Illustrated By Gabriela Alford.Think positive. Seriously, science says it can be that simple. A study published in Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise found that cyclers who used positive self-talk pedaled longer than bikers who silenced their internal chatter.
The even better news is that those who kept an inner dialogue reported a reduced rate of perceived effort. This means that despite exercising more, the self-cheerleaders' training sessions actually felt easier.
So, the secret to not hating your workout might be all in your mind. Adopting a motivational fitness mantra like “I got this” and repeating it to yourself (we won't blame you if you feel the need to shout) might just be the pick-me-up you need to push through. Cue mental spirit fingers.