Gym-goers love secretly working out to cheesy hits they wouldn't dream of listening to in public.
The songs we love to hate are the ones that hit the right note when we're pounding that treadmill.
According to a new survey by health club chain Fitness First, 60 per cent of fitness fans pop on headphones and get sweaty to naff songs they wouldn
't openly admit to liking.
Male gym-goers find inspiration from the Rocky classic Eye of the Tiger by the band Survivor. According to the poll, 19 per cent of men have it on their MP3 player for gym use only.
They're on the right track, says psychologist Professor Cary Cooper. He described it as the ultimate song about macho heroism and suggested fitness fanatics probably imagine they are Rocky while working out.
Next on the macho gym-goer's playlist is Jump by American rockers Van Halen, and in at number three is the Europe chart topper The Final Countdown.
For women, Abba still rules the airwaves when they're toning up.
The song most listened to on a female gym-goer's MP3 play-list is Dancing Queen. Second up is Life is a Rollercoaster by Ronan Keating.
A few artists have unisex appeal – like Madonna, Girls Aloud and Rihanna.
Gym-goers want to listen to upbeat music which inspires and motivates them, explains Professor Cooper, of Lancaster University: "Going to the gym is all about energy and drive.
"Perhaps Eye of the Tiger is the best example of this."
Not everyone goes for music, though... Four per cent of gym users use the time to listen to foreign language lessons or self-help CDs.
What do you think? Add your comment below.READ MOREMain news indexYour letters.
FeaturesLatest sport.The full article contains 302 words and appears in Sheffield Star newspaper.
