I ran across this article the other day and thought it shared some great ideas on how to keep your fitness mind-set strong. I know most of us can relate to having a difficult day but when you’re working on something as important as your health then it is crucial to your results to have the right mind-set. -Kelly

By: L R Goodman

Keeping with a fitness program can be very hard, especially if you don’t start seeing the results you want right away. Many people quite within a month of beginning their fitness programs and have to psych themselves back into a fitness mindset before they will begin again.
If you are one of those people, know that there is hope that even you will be able to break free from the start/stop syndrome of your routine.

don’t give up!

Tip #1: Determine to Press Ahead

Admit it. You want to quit because you feel like you are wasting your time and you would rather be doing…. (fill in the blank). Whether it is eating a big bowl of ice cream, sitting in front of the TV all day, or just a fitness failure feeling, something besides dieting and workout sessions has caught your attention.
So STOP. Think about what you REALLY want. Fitness is not easy, but you chose to start down that path for a reason. Was it to lose weight? Was it to regain your health? Was it to build your core so that you could be stronger? What was it?
Once you have remembered your goal, write it down. Go… do it NOW. This hub will still be here when you get back. Write it as many times as you need to so that you remember that goal. Stick it on your fridge, write it on your mirror, put a post it on your TV and do whatever it takes to get yourself back into the fitness mindset.
Pushing through the difficult moments when you don’t see what you want right away will put your body into gear and you will be grateful when you do start seeing results. Determination is a strong quality, and don’t you want to prove to the world that you have it?

Tip #2: Get a Second Job

No, no, don’t start looking through the employment ads. Put that newspaper down and pay attention.
View your fitness program as your second job. Make sure you show up to your shift on time, do your required work and the benefits will follow.
Do you enjoy your job all the time? You may like is most of the time, but ALL the time? When you are not enjoying your job, you can’t just decide to avoid it until you feel like working again. You have to work and stick it out and eventually things will be smoother again.
The same goes for fitness. You are not going to enjoy working out all the time, but you need to press on and you may even end up loving your second job!

bored yet?

take a breath

Tip #5 Slow Down

If you are experiencing pain or find yourself exhausted, slow down your workout sessions instead of quitting all together. A common problem with fitness programs is that people jump into them fully instead of slowly getting into it. Doing this could wear you out quickly and cause you to give up.
As you workout, your body will get stronger and you will be able to increase your workout sessions to allow you to build more endurance and stamina. Taking things slow in the beginning may just help prevent injury.

By now you’ve heard that our Olympic champion Michael Phelps has gotten into a lot of trouble over his bong pics.  There are lessons that can be learned from this mishap.

First, we must always remember we are role models in some way.  There is always a client, a family member, or a colleague somewhere looking to us for guidance.  Michael Phelps screwed up, and it’s a shame, but what’s done is done.  However, it reminded me that as a fitness professional, I MUST lead by example.

Second, forgiving yourself after a mishap.  I believe in forgiving yourself after recognizing “fitness faults”.  I’m talking about “cheat” days versus a “cheat” meal, or a less than stellar workout week.  After working with hundreds of clients looking to change their body, there’s no doubt you WILL screw up along the way.  When it comes to burning fat, or simply improving your fitness, it’s VERY important to recognize your mishaps, forgive yourself, then move on immediately towards positive action.  If you don’t, you’ll easily be one of those that gives up their fitness goals soon after the mishap.

Third, really has nothing to do with Michael Phelps recent actions, however I was simply reminded of working hard for your fitness goals.  Regardless of his actions, you have to agree that he worked super hard for his six-pack abs and to achieve such a high level of fitness.  He set goals and he tackled them with such ferocity.  You don’t have to be an elite athlete like Phelps, but I encourage you to work hard at becoming the best you can be in relation to your fitness goals.  It’s not easy, so don’t be fooled that losing 20lbs in 12-weeks is going to be a walk in the park.

With that said, have you revisited your “Resolutions”?  It’s been almost 6 weeks into the New Year, and you should have seen some decent changes and results.  If not, it’s probably time to take a hard look at what’s holding you back from achieving the body or fitness level you dream of.  If you want amazing conditioning you need proper nutrition AND proper intensity in your workouts.  Period.

Anyway, anytime I see a story like Michael Phelp’s recent news, I always try to look for the lessons that can be learned in relation to fitness.  Please share your comments on what you learned.

Dedicated to your fitness success,

Rommel Acda

PS – If you’re serious about your training and want the best nutritional products, then use what I use – Prograde Nutrition