“Run faster.”
“You’re going too slow.”
“Why are you so weak?”
“You need to lose weight.”
Do any of those insults sound familiar? For us, they come from that evil little voice inside of our heads throughout our workouts. Trust us, we love to workout, but sometimes when we’re lacking energy, that voice somehow makes its way into our heads and ruins our routine. But not anymore!
Here are five steps we’re taking to have a more positive mindset towards fitness:
- Wellness > Weight loss - Starting a workout routine can improve your life in many ways. Whether your working out to lose excess weight, or you enjoy blowing off steam at the end of the day, we want to focus on wellness. Rather than focusing on the amount of weight you want to lose, try focusing on how you want to feel instead. Push yourself, but not to the point of pain, to the point of perseverance.
- Strength - So what if you can’t do a regular push up! Don’t let physical weakness discourage you from building strength. Try letting that weakness inspire you to work harder. The stronger you feel emotionally, the stronger you can become physically. Try doing one push up every single day. If you fall, you fall, but at least you’re trying! Don’t worry; you’ll be able to push yourself up eventually.
- Treats - We shouldn’t deny our body of what it needs. While eating a cupcake everyday before a jog might not be the best idea, it doesn’t mean you should ignore cravings completely. Treat yourself when you’re craving something indulgent and don’t let yourself feel guilty over it. You deserve it.
- Endorphins - Feeling down? Hit the gym. Even if you’re not feeling your workout on a rainy day, trust us, you’ll feel amazing afterward. According to the Rowan Center for Behavioral Medicine, our mood is often dependent on the amount of endorphins synthesis. Endorphins are the chemicals in your brain, often referred to as the “feel good” chemicals that make us feel happy. Exercising increases your heart rate and releases endorphins, thus boosting our moods.
- Comfort - Feeling comfortable with our bodies is often a struggle with something deeper than our physical appearance. Exercising and feeling good on the inside can make us feel more comfortable on the outside. If you’re disappointed with your progress physically, whether you’re working to lose that excess weight or you’re working on getting more muscular, progress takes time! Be patient and results will come. We promise.
Let’s quiet that voice and put forth an effort to have a more positive mindset towards fitness.