Healthy Tip of the Week:   

 Mental Skills You Need to Get Through ANY Workout

By Cory Stieg 

 When you're dripping sweat, your heart is pounding, and your legs are on fire, finishing a workout is tough. Whether it's trucking through that last mile, squeezing in that last rep, or staying in that yoga pose for 10 more seconds, we've all been there.  

Sometimes you feel like you're running on empty because you are. Go through a pragmatic checklist: are you dehydrated, hungry, inured, or sleep-deprived? If you answer 'yes' to any of those questions, listen to your body and consider giving yourself a break. But if not, it's time to switch up your mentality and finish your workout strong. Ready? Try these tips:

1. Pump Up the Jams

Having one go-to anthem to amp up is key! Research shows that music motivates you to work out harder and for longer - so having that anthem at the ready might be just what you need to bust out that last set of burpees. Plan ahead by making an "Emergency Playlist" full of get-pumped tunes that you can turn on when you're about to call it quits.   

2. Have a Fitness Mantra

It doesn't matter if it's a Ghandi quote or a Snoop Dog lyric - pick a phrase to tell yourself when you feel like giving up. Different words create resonance in the body for different people. So use a phrase with a personal connection that you know will light a fire under your butt.  

3. Negotiate With Yourself

Make a deal with yourself that when you finish your workout, you can have a reward. You have to dangle a treat in front of yourself. Visualizing that post-workout prize helps you take yourself out of the present tense for a moment and makes that last rep or mile seem worth it.  

4. Remember the Good Times

When you feel like you're ready to quit, tell yourself, I've been through this before, and I've overcome it before. If you're running a race, think back to your long training runs and say, "Last time I had trouble on the fourth mile, but I pushing through it, and I was so glad I did." The philosophy is simple: Complete a workout once, then use that success as motivation for your next one. Then eventually you can say, "I've dealt with this before, and I've always gotten through it." Maintaining a positive attitude through the end of your workout will help you want to come back for more.  

5. See Your Results

Imagining yourself accomplishing your goal can help you push through a mental roadblock. Exercisers who focus on the outcome of each exercise are able to complete more reps than those who focus on the individual movements required to complete the exercise. For example, let's say you're struggling to finish your last chin-up. Imagine getting your head above the bar rather than flexing and extending your biceps- you'' be able to pump out more than you think. When you're stuck at mile three, visualize how you'll look after mile six. You have to be able to see it in order to be able to do it. 

Source: http://www.womenshealthmag.com/fitness/fitness-motivation-tips?cm_sp=Hotlist-_-Fitness-_-5MentalSkillsYouNeedtoGetThroughANYWorkout