Fitness

8 Mind Tricks to Get the Most out of Your Workout

These sneaky mental strategies and workout tips will help you get fitter, slimmer and stronger

by Emily Woodruff | COMMENT

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Reward Yourself From end-of-year bonuses to loyalty programs, we're an incentive-based society. So why not use one at the gym?

Anna Kaiser, founder of AKT in Motion, and trainer of celebs like Shakira and Sarah Jessica Parker, says she makes a deal with clients who are really struggling. "If they finish their workout without stopping, they can put $20 in a cup. When the cup reaches $100, we'll buy them an amazing new workout outfit to rock," says Kaiser. Think of it as making deposits into your fitness bank.

There's one caveat to the reward system approach: Never, ever reward yourself with food for working out. Studies show that we overestimate how many calories we burn. So when we treat ourselves to a slice of pizza or an extra large caramel latte, we end up eating way more than we burned off in the first place.

Instead, use an app like Pact that pays you (with real money!) for going to the gym (and also slaps you with a "lazy tax" if you skip), or Charity Miles, which donates to a charity of your choice for every mile you bike, run or walk.

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