Realigning Your Mental Focus For A Healthy Lifestyle
For as much time and money as people spend on gym memberships and enrolling in fitness classes, it is almost comical to hear how often they complain about going. Most people have said more than once in their lives, "I have to go to the gym again?" They act as if it is a punishment and not something that can be enjoyed. The reason most people see it that way is because that is how they treat it: something they have to put up with, like doing their taxes or going to the dentist. Yet at the same time when they are there, more often than not, they see people in great shape saying, "I wish I could be like them." They can be, but it is not just a physical change that will get them there, but a mental change as well.
The most important step to overcoming that obstacle is to think of living a healthy lifestyle in general. People view the gym and working out as the one thing they need to do - or even can do - in their lives that will make them healthier. The fact is it is only one element of what they can do. A healthy lifestyle also involves healthy eating, restful sleep, and stress reduction among other things. Instead of looking at a workout as separate from the rest of their lives, they need to look at it as a component.
This does not mean they have to start running marathons or compete in the next Olympics. It simply means they need to start looking at how the rest of their daily routines affect their performance when they are taking fitness classes or working out with a personal trainer, and in turn, how those activities can enhance the rest of their lives. It can be done in a hundred simple ways: by taking the stairs to the third floor instead of the elevator or choosing to drink water with lunch instead of soda.
People believe that a physical change will affect change on a person mentally and emotionally as well. That is certainly true, but it is a truth that comes with a caveat: that change is not going to happen overnight. After that first bootcamp class, very few people are going to feel like everything is different, especially if they think, "I'm done for the next two days." Instead, think about all the things they could do, little things, between now and that next class. The strongest muscle we have is our mind. By harnessing that power to focus on our new healthy lifestyle, we can ensure ourselves the best chance for success in the long run. We view the opportunity to improve ourselves physically not as an obstacle, but as an opportunity.
About the Author
Jack Terry is a writer and blogger who writes extensively about health and fitness trends. http://www.legacyfit.com
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