Mindset is important: Ways to cultivate a positive mindset towards fitness

Working out is hard! Especially when you haven’t started or done it in a while. It can take a lot to get you motivated to get started. Sometimes people work out for weight loss, health, the doctor told them to, change of mindset, and many more. What’s important is that you focus on the mindset that you have towards working out. If the mindset is negative, then working out can feel like a chore and something that you don’t want to do. At that moment, the negative feelings outweigh the positives that can come after working out. This happens to pretty much everyone. It’s difficult starting something new. However, here are some pointers to help you turn that negativity into positivity to create a more positive mindset towards fitness and working out.

Setting realistic goals

When setting a goal, you want to make sure that they are achievable and realistic. For example, saying “I want to run a marathon under 4 hours in 2 months” and you’ve never run before, makes this goal is unrealistic. Therefore, when you don’t achieve it, then negative feelings start to kick in. You want to make sure that you are gradually working towards your goal. Set a big goal, and then split it apart into smaller, more digestible goals. Another way of rewording the above goal could be, “I want to be able to complete a marathon in a year”. You can break this down into smaller goals, for example:

• I want to be able to jog consistently for 30 min in 1 month.
• I want to be able to run consistently in a 5k in 2 months.
• I want to be able to run a 10k in 6 months.
• …..and so on.

Finding Enjoyment in what you are doing

Here’s the thing, if you don’t like what you are doing, the likelyhood of you continuing will be very small. It’s important to find activities that you love in order to start your fitness journey. Try group classes, dancing, walkin, hiking, swimming, strength training, etc. What’s important is to get yourself moving. As your body becomes used to it, you’ll more than likely want to integrate new activities.

Focus on your health

Sometimes our focus is physical and we want to look a certain way. While this is ok, it should not be the sole goal/focus of your fitness journey. Working out is about feeling strong, getting healthy, having more energy, and gaining confidence. As you progress, the weight-loss will follow, since it’s pretty much a byproduct of working out and eating healthy. Focus on the right things and the rest will come.

Practice gratitude & positive self-talk

Talking negative to yourself can derail any wellness journey. It’s important to know that things are not always going to go smoothly & perfect. You need to give yourself grace. Starting a new journey is bound to have a couple of set-backs. Also, cultivating gratitude for your body and everything that it can do, can help overcome any setbacks and instill a sense of strength and resilience. It’s a privilege to be able to wake up and move, so it’s important to replace that negative talk with positive affirmations. Some examples are:

• “My body is capable of more than I can even imagine.”
• “I exercise because I love my body.”
• “I am worth the energy I dedicate to myself.”
• “I am so grateful for my resilient spirit that keeps going no matter what.”

Surround yourself with like minded individuals

Nothing feels worse than to have a friend or family member put down our fitness journey, especially when starting off. Having a group of supportive individuals can go a long way to your success. Supportive people doesn’t just have to be family & friends, you can also gain comradery at the gym. If you find a group that “clicks” in a group class or at the gym floor, this will go a long way towards your success. Remember, not everyone is at the same phase in their journey as you are. You might have to distance yourself from some people while you start, and that’s ok. It’s important, however, to be honest and upfront as to how you are feeling.

Celebrate ALL of your successes

Focusing on progress & not perfection is super important. Throughout your journey, you need to celebrate everything that you have accomplished, however minute you think it is. Whether it’s completing a new activity/workout, making healthier food choices, lifting heavier, or running a little farther it’s important to recognize this and CELEBRATE!

Different ways I cultivate mindfulness and get my body moving

By adding some of these strategies into your fitness journey, you can cultivate a more positive mindset when starting to work out. As time goes on, and the “rough patch” passes, you’ll notice that you’ll crave movement and working out. It not only helps you physically, but also mentally and emotionally. The only hard part initially is to get started, so rip off that band aid and get your movement on!!