BY MONIQUE BARTLETT
Working out brings rewards that can be achieved by little else. Whether exercising to stay fit, feel good or just to look terrific, you can add power to your efforts by following the insights and techniques used by high-achievers to get that look you’ve always dreamed of.
Before beginning your journey on the road to fitness you must realize that you are in total control so you should have a real desire to be fit. A wishy-washy approach to fitness, or anything else for that matter, usually ends in failure. That being said, it’s wise to keep yourself motivated.
The first and most important factor to use is to release any past failures from your mind. Dwelling on past failures will only have an adverse affect on your current training.
If you are thinking these thoughts ask yourself the question, “Why did I fail?” Perhaps you set your goals too high so they became unrealistic. Or your time frame for achieving your goals was too short or too long. Or perhaps you were just plain lazy! Whatever the reason, look at it in an objective manner and learn from your mistakes. Do things differently this time.
A major problem that never really seems to go away is lack of enthusiasm. Almost everyone wanting to lose weight suffers from this at one time or another, from championship bodybuilders to first-time yoga students. There is only one simple rule to follow when confronted with this negative state of mind – re-motivate yourself!
They key to this is being specific in your goals. Have a clear vision of what you want to look and feel like when you have achieved your goal. Cut and tape a picture of your head over a picture of your ideal body type if you must, but be clear in your own head where you are going and what you will achieve.
Also set smaller goals that easily show you have been making progress. Make note of your achievements. Write them down. Once you are feeling a lack of enthusiasm then look back at these notes and see how far you have actually come. Tell yourself that you are doing well and reward yourself when you reach a goal. This will increase your self-esteem and keep your motivation high.
If some negative situation arises don’t look at it as a problem but view it as a challenge. As you overcome your own obstacles you will have proved that you are a success. Success breeds success, so review your progress and modify your goals to be more challenging. The potential to achieve anything is within you. Whether the end result of your training efforts is success or failure it is your choice. Give 100% and you will receive 100%.
