally, listening to music helps bust boredom in even the most routine workout.

A word of caution, though -- don't crank your tunes too much. Prolonged exposure to levels of 85 decibels or higher can permanently damage your hearing.

Ready to fire up your fitness? Check out our That's Fit playlist, sure to inspire you through the toughest of sets.

What are your favorite workout tunes?

Photo: Robert Snache - Spirithands.net, Flickr

Maybe I'm a simpleton, but I run with standard issue iPod earbuds when I want some extra motivation. I know a lot of people who loathe them, I'm just not one of those haters. But what if you curse headphones and those white earbuds? Well over at The New York Times, they're talking about the W-series Walkman, which is essentially two Bluetooth-looking earpieces with the mp3 player built right in.

I guess if everyone on the street knew you were listening to music and not on a conference call while running, it might be OK, but I wouldn't want to look like I just jogged out of a sci-fi movie. Our resident marathon runner and AOL senior health editor Jennifer Fields doesn't think they're geeky, but she's still not jogging straight to the store to buy a pair. "If you're already running with a fuel pack you can't really get caught up in looking geeky," she writes in an email, "but I probably still wouldn't wear them." In full disclosure, we haven't tried them out, so we're just going on looks here. But Marathon Tech Review seems to think if we can get over the sci-fi factor, they may be worth a shot.

If you're looking for something much more discreet, there's always the Arriva earbuds. But what's all this complaining about cords? "That sounds like one of those infomercial tactics where they try to make something seem so much more difficult than it really is," Jennifer says. I agree. But that may be because I'm only jogging a few miles at a time.

When loading up your iPod with workout tunes, Christmas songs are probably the last thing you think of. FitSugar recently ran a poll asking their readers if they would work out to holiday music. At the time I wrote this, 73 percent had responded saying there's no way they'd work out to holiday songs.

Why the bah humbug, exercise fans? Exercise is good for your mood -- add a little bit of cheerful Christmas music to your workout and you'll be a right jolly old elf. (Without the bowlful of jelly.) While Bing Crosby is perfect for nights spent around a crackling fire, consider these relatively more modern songs for your workout:

• Santa Claus is Comin' to Town by Bruce Springsteen
• God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen by Barenaked Ladies
• All I Want for Christmas is You by Mariah Carey
• Rudolf the Red-Nosed Reindeer by Jack Johnson
• What Christmas Means to Me by Stevie Wonder.

What holiday songs do you think would be good for your workout?

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The right playlist can really make a difference in your workout. Music can motivate you and keep you going. My favorite way to exercise is simply to walk around the neighborhood, so I have my iPod loaded with mid-tempo songs that I love. My favorites are:

• Better Together by Jack Johnson
• Dirty Little Secret by The All-American Rejects
• Girlfriend by Avril Lavigne
• Jessica by Maybe August
• Keep Fishin by Weezer
• Cecelia by Simon & Garfunkel
• Makes Me Wonder by Maroon 5
• Paralyzer by Finger Eleven
• Pump It Up by Elvis Costello
• Suedehead by Morrissey

Andrew from Go Healthy Go Fit asked some of the web's top fitness bloggers what songs are on their playlists. Israel Lagares from Fat Man Unleashed favors Eminem and DMX. Rusty Moore from The Fitness Black Book opts for techno and house music. Check out the full article for song picks and playlists from other fitness bloggers.

What workout tunes are loaded on your iPod?

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Feeling stuck about what to buy your sweetie this holiday season? Believe it or not, a fitness gift can be romantic. There's a fine line, however. Guys, if you buy your girlfriend a weight-loss fitness DVD, you are going to have hell to pay. But buy her a romantic weekend away at a ski resort, and you'll get a whole different response.

Fitness can be fun, and it's a great way to spend time together. So think about the different activities you enjoy and find a way you can do them together. Check out the gallery for some ideas.

iPhone and iPod Touch users, get ready to get fit! New, easy to use, and fun applications are just waiting for you to download. What's more ... many of them are free!

iTunes Store has added a category for apps, so after searching for your favorite workout tunes, you can search for a new tool to help you track your exercise minutes, count calories, or monitor your vital statistics while working out.

Whether you're dedicated to tracking your progress and plan to do so from here on out, or you just need to track your progress for a few days to make sure you're still on track, putting an application on your iPhone or iPod Touch makes it easy.

Thank goodness we now have headphone choices instead of the giant earmuffs that once were standard -- those are just so goofy-looking. And trust me, I look goofy enough when I'm working out -- I don't need any help. However, with most headphones, you still have to deal with wires. At least, until now.

For this week's giveaway, we are so thrilled to offer the MOTOROKR S-9 Wireless Headset, as you might have seen on The Biggest Loser (or in Fit Gadgets just a couple of weeks ago). It comes with an iPod adapter and works with most Bluetooth-enabled cell phones, so you can listen to your music and take calls, all completely hands (and wires) free! And speaking of free, here's how you can win your own:

• To enter, leave a confirmed comment below telling me what your favorite workout song is.
  
• The comment must be left before 5pm ET on Friday, November 14, 2008.
  
• You may enter only once.
• One winner will be selected in a random drawing.
  
• One winner will receive one Motorola MOTOROKR S9-HD Wireless Headset (valued at $129.99).
• Open to legal residents of the 50 United States, and the District of Columbia who are 18 or older.
  
  

Click here for complete Official Rules.

Winners are notified by email, so make sure to check next week to find out if you're the winner!

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Around here, we're fans of The Biggest Loser. While we might not always agree with everything the trainers say, one thing that's tough to dispute is that having the right equipment can go a long way toward staying motivated. Just imagine trying to complete a long run without rocking out to your favorite playlist!

A few weeks ago, The Biggest Loser featured the Motorola MOTOROKR S9-HD headset (check out the video right here), which is a device that allows you to listen to music (or a workout) via Bluetooth while taking hands-free calls from most Bluetooth-enabled cell phones so you won't miss that call about the race coming up next weekend.

The S9-HD wireless stereo headphones offer high-def surround sound with noise-isolating ear buds. Plus, from a girlier standpoint, it goes around the back of your head, low enough that it shouldn't interfere with your ponytail. It also goes over your ears, so it won't slip or move out of place even during the most grueling workout. But it gets even cooler.

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One of my pet running peeves is the seemingly inevitable thing that happens usually 2 km into my run: My shoe laces come untied. And once I get going, I hate stopping until it's over -- I often feel like taking this forced break breaks my stride. So when I read about bubble laces, I was pretty ecstatic. Apparently, their funky design keeps them from loosening while you're running -- it's such a simple concept but one that could make a huge difference in my runs. They're on my Christmas wish list -- though at only $2 a pair, I could probably just pick them up on my own.

What else is on my wishlist? The Nike + iPod sports kits that connects to your shoes and not only records your workout but also keeps you motivated and can sync your songs to your running rhythm

I'm curious to know -- what other running gadgets can you not live without? Please share. For some inspiration, check out our featured Fit Gadgets here.

(via Fresh Fitness Tips)

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Apparently, the bra is a multi-functional tool. Check out this video to find out what Fitz does with hers!

For more fun quick fit tips and recipes from degree health and fitness experts ...

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Rumors have been swirling around the media about the state of Steve Jobs' health. But the Apple founder laughed them off at a recent conference unveiling the new iPod touch. "Rumors of my death have been greatly exaggerated," the tech magnate joked, quoting Mark Twain.

Still, there's no doubt that Jobs has undergone a pretty dramatic transformation, slimming down from his portly 2002 self to the almost scary skinny man we see today. Rumors abounded that Jobs had undergone gastric bypass surgery, and questions about his health caused Apple shares to plummet.

But don't think the weight loss has escaped Jobs' attention. He himself admits that he could stand to gain some weight, adding, "I'm doing just fine. I'm healthy."

(via Calorie Lab)

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Well, not really. But you can get the body that comes from riding waves with a big bonus: your kid might like watching while you do. Who knows? Maybe they'd even join you.

Surf Stronger is a workout video series that incorporates surf video and stars two-time runner-up World Champion surfer, Serena Brooke. Talk about inspiration!

For me, this workout would be a bit melancholy, as I still miss surfing my native Southern California waves as a Northern Virginia transplant. I'm no Serena, not even close. But longboarding at San Onofre with my dad are memories I hold dear. Watching the waves from my basement is something I never thought possible. I love the idea nonetheless, especially with cooler months approaching faster than a pipeline off the North Shore coast.

So I didn't get an iPod for my birthday, I got a much-needed water softener instead. Unfortunately, that water softener won't motivate me on the neighborhood jogging route.

But as MarathonRookie.com points out, we don't need those earbuds if we simply listen to the music in our heads. Pop in an inspiring CD in the car or at home before your workout to get the brain primed for a playback jam. If you're an early-morning workout star, listen to your favorite CD the night before.

This idea makes a whole lot of sense to me. Oftentimes I'm subconsciously listening to a song in my head anyway. We do have the power to purposely wire our brain with pumping music to rock our fitness. Maybe that iPod is just a want ... not a need. At the moment I'm brain-jamming to the Eagles' Hotel California -- and you?

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As I have mentioned before, I'm not a fan of carrying anything with me on a run. However, there are certain things I need -- house key, iPod, maybe my phone if I'm going a long distance, even money for really long runs that take me past a gas station. But seriously, there is no way I'm holding on to all that, and I'm pretty sure nobody wants to accept a dollar from my sweaty sock at mile five.

My friends at gracie's gear were kind enough to send some samples of their Power Pouch sports bra and top, and I am sold. Number one, and most importantly, the bra provided excellent support -- throughout a long, intense workout, there was no bouncing or chafing, and if felt phenomenal.

Secondly, the bra is cute -- I have black with pink, but it comes in a bunch of other colors. And it's not low-cut in the front, so it's perfect for those of you who are self-conscious about showing cleavage while you work out. But these aren't the things that set gracie's gear apart from other sports bras.

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When I talk to people about swimming for fitness, I tend to get one of two excuses -- either, "I'm a terrible! swimmer," to which I reply, "Practice!" or they say, "It's just so boring, with no music and nothing to watch." This one, I totally get -- I keep myself interested by timing my laps, but I can absolutely understand where people find lap swimming a bit dull.

But that excuse will fly no more.

There are a multitude of waterproof cases and waterproof iPods on the market, many allowing swimmers to go as deep as 10 feet without endangering the iPod or sacrificing sound quality. The one that seemed to keep popping up as I did my research was the iSH2 Natalie Coughlin Signature Series Waterproof Headset by H2O Audio.

Fit Gadgets: Underwater iPod(click thumbnails to view gallery)

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