Is YOUR Mind Blocking You From Getting Fit? 5 Mindsets of the Fit & Healthy.
No matter how healthy or fit we feel we have become, at some level we are affected by our past conditioning and how we think. I was not born a sports-mad kid. Actually, I was quite the opposite. At 10 years old, I was a very overweight little girl. I felt complete embarrassment. I felt immense shame. I felt like a defect.
My health and fitness did not start to flourish until I began modeling my mentality after truly fit and healthy people. This was something I discovered more deeply while completing my master’s in sports psychology. It also helped me to see the lives of my clients and colleagues change dramatically by changing their thoughts. Everything begins in the mind.
Five Mindsets for the Healthy
Mindset #1: People who are healthy believe that they have complete control over their destiny, rather than being predetermined.
The healthy don’t ever allow physical limitations to stop them from achieving their divine destiny. Nick Vujicic was born without arms and legs. His life was not easy. His life is filled with joy and purpose after overcoming adversity. Nick, now 30, has a wife, and they travel the globe sharing inspiring messages of hope, accomplishment, and love. He understood that everyone needs love and hope, and that he was uniquely positioned to share it with others. He said, “Dream big, my friend, and don’t give up.” Everyone makes mistakes. But no one is perfect. How can the world rise from your presence? You did indeed arrive for a divine purpose.
Mindset #2: The healthy get their metabolism to work for them instead of trading time for health.
A healthy metabolism investor is well-informed on nutrition and a workout program that works. Their metabolism starts to pay off long-term when they master the art of consistency. Because their hormonal system & metabolism are running efficiently, they can be burning fat more efficiently during workouts and even at rest!
Mindset #3: Healthy people influence their friends and family members in positive, inspiring ways and bring them along for the journey.
Mark, one of my most inspirational clients, had spent many years on a downward spiraling addiction path of drugs, alcoholism, and jail time. He could have easily lost the rest of his life. He hired me and we began rebuilding his physique and life. Mark dedicated his whole life to good nutrition and better workouts. Mark became a strong, muscular man and lost 5% of his body fat. I helped him achieve his personal training certification. Today, Mark is sober and continues to help his family, friends, and community by his fitness example and training and has inspired many.
Mindset #4: Healthy people focus on opportunities instead of obstacles.
Sports psychologists use mental skills training to help enhance athletes’ performance. One aspect of this training entails looking at the bright side of a situation. This is positive psychology. Seligman states that’seeing obstacles rather than opportunities’ doesn’t only affect behavior, but also affects the cellular level, making the immune system less passive. Healthy individuals are less likely to give up on their exercise routine when a challenge arises. A positive outlook is an important part of your inner strength and overall well-being.
Mindset #5: Healthy people see fear differently – they learn to act in spite of it.
Pema Chodron stated, “If fear is not understood, you will never be fearless.” Healthy people recognize the presence of fear and trek forward regardless because they understand that fear is a natural reaction to moving closer to the truth, or higher accomplishments.
Stefanie Basso
NSCA Certified Trainer, NCSF Sport Nutrition Specialist BA Exercise Science, MS Sport Psychology
Ph.D. Holistic Nutrition San Diego, CA 92122
Email: [email protected], www.steffitness.com
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