FitRep for April 9 - Off Duty, Military Health and Fitness - Navy Times

FitRep for April 9

On the radar this week:

Hunger Games workout

The New York Sports Clubs franchise is unveiling a workout based on the battles for survival in the book and movie franchise “The Hunger Games.” Designed by former Marine Eric Salvador, the “Train Like a Tribute” workout invites attendees to master skills crucial for survival in the notorious Arena of “The Hunger Games”: archery, tree climbing, speed work and strength training. The cardio and weight-infused exercises — including “Katniss Kickbacks” and “Peeta Presses” — invite attendees to channel lead characters Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Melark.

Willpower: Don’t force it

Getting through your workouts on willpower alone may not be the best approach, according to a new study in the journal Motivation and Emotion. Thinking of active words to control behavior such as “fight” and “overcome” made study participants more likely to make impulsive decisions, Medical News Today reports. “Ironically, in these situations people are often ‘fighting’ to do nothing — for example, they want to not eat a piece of cake,” said researcher Justin Hepler, a University of Illinois graduate student. Participants who thought of words such as “rest” or “stop” were less impulsive, scientists said, likely because people who are relaxed find it easier to overcome temptation.