Video games and workouts don’t mix!

05 Tuesday Jun 2018

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Don’t play a video game on your phone while you’re waiting for your gym class to start. According to a study from the University of Illinois – since mobile games can be mentally stimulating and raise our blood pressure – our brain registers it as activity. And that makes us less likely to want to exercise. In fact, when people played a mobile game for just 5 minutes, they exercised half as long as people who didn’t play a game. So if you need to kill 5 minutes, meditate or listen to music. Your brain won’t think you’ve already been active, and push you to rest sooner.

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What’s the best way to stick with a regular exercise routine?

23 Wednesday May 2018

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behavior, Connie Sellecca, conniesellecca, exercise, gym, habit, intelligence for your life, intelligenceforyourlife, work out, workout

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You need to develop so-called “instigation habits” – that prompt you to work out. That’s according to Dr. Alison Phillips, psychology professor at Iowa State University. So what is an “instigation habit?”

It’s something that not only reminds you to go work out – it makes working out a no brainer. For example:

Make driving past the gym on your way home from work part of your new commute.

Or, make your workout clothes your new pajamas – so when you wake up, you’re already dressed for exercise…

Or put your gym shoes so they’re blocking the front door. So you can’t open it without touching them.

Dr. Phillips’ research suggests it can take at least a month of repeated behavior to develop this so-called instigation habit that’s impossible to ignore.

But once you repeat the same behaviors day after day, she found that having an instigation cue that prompts people to automatically go to the gym works to increase exercise frequency.

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Have you ever heard of Gymnophobia?

01 Thursday Mar 2018

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No, it’s NOT the fear of going to the gym. Instead, it’s the extreme anxiety some people have of being naked! And we’re not just talking about the normal discomfort of being nude around other people. With gymnophobia, people don’t even want to see themselves naked, alone, in a mirror. And their fear can be so extreme, they won’t even shower without wearing SOME clothing – like a bathing suit.

So, what causes gymnophobia? Psychologists say it usually boils down to a negative experience someone had while they were nude. For example: They may have been bullied while changing in the school locker room. Or someone may have made a comment about an unusual birthmark. That can cause people to obsess over their appearance, and worry that they’re too imperfect to be exposed. And their only solution is to “hide” their body – even from their own eyes.

The good news is that, like most phobias, having anxiety about being naked is something that can be overcome with therapy.

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Here’s your new workout mantra…

10 Wednesday Jan 2018

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Instead of saying “I WANT to be in great shape,” say “I’m getting in better shape every day.” Because the word “want” signifies we lack something – in this case, fitness. And when we feel we’re lacking something, we tend to get discouraged. But focusing on our current exercise progress – by saying “I’m getting in better shape every day” – reminds us that we have what it takes to be successful……And that motivates us to get on the treadmill.

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Hitting the gym or sipping a glass of wine?

08 Tuesday Aug 2017

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Would you believe it’s the wine! That’s according to a study from the University of Alberta. They found that the polyphenols in red wine, nuts, and grapes may be just as good for us, if not better, than exercise. That’s because they all contain a compound called resveratrol, which improves bone, muscle and heart health in the same way a workout does. But before you break out the corkscrew, remember… the benefits only come from one glass a day – not the entire bottle. Also, it doesn’t mean you should stop exercising altogether.

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You CAN do it!

27 Tuesday Jun 2017

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Next time you feel your workout dragging, and your energy flagging, give yourself a mental pep-talk. According to the journal Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, trying to convince yourself NOT to feel exhausted can actually make your workout feel HALF as difficult – and power you through. So, tell yourself things like: “You’re doing great!” “Keep pushing!” and “Feeling good!”

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Get motivated at the gym with an audiobook!

12 Friday May 2017

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If you’re having trouble motivating yourself to get to the gym – or go for a run – try this: Download an audiobook. A study from the University of Pennsylvania found that people went to the gym 50% more often when they had an audiobook to listen to.
And once you get to the gym, focus on exercises that use your legs. You’ll burn a lot more calories. That’s because our legs house the biggest muscles in our body – so working them increases our calorie burn.

The day of the week when we’re most likely to work out is:

02 Tuesday May 2017

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Tuesday. Or at least that’s the day we’re most likely to “fitness brag” on social media. And getting in a workout on a Tuesday is a good idea. Exercise psychologist Dr. Michelle Cleere says a workout early in the week can inspire you to keep it up. But if we don’t get a workout in by Wednesday, we’re more likely to blow off fitness for the entire week.

Do we really need to cool down after a workout?

28 Tuesday Mar 2017

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Yes, but NOT because it helps our body recover faster. It’s because doing a cool-down makes us ENJOY our workout more. Kinesiologists from Iowa State University say people who do a cool-down remember their workouts as more pleasant than exercisers who don’t cool down. And it makes them more likely to continue working out. That’s because we tend to remember the LAST part of an experience more vividly than any other part. So if the last section of our workout was a feel-good cool-down session, we’ll think the ENTIRE workout was more pleasant. So what about any physical benefits? Well, doing a cool-down – say by walking after a run – can reduce the chances of dizziness or fainting. Because blood tends to pool in our lower extremities if we work out hard, and then stop cold. So spend 5 to 10 minutes doing an easier version of your workout – or some simple stretches – to get the mental and physical benefits.

Here’s the trick to getting motivated for exercise:

21 Wednesday Dec 2016

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Decide what you’re going to do before you lace up your sneakers – or pull into the gym parking lot. That’s according to New York Times columnist Charles Duhigg, author of “The Power Of Habit.” He says self-determination can override a lack of motivation. So tell yourself as you’re lacing up your shoes – “Today I’m running 3 miles.” Or as you drive to the gym, “I’ll start on the elliptical, then move to free weights.” Having a plan makes us feel in control. In psychology circles it’s known as “the internal locus of control.” It’s the feeling of being in charge of your life – versus feeling that outside forces are determining your course. And when we feel in control, we’re more likely to follow through.

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Tag Archives: gym

Video games and workouts don’t mix!

What’s the best way to stick with a regular exercise routine?

Have you ever heard of Gymnophobia?

Here’s your new workout mantra…

Hitting the gym or sipping a glass of wine?

You CAN do it!

Get motivated at the gym with an audiobook!

Do we really need to cool down after a workout?

Here’s the trick to getting motivated for exercise: