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Wish you were more into the whole workout thing? Here's the key


We’ve tried playlists. We’ve tried buying cute new gear. And while it works…sometimes…others, we just don’t want to get our sweat sesh on. Ever wondered how some people manage to get excited about working out while you’re more “meh” than “yay”? A new study says it might just be your memory that’s holding you back—or rather, not utilizing it.

The University of New Hampshire study split 150 students into three groups. The first was asked to think about positive workout experiences to increase exercise motivation. The second was asked to think about negative experiences. And the third, the control, was told not to think about past experiences at all.

In a totally not shocking conclusion, the students who thought about positive experiences they’ve had exercised the most over the next week. But in an unexpected twist, the group that thought of negative experiences also exercised more than those who didn’t think (er, about exercising) at all. 

The bottom line? Focusing on sweat seshes past gets your brain in gear for your next workout. Whether you want to feel as good as that one run five weeks ago made ya feel, or want to beat a dismal performance on the rowing machine, using your memory has a huge impact on your motivation. 

What motivates you to work out? Tell us in the comments!

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by Brittany Taylor | 2/1/2016
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