Cheesy music hits the right note in the gym

Gym-goers love secretly working out to cheesy hits they wouldn't dream of listening to in public, according to a new survey. The study revealed that an amazing 60 per cent of fitness fans pop on headphones and get sweaty to songs they wouldn't openly admit to liking because they are so naff.

Gym-Goers Secret Top 10

Eye of the tiger - Survivor
Holiday - Madonna
Jump - Van Halen
The Final Countdown - Europe
Dancing Queen - Abba
Life is a roller coaster - Ronan Keating
I should be so lucky - Kylie
Love Machine - Girls Aloud
Umbrella - Rihanna
Disco Queen - Hot Chocolate

Male gym-goers confessed that 'Eye of the Tiger' by the band Survivor is the song which inspires them most while pounding away on a treadmill.

The song made famous as the theme tune to the Sylvester Stallone movie Rocky III topped the poll with 19 per cent of men having it on their MP3 player for gym use only.

A top psychologist today described it as the ultimate song about macho heroism and suggested fitness fanatics probably imagine they are Rocky while working out.

The hit 'Jump' by American rockers Van Halen also featured as a naff favourite among male gym goers along with the Europe chart topper "The Final Countdown."

The song women said they most listened to on an MP3 player at the gym but nowhere else was "Dancing Queen" by Abba followed by "Life is a Rollercoaster"
by Ronan Keating.

But the artist both sexes freely admitted listening to in the gym was Madonna.

A total of 26 per cent of woman and 17 per cent of men surveyed by health club chain Fitness First said they listened to the super-fit Queen of Pop while training.

After Madonna, female fitness fanatics are most likely to be listening to Girls Aloud (14 per cent) or Rihanna (10 per cent).

Classical music didn't feature highly as a favorite among gym goers with just 2 per cent saying they tuned into the likes of Bach and Beethoven.

More people - 4 per cent - regularly gave music a miss altogether and tried to improve themselves by listening to foreign language lessons or self-help CDs.

Psychologist Professor Cary Cooper said gym goers want to listen to upbeat music which inspires and motivates them - like 'Eye of the Tiger'.

Prof Cooper, of Lancaster University, said: "Going to the gym is all about energy and drive and Madonna's music is very energising.

"The kind of music people listen to in the gym is very different from the music they might listen to at a spa or health farm which is much more relaxing and calming.

"At the gym people want stimulating and motivating music.

"Perhaps 'Eye of the Tiger' is the best example of this - that's all about motivation and masculinity and pushing yourself in just the same way Rocky did.

"That's very symbolic. In those circumstances he is a role model.

"People might not usually listen to that song or admit to liking it but they associate it with competing and heroism which is very motivating.

"People will listen to high energy stuff like that at the gym on headphones which they would never listen to at home or in the car.

"But privately they probably like it and it fits with what they are doing."

Fitness First, the UK's largest gym operator with 171 clubs, surveyed 200 of its 400,000 members in the UK.

The gym chain is now set to give its members the chance to choose the music played at their gym with the launch of Vote for Music.

Members can go onto the Fitness First website and vote for the type of music they want.

Angie Dowds, personal training advisor to Fitness First, said: "I have so much dodgy music from the 1970s and 1980s on my iPod for the gym.

"I would never usually admit to liking it, but it's perfect in terms of the beat and rhythm for working out.

"I know I'm not alone. So many of my clients, friends and colleagues are just the same. It seems the cheesier the better.

"There's no doubt music can be a real motivator which is why we play music videos on our in-house television screens and encourage members to exercise to music. Fitness First is committed to innovation in all areas of the business and the launch of Vote for Music is a great illustration of providing exactly what members want."

For more information, visit Fitnessfirst.co.uk.