“It’s all in your HEAD!” Have you ever had someone say this to you, or thought this about yourself or someone else? If you have ever experienced chronic pain (as I have), you may have considered the possibility that it was-all in your head. Technically, it is-our brains are what measure and respond to pain (but that’s another subject). Today, I want to talk about the fact that your fitness level, which is dictated by your food and exercise choices, is all in your head. It comes down to your mindset.
We all know that a person will not change their habits unless they want it for themselves. We also know that your food choices (nutrition) have more impact on the health and fitness of your body that exercise does. However the biggest factor in developing healthy, sustainable habits is how you think about these things. The fact that there is a plethora of ‘systems’ and diets and regimens and choices available to assist us in the process of losing weight and becoming more healthy, supports the fact that it has more to do with how we approach this task. Our view of the journey will dictate how far we travel toward our goals. Tons of people have succeeded, using a variety of approaches, because the true power to change is not on the outside, it is on the inside, it is in your mind.
It may sound cheesy, but there is power in positive thinking. I do not think this applies to everything in life, but I can attest to the fact that it can have an impact on the way you approach your fitness goals. When your mindset adjusts to a more positive mode, so does everything else. Something as simple as changing “I have to go to the gym today” to “I get to go to the gym today” or, “I can’t eat that” changes to “I choose not to eat that” can become very empowering. When a client shares with me about a situation where they chose not to eat something I always ask, “How did that make you feel?” They always say it made them feel good-but we talk about how it not only made them feel good physically (they avoided the side effects), but that they should feel good emotionally as well-They made a conscious choice that supports their goals.
Making the choice NOT to eat cake can be empowering!
Cultivating this mindset can be a journey in and of itself. Like our fitness goals, it comes down to practice. Just like we teach our muscles how to exercise by doing lots of reps and sets to develop ‘muscle memory,’ we have to practice a different mindset. How do you develop the ability to look at exercise as a good thing? Practice telling yourself that it is helpful in achieving your goal to be healthy, and to live a longer, more fulfilling life. How do you break the cycle of binge eating or over eating? Practice making intelligent choices, even when indulging. It is daily practice, moment by moment at first. Then it is meal by meal and day by day, until you have mastered better habits for a healthier life. That is when you have achieved the ability to make CHOICES for a healthier lifestyle.
If you find yourself in a rut, can’t get started or feel overwhelmed-no worries! I am here to help, and I am just a click or a call away! Connect with me today and I would be glad to support you in your journey toward a healthier and fuller life-
Until next time, be well-
Your Best Fitness Friend
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