The Low-Effort Way to Make Your Workout Easier

culled from:goodhousekeeping.com
Pushing yourself at the gym is hard. Just five minutes in, and we're ready to give up. And we know we're not alone. Well, it turns out all you have to do is change your attitude and you'll get better results. According to a study published in Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, giving yourself a self-motivational pep talk can help you exercise harder and longer.
Researchers split 24 participants into two groups and studied them while they were cycling. The group that thought positively was able to reduce their rate of perceived exertion by 50%, meaning they were actually working harder than they thought. So the real secret to not hating your workout is all in your head. Which is a good thing because the American Heart Association recommends 150 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise each week, or 75 minutes of vigorous aerobic exercise.
So the next time you're ready to quit, try saying "I can do this," or "I can feel my body changing already" to give yourself a little push. Or, even better, grab a friend and motivate each other.