Happy Wednesday, lovelies!

A couple of weeks ago I asked you to tell me your favorite workout song of 2012 for a chance to win a pair of custom tangle-free Apple earbuds from Etsy shop owner Holly Bertin of TangleFreeEarbuds.

Well, the drawing winner has been chosen and notified (congratulations, sunshinebabe!) and now I have the top 20 2012 workout songs – a great mix of rock, pop, and even country – sure to get you moving as we walk/run/dance into 2013!

Tangle-Free Apple Earbuds by TangleFreeEarBuds / Earbuds Anonymous

Happy Monday, readers!

It’s December! That glorious month when writers around the blogosphere revel in year-end posts!

“Top This!” “Best That!” “Favorite Blah Blah Blah!”

I love them.

Trust that I’ll try not to overdo it here at Your Body, Your Mind, but there are a few finale blog posts I’d like to explore, and one of them covers your favorite workout songs in 2012.

(Admit it: If you walk, run, lift weights, dance, or do aerobics, you’ve Googled “workout songs,” “workout music,” “running songs,” “aerobic music,” or “exercise music” at some point. I do it all the time.)

Instead of compiling a list of some of my favorite workout music this year, I thought I’d create a list of YOUR favorite tunes to sweat to.

Interested in helping me out? You could win a pair of black and gray custom tangle-free Apple earbuds by TangleFreeEarbuds / Earbuds Anonymous if you do!

Yeah, yeah, so I wrote about all the reasons treadmills suck. I remember. It was back when all that 90+ degree summer heat was breaking, the deliciously pleasant autumn air was teasing my skin, and hitting the track didn’t mean melting (or freezing) my face off.

Now, however, it’s cold. It’s like, Frankenstorm cold, okay? So, no one’s passing judgment if you decide to forgo a jog through the park in favor of a spin ’round the ol’ hamster wheel.

Besides, hamster wheels treadmills can bring some of the same benefits as exercising outdoors, right? For example, if you go to a gym, you can still connect with your community and gain confidence.

Yet…there’s no denying that walking or jogging on a treadmill can get unbearably boring, so below are a few ways to help you beat the misery and stay on track, so to speak.

I subscribe to Dictionary.com’s “Word of the Day,” and a few weeks ago the word of the day was “ataraxia.”

English degree aside, I’d never heard the word (at least, that I can remember), but I instantly fell in love with it. It was around the time I started working out outside again (see Your Treadmill SUCKS! 7 Reasons You Should Get Outside), so I knew exactly what ataraxia meant…

…I’d been experiencing it firsthand every morning on the track.

© Alicia Sparks

Since I gave up the treadmill for the great outdoors, I’ve realized my dog and I aren’t cut out for jogging together.

Sure, she likes to run and chase balls (or run away from ocean waves!), but she’d rather take her time on the track.

Because she gets plenty of exercise and fresh air each day, we’re both okay with that.

However, whether it’s walking, jogging, or running, lots of people prefer exercising outdoors with their pets.

So, last week I asked Your Body, Your Mind readers to chime in with their advice on exercising with pets. Below are the most helpful tips they offered.

When the weather broke a couple weeks ago and I started walking and jogging outside, I thought I’d bring my dog with me. She’s a six-year-old medium-sized mixed breed in good health and I thought it’d be nice for both of us. She’d get some extended time outdoors (Smells! Sounds! Other doggies and people!) and I’d get a workout buddy. Someone to keep me company and keep me on track (no pun intended).

Boy, did I misjudge that.

Despite my longing for Chopper to behave like some of the other dogs I saw on the track (diligently walking or jogging beside their owners, never yanking their parents’ arms out of the socket to go investigate, you know, smells! Sounds! Other doggies and people!), it just wasn’t meant to be.

Granted, I gave it only a few days, but it was clear neither of us would benefit from it. She wasn’t interested in diligent exercise; she wanted to be a dog. I make sure she gets plenty of pet exercise as it is; I needed to take care of myself.

So, we shook paws and chalked it up to a lesson learned.

Of course, I still see the walkers and joggers with their dogs trotting beside them. Obviously, it can be done; though, that’s not my concern now. My concern now, for purposes of this blog and readers who DO want to give exercising with pets a shot, is advice others can offer about running with your dog – or, keeping your exercise and your pet’s exercise separate.

So, please take the time to answer the poll below and in the comments, let us know if you have any tips for exercising with pets or why you choose not to go walking, jogging, or running with your dog.

Your answer might be featured in an upcoming Your Body, You Mind post!

(UPDATE 9-15-22: Comments are now closed! Head over to Tips For Exercising With Pets: Your Body, Your Mind Readers Sound Off! for more information and to add any advice we might’ve …

My city has an absolutely fantastic park, and there’s a long track that extends from it along the edge of the town. It’s a gorgeous, tree-lined path perfect for everything from walking your dog to riding a bike to running.

Now that the temperatures are calming down a little here on the east coast (I’ve been waking up to 70-degree temperatures instead of 90), I’m moving some of my workouts outside again and, if you haven’t already guessed, that means hitting this track every morning.

Don’t get me wrong: I’m no stranger to treadmill walking and I know there are lots of great treadmill workouts out there. I also know that for some, treadmills are the only option for walking, jogging, or running.

However, for me, when it comes to walking on a treadmill vs. outside walking (or running!), I’m going to choose outside workouts every time.

Here’s why.

You don't need a gym for these 10 exercises!

Earlier this week, freelance writer and fitness enthusiast Tania Dakka offered five tips for balancing work, fitness, and life in general.

Now’s a great time to go over some exercises for those of you working to find that balance.

If you’re just reading this, chances are you’re still looking for that balance, right? You haven’t quite mastered it (or, at least, reached the point where you’re comfortable juggling it all), so a list of exercises you can do in 10 minutes will definitely come in handy!

“I always feel good after swimming laps but I [don't have a pool anymore/can't find a swimsuit that fits right/don't want chlorine in my hair].”

“Long walks used to give me time to myself. I’d start again if only I had [somewhere safe to walk/the right shoes/more time in the morning].”

“I know yoga can help me with breathing and focus, but don’t I need [to take a class/buy lots of gear/wear certain clothes]?”

Sound familiar?

We’ve all been there. We know doing [whatever physical activity] brings both physical and mental health benefits, but we don’t do it.

Earlier this week, I told you we’d talk about effective ways to deal with stress that don’t involve stress eating.

The thing is, people de-stress in different ways. What works for me might not work for you, and what works for you might not work for your neighbor.

Despite all the different ways to de-stress, though, most of us have one or two ways guaranteed to help us relax or at least work out all the anger, frustration, and worry that has us feeling stressed.