fitness-training programme

March 21st, 2010

by Jim Petruzzi and Sara Lou Ann Jones

For most of us, getting started on a fitness-training programme is a challenge, but once we begin, the real challenge is keeping it going.

Understand Why You Do What You Do
What stops you from getting things done is, quite simply, the way you think about them! When you think about getting fit, what goes through your mind? Does it feel like a chore or it is something you enjoy and feel motivated to do?

Motivation is having the desire and willingness to do something and it can work in two ways. You are either moving away from a situation you don’t want to be in, or moving towards one that you do. For example some people give up poor eating habits due to the risk of obesity and other health complications, while others may be motivated by having a six pack they can show off on the beach!

Stay Motivated with NLP
Most people would agree the hardest muscle to get into shape is the one ‘between the ears.’ So, think of something you are extremely motivated to do and you will find that you just start doing it. This proves that you do have motivation – the key is to re-direct it towards your fitness goals.

One way of doing this is by associating training with pleasure rather than with pain – you could ask yourself “If I don’t train, what are the negative consequences and if I do train what are the positive consequences?”

Alter Your State of Mind from the Inside Out
By altering your body’s physiology, you can achieve an immediate change in your emotional state. The mind will follow whatever state your physical body is in and not vice-versa. You probably know that eating certain types of foods can make you feel good (especially comfort foods such as chocolate or ice-cream!!) or that a warm shower or long bath is relaxing. But are you also aware that changing the way you move your body can have a subtle, but important influence on the way you feel?

Here’s a quick experiment to illustrate this point:

  • -Try to feel depressed as you jump up and down and shake your hands in the air.
  • -Try to feel confident as you slump your shoulders and look down.

As you can see, changing your physiology is probably the simplest way to change your frame of mind in an instant!

There are many ways of keeping fit – you don’t have to spend hours on a treadmill in the gym. Ultimately, all sporting activities make use of similar movements and provide you with the same workout benefits. You could try tennis, badminton, football, dancing or rounders – great for your heart and muscle tone, plus you can have lots of fun with friends and family (now that should motivate you!!)

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