After being diagnosed with ankylosing spondylitis (also known as Bechterew’s disease), Trude decided to take back control. Seven years later, she is symptom-free - and now teaches others about motivation and mental health.
Trude Hjulstad has always been fascinated by how our thoughts and choices affect our health. With a master’s degree in psychology and further education in mental training and executive brain functions from NTNU, she has both professional and personal insight into how the brain and body work together.
But a few years ago, theory was put to the test.
“I had experienced pain and inflammation for several years without knowing why. When I finally received the diagnosis, I felt both relieved and scared. How would this disease affect my life?”
Accepting the situation took time, but eventually Trude found a key insight:
“Acceptance is not about giving up - it’s about using your energy on what you can actually influence. I decided that the disease would not play the leading role in my life.”
To shift her focus, Trude signed up for the Oslo Half Marathon, with no other goal than to give her brain a new project.
“Signing up, paying the entry fee, and telling others strengthens commitment. That was the start of a real mindset shift.”
At the same time, she began training at the Training Clinic (Treningsklinikken) in Trondheim.
There, she was tested on a treadmill and leg press machine and received an individualized program with two training sessions per week.
“It was incredibly motivating to have such close follow-up from experts. I was pushed just enough to train correctly - and that made all the difference. After twelve weeks, my VO₂ max increased from 42 to 49 ml/kg/min. It felt like getting a new body.”
After the supervised period, Trude continued training on her own, using the Myworkout app as guidance.
“The app became like a personal trainer in my pocket. I could clearly see my progress - both in VO₂ max and biological age. That made it much easier to stay focused over time.”
Since 2018, she has trained with weekly 4x4 intervals and leg press sessions.
“I’m in better shape now than I was before my diagnosis. Knowing that I hold the key to how I feel gives me a deep sense of security.”
Today, Trude also teaches at the Training Clinic, delivering regular lectures on motivation and mental health.
“It feels incredibly meaningful to combine psychology with my own experiences. I see how powerful it is for people to understand how they can work with their brain, not against it.”
She has also contributed at events such as Arendalsuka and the HAI Conference, where she demonstrated how the Myworkout app makes training safe, measurable, and motivating.
Recently, she also helped facilitate a training session for the Norwegian Ankylosing Spondylitis Association in Trondheim.
“Many were surprised by their results - especially when they saw the difference between biological age and chronological age. It had an amazing motivational effect.”
Trude gives a talk titled “When Your Mind Gets in the Way”, where she shares techniques for building mental strength.
“Your brain can be your best friend - or your worst enemy. That’s why you need to work with it. Mental training is about training your focus, so you make choices that align with your values - even when excuses line up.”
She smiles:
“You can be tired, frustrated, or worried - and still do what you’ve decided to do. Motivation usually comes afterward.”
To others living with ankylosing spondylitis - or chronic conditions in general - her advice is clear:
“Don’t wait. Start now. The body is incredibly adaptable when you give it the right stimulus. If the effects of exercise came in a pill, everyone would buy it - but you can get it for free, through your own effort.”
“For me, health is about more than the absence of pain. It’s about feeling capable, having energy in everyday life, and experiencing joy through movement.”
Measure your VO₂ max, follow safe 4×4 intervals, and track your progress with the Myworkout app.
App Store
Google Play
