Four Steps to Mindful Fitness and Achieving Results

With the recent completion of the Tour de France and the Olympic Games right around the corner, it is easy to become swept up in the emotions and success of the athletes you have been watching. So much so that you may be thinking about entering an event or at the very least getting off the couch and participating in some form of fitness.
While this is a fantastic idea, setting yourself up for success or what I like to call practicing “Mindful Fitness” is going to be an important part of the process. “Mindful Fitness” has several key aspects.
1.       Make a Plan Including Goals and Barriers to Your Success
One of the first things I relay to my clients is the famous quote:

“those who fail to plan, plan to fail.”

Hence, in order to have success in your fitness, you must clearly define your goals and figure out why you are motivated to reach those goals. Are you motivated to lose weight? If yes, ask yourself why. Are you motivated to run a 10k? Why do you want to do this? Be sure that your reasons are your own and that you have not become swept up in another person’s dream or vision.
Once you have defined your goals, write down what may get in the way of your progress. It could be time, lack of equipment, work commitments, childcare or other obligations. Just know that the same things that have been getting in the way of your success will continue to hinder you unless you circumvent those roadblocks with workable solutions.
Once your plan is underway and you have begun putting in the work to improve your fitness, there are additional things you can do to practice “Mindful Fitness”.
2.      Pay Attention to Your Body by Learning to Differentiate Pain from Discomfort.
Remember, you are not always going to be comfortable while you are exercising. It is tough work and you must get comfortable being uncomfortable. Pay attention to your body by learning to differentiate between pain and discomfort. It is often quite uncomfortable running up a hill. Your breathing may be labored and if you are not used to that you may not like it. However, your foot should not hurt simultaneously. Be aware of pains and twinges that may lead to an injury down the road. If a specific mode of exercise hurts you, then you may need to find another one that suits your body better. Listen to your body and be conscious of what it can do.
3.      Keep a Fitness Journal
Practicing “Mindful Fitness” is also about noting your progress so that you have a clear vision of your past when your perception may become skewed. For example, how would your body be affected if you began walking one mile per day? Well, one mile will burn about 85 calories. Therefore you would burn an additional 595 calories per week or 30,940 calories per year if you regularly practice this. That equates to a loss of 9 pounds per year, not to mention all of the other health benefits that you cannot physically see. Sometimes change seems so slight that you feel you are not making progress. If you keep a fitness journal, you will appreciate being able to look back and see how far you have come. Understand that making small incremental changes will eventually lead to big results.
4.      Give Yourself Permission to Reevaluate Goals When Natural Backslides Occur
Finally, accept that there will be times when you are going to backslide and miss your workouts. Even the pros go through this. When it happens, revisit your goal sheet and reevaluate your motivations. Give yourself permission to amend your goals or your motivations and become determined to continue moving forward one small step at a time.
“Mindful Fitness” is about creating a realistic plan, listening to your body and being aware of how it feels. Find your balance, choose activities that agree with your body and be willing to work hard to achieve your desired results. You won’t regret it.