Use Competition to Exercise More
In the competitive groups, class attendance was as much as 90 percent higher than in the control group.
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Want to exercise more? Get competitive.
A study published in the journal Preventive Medicine Reports found that competition was a stronger motivator for exercise than friendly support, and, in fact, that friendly support made people less likely to go to the gym.
Researchers theorize that, though well-intended, friendly support hones in on those who do not participate or participate less, making them feel exposed and as if they failed, resulting in them being more likely to quit.
In the competitive groups, however, class attendance was as much as 90 percent higher than in the control group. Researchers believe this was because relationships were framed in terms of goal setting, giving participants higher expectations of their own performance.
Push your motivation to new heights: Start a walking challenge with your friends, join a CrossFit box, or get muddy with some pals at an obstacle race such as Spartan (spartan.com) or Rugged Maniac (ruggedmaniac.com).