No exercise motivation? It's all in your head

Can't get motivated to exercise? Don't blame your body -- it's always ready to work. It's that mind of yours holding you back.

Yep, the body wants to move. The mind? Not always. That's why it's key to cultivate mindfulness, says Director of Exercise Physiology at Canyon Ranch in Lenox, Reba Schecter, M.S., P.T.

"Half of developing a strong exercise habit is noticing how good you feel once you've gotten going on your workout, and how great you feel afterwards," she says. "If you really pay attention to that enlivened, relaxed, good-tired feeling, it becomes much easier to get out the door next time and to your gym or yoga class."

Time to work on your head, then, my friends, so you can work on that bod of yours. Here are three ways to help yourself commit.

• Keep track. Keep an exercise record in a logbook or on a calendar. Jot down what you did and how it felt. Motivation will flow as you see your notes grow, your miles and minutes gain in number, your body benefit from a little hard work.
• Keep pushing. "You have to keep pushing the body a bit -- the technical term is overloading -- if you want to keep the level of fitness you have as you age," Schecter says.
• Keep bowing. When you notice improvement, reflect and take a bow. Completed a triathlon? Yay. Take a bow. Did 10 honest push-ups? Another bow. Whenever you hit a mark, celebrate, says Schecter. Accomplishment is a great reward -- and a great motivator.
  

Is your head in the game? Good. Now get to work.