Fitness and the Power of a Positive Mindset

The power of a positive mindset is everything when it comes to reaching your fitness goals. The reason most people quit in the first few weeks is because the mindset just wasn’t there. Sure, like everyone else, they want to succeed. But there’s no real goal, no set plan, and no determination to find a way around any obstacles.

If your mindset is in the right place, you will have a goal. Here’s a hint…losing X number of pounds isn’t a full-fledged goal. Losing X number of pounds by a certain (reasonable) date is a goal that is more fleshed out. Be specific.

The power of a positive mindset is that it leaves nothing to chance. Have a set plan. How are you going to reach your goal? You might use this plan to break your goal down into bite-sized chunks. Instead of 50 pounds, for example, have smaller monthly goals. Maybe 5 pounds per month.

How will you do that? What actions will you put into place?

Meal planning will help tremendously. Exercise is the likely companion to that. What kind of exercise will you do that’s challenging enough to…well, really be a challenge? How many days per week will you do this activity? Will you keep a log of what you do and how you did each time, noting how much of a struggle it is, if it’s getting easier, etc.? What’s your plan for when it is easier and no longer a challenge? How will you progress and make it tougher?

The most telling characteristic behind the power of a positive mindset is if you’re able to overcome obstacles. Trust me, they will happen. Yes, they. Multiple. As in lots. Obstacles will ready themselves to trip you up the moment you set a goal, no matter what it is.

Obstacles pop up to see how badly you really want to reach your goals.

So, what will you do? Cave at the first sign of trouble or find a way around it, over it, or through it? This almost always calls for dogged determination and creativity. If you don’t have a supportive base of family and friends, it may require you to dig deep and do it on your own. You’re capable. If you do have a supportive base, ask them for help. Significant others, or even older children can help handle some of the household things while you get your workout done.

Obstacles can make you feel defeated. But when they do happen, that’s the time to think, “Hey, I’m on the right track here! Now, how can I get past this?” Think about it. There are no real obstacles when it comes to TV or social media, is there? Why? Because those things aren’t important to benefiting your life, health, or well-being, are they? They just suck up your time when you could be doing something productive. Now, I realize you have your favorite shows. That’s what DVR is for.

Now, here’s another thing that can challenge the power of a positive mindset. What if you’re not showing progress, or losing weight as fast as you’d like? Take a deep breath and let’s reset.

Realize that healthy weight loss is not rapid weight loss.

Healthy weight loss is .5-2 pounds per week. Slow and steady wins the race. It’s also the type of weight loss that’s longer lasting. The faster you lose it, the more likely you are to put it right back on. Take the TV show, The Biggest Loser. It was all about rapid weight loss and the majority of contestants put the weight right back on after the show.

But listen, half a pound is nothing to sneeze at. Half a pound per week adds up to 26 pounds in a year. I’ve heard people complain about “only” 2 pounds per week. Well, “only” 2 pounds per week adds up to 104 pounds in a year. What’s wrong with that?

Part of your powerfully positive mindset is having a really good grip on reality. Some weeks you might not even lose half a pound. It happens. It definitely happened to me. And I still lost 65 pounds in a year. It took a full year for me to reach my goal.

Reality check!

I can guarantee you that you absolutely will not reach your goal by next weekend, by next month, or two months. Depending on how big your goals are, it’s going to take time. It took you years to get out of shape. It doesn’t have to take years to get back into shape, but it definitely won’t happen overnight.

And…one thing is certain.

The only way you will fail, is if you give up altogether. Know that even if you don’t see results right away, good things are happening inside. Hormones are shifting, endurance is improving, pulse and blood pressure are improving, cortisol levels are decreasing, muscle strength is improving, etc. The list goes on.

But if you quit, you go back to square one.