Fitness: Is this mood sabotaging your fitness?

Think you get your best workout when you’re in a good mood? Maybe, but according to a new study, being in a good mood may make you less likely to exercise in the first place.

According to researchers from John Carroll University in University Heights, Ohio, you’re more likely to exercise if you’re in a neutral frame of mind, rather than happy or sad, reports CTV News.

For the study, 153 university students were divided into three groups. Each group watched a movie designed to put them in a positive, negative or neutral mood. After watching the videos, the students completed a fitness questionnaire. Approximately two-thirds of the students reported exercising at least three times a week. The majority of the students also indicated that they believe regular physical activity to be an important behaviour. However, the results also showed that those who watched the happy video were less likely to plan a workout than those in the neutral group. Those who viewed the sad video were the least likely to plan a workout.

According to the researchers, being in a happy or sad mood led the students to decide other activities were more appealing than exercise. They emphasized the importance of finding a way to get to the gym, even if you’re not in the mood.

Plus, exercise could even help get you out of that sad mood. Studies show that being active can boost your mood and even help combat mild or moderate depression. (Just 20 minutes a day, three times a week can make a difference.)

Are your emotions sabotaging your fitness? When do you feel like you get your best workout?

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