Are You a Fitness Loser?
June 4, 2010
OK, you might not be thinking of this exact term, but I bet you may have, some time in your life- started, stopped, restarted, stopped and restarted yet again- a fitness program.
This fitness thing is something you can do.
I have encountered hundreds of people who have “tried and failed” in their attempts to incorporate increased activity in their lives and I want to share the #1 reason people fail in their quest for fitness:
Setting the bar too high.
Most of my clients have begun a new program and set unreachable goals, such as “I’ll work out an hour every day!” “I’ll go to the gym six days a week!” or “I’ll always take the stairs at work!”
What happens when you set the bar too high and don’t quite make it or when life gets in the way of your newfound commitment? Do you feel bad? Do you wonder “what’s the use?” Do you feel like a fitness loser? If so, it’s inevitable that your resolve will crumble.
Sound familiar? Good, let go of the guilt . . ..
This time, why not do what I ask my clients to do? Start slowly. Commit to do less than what you are capable of. How about 10 or 15 minutes of exercise every other day? Go to the gym two times a week or take the stairs at work on even-numbered days? It may not seem like enough, but it’s a great start.
This approach leads to more success, and guess what? You may even exceed your initial goals. WOW! That’s a nice feeling, isn’t it? You get to pat yourself on the back! “Atta boy/girl!” Time to celebrate.
Do you feel better now? Good!
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