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Getting the desired results you deserve
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If you have the opportunity to speak to an experienced personal trainer, ask them what usually happens when people find out for the very first time that they are a trainer. If their experience is similar to mine, I usually get a series of “How To” questions. It’s no surprise that every single person desires to live a healthy and thriving life. Many would even like to make positive improvements to their health and fitness as well.
Unfortunately, the success rate is not very positive for many who start a fitness routine because they fail to see results. The failure to succeed is usually not due to a lack of effort. It’s actually quite the opposite. A new fitness enthusiast frequently puts a lot of effort into their exercise routines. Sometimes, they go overboard and perform way too much.
The difference between those who succeed and those who come up short is usually due to the lack of change in the 6 inch space between their ears. You guessed it, they fail to modify or change their thinking. We can’t replace thought modification with an over-compensation in physical and nutritional behaviors. I will share with you something I’ve asked some of my clients and students. If I possessed the ability to give you a new body, one that you desire, what would happen?
Play along for a second. You go to sleep tonight and tomorrow morning when you wake up, BLAMM, you now possess that body you’ve “dreamed” about. Will you be able to maintain or improve this new body? It’s highly unlikely. Here’s why. Other than the fact that you have an improved body or shell, the software is still the same. It’s highly likely that you would still consciously hold yourself in the new body the same way you did in the old version. All your old habits, emotions, thoughts, imbalances would transfer over and eventually, you may start to resemble the “old” you. The body follows the mind!
In order for positive change to occur in any part of our lives, especially our health, it must first occur in the mind. Try this example. Imagine for a second that you are very unhappy. What posture would you exhibit? Most likely, it’s a heavy and slouched posture that is accompanied by a sad or emotionless expression. Now, be the complete opposite and be happy and full of joy. What posture are you now demonstrating? Is it a lighter and taller posture with a smile and wider eyes? Which one felt better for you?
Just as a positive or negative thought has an associated posture, a prolonged adaptive posture could also be causing an associated thought or emotion as well. If you have a heavy, slouched posture and you add a frown to it, how do you feel? What if you sat up really tall, shoulders back and put on a big smile? Chances are you’d find it difficult to be sad, angry or unhappy.
Ida Rolf, the founder of a popular massage technique called Rolfing said, “An individual experiencing temporary fear, grief, or anger, all too often carries his body in an attitude which the world would recognize as the outward manifestation of that particular emotion. If he persists in this dramatization or consistently re-establishes it, thus forming what is ordinarily referred to as a “habit pattern,” the muscular arrangement becomes set.”
Your body and your posture is a representation of your thoughts and emotions. The biggest difference for those who succeed and those who fall short is that they understand that positive change must occur in the entire body. Everything you do and experience must support your desired goal. You change your eating habits because it will allow you to feel better and have energy for your workouts. During your workouts, you have more energy so you can push longer and harder which helps you to burn more calories and gain muscle. The productive workouts are producing measurable changes so you continue to feed your body clean and supportive foods which allow the continuation of progress to occur. The progress is making you feel good and you are getting internal and external compliments. The positive reinforcements encourage you to continue progressing to your goals.
Everything we do, eat, feel and think has a total effect on the body and mind. Positivity is infectious and negativity enjoys company. Which one supports your goal?
