De-Stress In 16 Seconds, Really!

In the pursuit of sculpted legs, faster miles or heavier reps, sometimes the most Herculean effort you face is simply lacing up. No more letting those mental roadblocks hold you back. Find out how to think your way fit.

- Sara Angle

Low on motivation to move? When you find yourself regularly skipping or slacking off on your workouts, there’s usually something deeper going on than just a lack of energy. As the hosts of Extreme Weight Loss, a TV programme in the US, trainers Chris and Heidi Powell know well the psychological obstacles that many people get hung up on. “If the mental side of getting in shape is not addressed, then most of us see the effort as a chore and, inevitably, we quit,” says Chris, whose new diet and exercise book, Extreme Transformation: Lifelong Weight Loss in 21 Days, co-authored with Heidi, explores the emotional component of sticking to a routine. Here are the surprising reasons that could be behind why you bail or fail – and how to turn your mind on to exercise again.

You need a simple endgame

Beware of viewing health and fitness as something with an end date – like losing 5kg or competing in a race – instead of as a lifestyle, Heidi says. “Otherwise, once you reach the ‘finish line’, you’ll be much more likely to slip back into old habits.”

Think this could be you? Start teeing up small, easily achievable goals to keep your momentum going, says Michele Kerulis, a clinical lecturer in counselling at Northwestern University in the US. Make sure they’re shortterm and not based on your appearance – for instance, taking a dance class, lifting weights twice a week, or learning indoor rock climbing.