Greetings readers! I apologize for not posting in a while, but I promise I'll make it up to you with my next few posts! As some of you may know, I recently completed my 2nd half marathon (WOOT!!!) and training and running the actual race really got me thinking about the mentality of fitness and weight loss and how powerful the mind truly is.
The morning of the half marathon, I was exhausted. I had slept for maybe 4-5 hours, I had a head ache, back ache, runny nose, and my foot was still feeling funky from being sprained. I wanted nothing more than to sleep for another 6 hours and stay in bed most of the day. I'm sure we've all experienced a challenge similar to this on our journeys. I'd bet money that most of us have been in a situation when we're in an aerobics class or doing some kind of work out DVD at home and there's some bubbly little twig obnoxiously cheering us on while we sweat our asses off, screaming swear words at her and using every ounce of will power to not throw something. That whole, "You can do it!" thing REALLY starts to get on my nerves when I'm in that state, but I gotta say, one of my boot camp instructors recently said, "You're stronger than you think you are." And I'll be damned, she was right. I ran that dang race that day and did much better than I originally anticipated.
So how can we apply this to our everyday challenges and obstacles. Here are three tips on how to use mind over matter in a realistic way on your journey to health and fitness:
1. When strength training or doing cardio, challenge yourself to do more reps, more weight, or more time. For example, if you did 15 push ups the last time you worked out, shoot for 18. If you've been using 3 lb. dumbbells for a while, up it to 5 lbs. Do 5 extra minutes on the eliptical or jog for 5 more minutes when you go for your run. If you can't hang for a whole 60 minute aerobics class, challenge yourself to make it 5 minutes more each week. Make small advances and you'll be surprised at how much stronger you really are.
2. Eat less and control your portions. If you eat a 12 oz. steak for dinner one night, try cutting it to 8-10 oz. the next time you eat steak. If you splurge a little and have a donut one morning at work, try to split it in half with a co-worker the next time, then substitute a piece of fruit or yogurt after. If you eat a big piece of birthday cake at a party, next time eat half as much. I've discovered that by making small, attainable goals for myself, I'm able to follow my own guidelines and feel successful at what I'm doing....especially when it comes to food.
3. Think positively and really, truly believe that you are capable of change. This is still hard for me to this day, but I find that when I think positively about my health, food, and fitness, that's when I start to see changes. It won't happen overnight, but the more you keep reaffirming to yourself that you can make improvements and look/feel better, the more successful you'll be. Even if you have to literally say it to yourself out loud everyday, remind yourself that you are capable of so much....often times much more than we give ourselves credit for.
Please read, share and discuss!
<2 Ida
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