In most cases your body can accomplish whatever your mind tells it to do, (within reason). Call it motivation, the drive to succeed, goal setting, whatever. Having the proper mindset will get you to your goal. But there are some rules…..
1) Don’t set yourself up for failure
You have to be careful that your mind does not set your body up for failure. For example, if you’re trying to lose weight, don’t think that you’re going to lose 50 pounds in a couple of months. That isn’t likely to happen, and in most cases, you wouldn’t want it to happen that quickly. Instead, imagine that you can lose one or even two pounds per week. That is a realistic goal, and you can do it.
2) Do it for yourself
Another thing about mindset is that the goal you set for yourself has to be for, and about, you. Don’t try to set your goal to make someone else happy. Look at addictions — smoking, drugs, alcohol. How many times do people try to stop before they really do quit? If they are doing it because their spouse wants them to, or for some other reason besides their own really wanting to quit, they‚ fail. But once they set their mind that they themselves do want to quit, it becomes possible. Then it happens. So the lesson is that if someone else sets your goal, or if you set your goal around someone else, you don’t own it. You stand a greater chance of failing.
3) What’s in it for you?
Part of setting your mindset is figuring out a reward for attaining some level of achievement. What will yours be? And when? When you set your goal, select your reward for when you reach it. You can even pick smaller rewards at milestones along the way. Make sure your reward doesn’t jeopardize your effort. If your goal is to lose 30 pounds, your reward shouldn’t be eating a bag of potato chips. Make your reward something tangible, and worth the effort to obtain, but one that won’t sabotage your efforts.
4) Success builds on success
Once you get close to achieving your fitness goal, set a new and higher goal. You will be in the mindset of working toward something, so keep that carrot on a stick hanging out in front of you. That will maintain your momentum, and keep you from falling back into your old ways.
Changing your mindset is about deciding to go in a different direction, having the drive and determination to get there, and then staying there by making it a habit. They say that it takes at least 21 days to form a habit. It can take up to 6 months to change a habit, so stay the course and expect a set-back or two before you can say your fitness mindset is your new habit.
Perhaps you’ve tried before to get more fit, lose weight, live healthier, etc. Maybe you’ve tried more than once. For whatever reason, it didn’t work. Well, now there’s a plan just for you. Because no matter who you are, no matter how unfit you may be, YOU can be more fit in 4 weeks than you are today. Coming soon…..the Say No To Stroke 4 Week Fitness Plan, (now in preview).
