9 Body Positive Anthems To Work Out To

The only reason I like going to the gym is so that I can listen to my expertly crafted gym playlist. Although bass heavy rap songs often feature on my list of workout jams, making a separate body positive motivational playlist for working out totally inspires me to work out in a different way. The former gets my blood pumping and makes me want to do a backflip and then punch someone in the face (in a good way). The second makes me feel like a queen who can do anything. Both have their time and place, but I just can't help feeling like I'm being emotionally benefitted more when I'm only listening to body positive songs.

Ideally, all songs would be body positive, but that ideal world just isn't one we live in yet. And unfortunately, a lot of body positive songs — the classic "Beautiful" by Christina Aguilera, for instance — aren't exactly beat heavy tunes that motivate you to run on the treadmill. Because above all else, my gym playlist has to have a rhythm for me to push myself in time to. Luckily, there's a select amount of songs that bridge this gap and mean that my gym playlists can be filled with just as much self love as they are with sick beats.

1. "Get Ur Freak On" by Missy Elliot

This song is used on the This Girl Can campaign video by the British government to try and encourage women back into exercising and sports. It's a really great campaign made even better by a totally body positive song.

2. "Anaconda" by Nicki Minaj

Nicki Minaj is a body positivity queen and "Anaconda" is the ultimate body positive anthem, IMHO. However, it is fair to mention that the song can be interpreted to have some skinny-shaming qualities, which is definitely never OK, so it's important to listen to the song and judge for yourself.

3. "I Love It" by Icona Pop ft. Charli XCX

This is the perfect getting over someone song and literal loving yourself anthem. "I don't care, I love it!" is the perfect motto for you doing you.

4. "Run The World (Girls)" by Beyoncé

Who run the world? Girls! Who run the world? You, running around the world on this treadmill.

5. "Fat Bottomed Girls" by Queen

Whether you have a "fat bottom" or not, this is a great celebration tune to sweat it out too.

6. "Bang Bang" by Jessie J ft. Ariana Grande, Nicki Minaj

This isn't just about self love, but about loving your friends and making them feel fabulous too.

7. "So What" by Pink

"I'm still a rock star, I got my rock moves, and I don't need you!" Getting over somebody and loving yourself again is so much easier when it's got a Pink playlist.

8. "Cover Girl" by Ru Paul

All Ru Paul songs are great workout songs. I love this particular narrative of being a fabulous model.

9. "Hollaback Girl" by Gwen Stefani

Yeah, this is your shit. You've got this girl.

So put on those headphones, lace up your workout shoes, and go be your fabulous self.

Image: Kaspars Grinvalds/Fotolia