Finding what motivates you to workout is definitely a hard thing to do –no one is denying that. Have you ever planned on working out, but found yourself on the couch, three episodes into your latest Netflix obsession, and not been able to get yourself to the gym or do your at-home workout? While you can justify staying on the couch to yourself (I’ve had a long day), it’s not always as easy to justify it to another person.
If you have ever lied about finishing that super intense HIIT workout when you actually finished that super intense season of your show instead, you can take comfort in knowing that you are not alone.
How many people lie about working out?
A recent survey of 2,000 American adults revealed that 19% of people have lied about working out in the past.
People have their reasons to lie about doing things. According to the survey, 37% of the people who have lied about working out did so in order to convince another person that they were busy. Others reasons for the lie included hoping to impress another person, which 35% of liars reported as their reason, compared to 31% of people who actually used the lie because they were too embarrassed to admit what they were actually doing.
The survey, which was conducted by OnePoll on behalf of Gatorade, also found that 37% of people are likely to finish a workout early because they forgot something, while 30% of people have actually skipped an entire workout because they did not have an “essential” item.
What do exercisers deem as an essential item?
According to the survey, sneakers were among the most essential items, with 83% of respondents saying they are essential to a successful workout.
After sneakers, 70% of people believe that workout bottoms are essential, followed by 69% saying socks, 67% saying hydration, and 64% saying a workout top.
Slightly more than half (56%) of respondents said that their headphones are included on their list of required workout gear, while 50% of respondents said they would’t even be able to make it through their exercise routine without their favorite music to keep them going.
When it comes to what music works best to keep an exerciser motivated, that is definitely down to personal preference, but survey respondents listed certain songs more than others. Some of the go-to exercise tunes were Queen’s “Another One Bites the Dust,” Survivor’s “Eye of the Tiger,” ABBA’s “Dancing Queen,” Katy Perry’s “Roar” and Lizzo’s “Truth Hurts”.
What is the most essential item during a workout?
While sneakers and music are important for a successful exercise session, 93% of respondents said that it’s extremely important to have something to hydrate themselves during a workout.
“Beyond decreased performance, dehydration can also cause you to feel weak, fatigued and light-headed, which may make you want to skip working out entirely,” said James Carter, senior director of the Gatorade Sports Science Institute. “It’s important to take in fluids and electrolytes to help replace what you’re losing in sweat so you get the most out of your workout.”
Jennifer Fabiano is an SEO reporter at Ladders.