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3 Mantras that motivate you to exercise

Don't feel like working up a sweat? These magical mantras blow any excuse to use the sports joker.

1:THE EXCUSE:I'm not getting any results anyway
THE MANTRA:positivity is progress

Okay, it's true that you won't see a visible difference tomorrow if you go for a run today. But:you immediately feel better. Today then, because tomorrow and the day after tomorrow the muscle pain will come. Try to see this positively. Your muscles burn, your body changes. You make slow progress. It takes an average of four weeks before you see your body change. After about eight weeks, your friends and family will see the difference and the rest of your environment twelve weeks after the start. This is a motivating way to remind yourself that you won't see a difference overnight. Keep that in mind if you tend to throw in the towel. Because if you do, you can start all over again.

2:THE EXCUSE:I don't know where to start
THE MANTRA:Change Brings Change

Swap your croquette sandwich for a salad and the car for your bike. Every step is one. Every small adjustment can change your lifestyle. Take a walk in the area and continuously look for another, slightly longer route. Do you start running? Start with a beginner's schedule and slowly progress to higher levels. This also applies to your fitness training. Don't keep following the same (online) workout for weeks. Increase your exercises and weights. Challenge yourself continuously. Change your lifestyle little by little and change yourself.

Read also: "7 Signs Your Fitness Routine Is Working"

3:THE EXCUSE:I prefer netflix at home in sweatpants
THE MANTRA:see yourself in the future

Do you recognize that struggle between your present self and your future self? Your current self is now present, working away handfuls of chips and netflixt. Your future self doesn't really want this at all. He wants to look slim, fit and healthy, be able to run five kilometers and squat your buttocks around. Do you want to get your current less fit self off the couch? Now imagine what your life and you could look like if you got fit. What do you want your future self to look like? See yourself in this vision of the future. If necessary, write it down on paper. Stand in front of the mirror and state your goals. Then your current self will come into action a lot easier. Advantage:you're already wearing those sweatpants.

More mantras can be found on pages 94 and 95 in Santé 7/8. Now available online or in store.