Almost as critical as having the right kind of shoes, having the right kind of music can really make or break a potentially great workout.  Without a doubt music is the quickest way to shake things up and help put that added energy into your exercise plan. 
The best thing about having ear phones is that you are the only one who can hear what you are listening to.  No one can judge your workout music taste — what we listen to is just between us, our ears, and our feet. But…do you ever wonder what songs pump up other people?  Are you a little embarrassed by your Brittney Spears work out obsession or proud of your best of Madonna mix?
The truth is, music breaks up the monotony and can spice up any workout.  Are you tired of the same old ipod shuffle every time you workout?  Looking for some new tunes? Here are a few favs from our Get Healthy staff.  Leave a comment and tell us about your favorite workout tunes!

Funkytown by the Lipps Inc.
Jump by Van Halen
Freedom by George Michael
Disturbia by Rihanna
Bitter Sweet Symphony by The Verve
We Got the Beat by the Go-Go’s
Hurts So Good by John Mellencamp
Super Freak by Rick James
You cant touch this by MC Hammer
Let’s Get Physical by Olivia Newton-John
The Double Dutch Bus by Frankie Smith
Fall Out Boy
Janet Jackson

Spring is a great time to go outdoors. The sound of birds chirping, the warm rays of sunshine, and the mild temperatures make it ideal to walk, ride a bike, skate, or find another active form of transportation instead of driving. In order to help share the road safely with automobiles, keep the following tips in mind:
•Stop at the corner and look both ways before stepping onto the street.
•Use marked crosswalks and make eye-contact with drivers that are stopped at an intersection to ensure that they are aware of your presence.
•Continue to watch for traffic as you cross the street and watch for cars making turns across your path.
•Don’t walk behind a car that is backing up as they may not see you.
•Be especially cautious when approaching a driveway or parking lot entrance/exit.
•If you are riding a bicycle in a designated bicycle lane keep in mind that automobiles may use this lane to make a right turn.

If you are a driver, be mindful of people outdoors and respectful of their presence:
•Be extra alert around schools and in areas where a lot of children are present as they can be very unpredictable.
•Before making a left or right turn at an intersection, ensure the crosswalk is clear.
•If cars are stopped in the street don’t just pass, they may be yielding to a pedestrian.
•When entering or exiting parking lots, look both ways before proceeding, even in one-way traffic—a pedestrian could be approaching from your right side on the sidewalk.
•If you need to cross over a bike lane to make a right turn, be sure that it is clear of cyclists and remember that they have the right of way.
Check out http://www.accessclarkcounty.com/depts/public_works/Pages/traffic_info.aspx for access to PDF’s of flyers addressing a variety of traffic issues.

The problem with eating while you are watching television is threefold:
1. Eating while viewing television is mindless eating.
You are not paying attention to the amount of food you eat while watching your favorite show.
How often do you bring the entire bag of chips to the couch and before you know it half the bag is gone by the end of the show. Instead why not leave the bag in the kitchen and bring a small bowl size of snacks with you to the couch. You are less likely to get up and get more. Therefore preventing a bag of chips on the hips! Even better make your snack a healthier one like baby carrots. This will provide the mindless crunching you crave with very few calories and lots of good-for-you nutrients.

2. Watching television is a sedentary activity.
Let’s face it, watching television doesn’t normally elevate your heart rate, cause you to move your major muscle groups, or make you break a sweat. (Okay, a football game can occasionally do that to some people)  Your total screen time shouldn’t exceed 2 hours, and if you find yourself sitting that much during your leisure time it is possible that your health could benefit from virtually any type of physical activity. If you are going to sit and watch TV, make it more active by getting up and moving during the commercials. A one hour show has about 16 minutes of commercials, so if you are the average adult that watches 4½ hours of television daily, you could get over 1 hour of physical activity by moving during the commercial breaks!
3. Television commercials encourage us to eat more.
How much of those 16 minutes of commercials have to do with food?  A LOT!Does food marketing really get us to eat more?? A few things to chew on….
The big golden arches spend upwards of $1 billion a year trying to get us to eat more of its hamburgers, fries and sodas. This year, even in these bad economic times, they have managed to announce they will open 1,000 new restaurants. If food advertising didn’t work, why would food and beverage companies continue to spend billions on advertising?
 Combine the sedentary nature of TV and the constant exposure to food ads and you have a recipe for disaster.  Talk about putting your will power to the test!  After hours of contemplation a solution comes to mind……….turn off the tv.