OK. We’ve decided to get more fit. Get healthier. Get in shape. Whatever the operative phrase is, we’ve all started at the same place. In the mind. Before we can achieve a better physical condition, though, we have to think we can do it. This can be tricky. There are direct and indirect ways to
Set Fitness Goals From the Start
Setting fitness goals – “I will be X% body fat by Y date.” “I will go to the gym X times in the next Y weeks.” “I will be able to do X (fill in your movement of choice) by Y date.” These three examples reflect measurable, specific, and personal goals. Whether they are attainable depends on the individual setting the goal.
Indirect
Wanting to improve personally. Support groups, personal trainers, and mental health professionals who specialize in eating disorders and fitness, are three ways to get help in improving one’s fitness level.
Wanting to catch up to and keep up with peers. Joining a team and doing what it takes to stay there works well for those with a sense of wanting to belong.
Wanting to surpass peers. This works for people who like competition. This can be simply a perception on the part of the individual. A desire to win a weight-loss contest (why do you think the TV show “The Biggest Loser” is such a hit?), win a race, complete a fun run or walk, or participate in any of a number of competitive events, can spur someone into a fitness mindset.
No matter what a person chooses to do to improve his or her fitness level, it has to start in the mind. To paraphrase Dr. Barry Sears, creator of “The Zone,” you’re as close to a fitness mindset as your next thought. Once improving your physical fitness becomes the way you think, good fitness choices will become more automatic.
