Many of us seek a change in our fitness plan around springtime. Whether we’ve fallen off the wagon, become bored with doing the same thing, or need a change of scenery, it’s natural to change up your routine this time of year. But maybe the change you need is a bit different than what you think. Perhaps the transformation we’re seeking should go far beyond mixing it up or trying something new to strengthen our love affair with fitness. What if we could figure out a way to make this transformation the last one we ever need—a transformation that changes fitness from a must do, to a want to do, so it never feels like a chore again?!
It’s natural to embark on a fitness journey searching for a radical change in weight, shape, size, or habits. We have this grand vision dancing in our heads, but the route to get there can by tough, overwhelming, and perhaps, a bit out of reach. Inevitably, we struggle to keep going. That’s often because the focus is on one big, daunting goal, and the changes are too extreme, conflicting too fiercely with your established habits.
What you like to eat, what you like to do (and not do), how you like to spend your time and other behaviors that affect your health and wellness are hardwired to some extent. Simply deciding you want to eat better, exercise more or take better care of yourself doesn’t magically make the change happen. More importantly, when the benefit or reward of those behavior changes is tied to a future reward, your brain will struggle to prioritize the short term choice. Do I exercise for 30 minutes now (instead of going to happy hour) for the potential 5 lb. weight loss 1-2 weeks from now? Hmmm … who’s going to win that fight? It’s understandable that the healthier choice sometimes loses out. Instead, we need to realize there are short-term gains before those long-term goals. Does exercise ultimately make you more creative, energetic, or happy? Does it help you sleep better or focus longer? It’s time to take note!
Full blog entry here
It’s natural to embark on a fitness journey searching for a radical change in weight, shape, size, or habits. We have this grand vision dancing in our heads, but the route to get there can by tough, overwhelming, and perhaps, a bit out of reach. Inevitably, we struggle to keep going. That’s often because the focus is on one big, daunting goal, and the changes are too extreme, conflicting too fiercely with your established habits.
What you like to eat, what you like to do (and not do), how you like to spend your time and other behaviors that affect your health and wellness are hardwired to some extent. Simply deciding you want to eat better, exercise more or take better care of yourself doesn’t magically make the change happen. More importantly, when the benefit or reward of those behavior changes is tied to a future reward, your brain will struggle to prioritize the short term choice. Do I exercise for 30 minutes now (instead of going to happy hour) for the potential 5 lb. weight loss 1-2 weeks from now? Hmmm … who’s going to win that fight? It’s understandable that the healthier choice sometimes loses out. Instead, we need to realize there are short-term gains before those long-term goals. Does exercise ultimately make you more creative, energetic, or happy? Does it help you sleep better or focus longer? It’s time to take note!
Full blog entry here
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