Imagination + Exercise = Unimaginable Results
Gaining the desired results when it comes to fitness can be a slow yet rewarding process. However, due to how long it can sometimes take for people to achieve their dream body, they tend to lose hope and motivation.
It’s important to remember than you are putting your body through changes when exercising, lifting, running, etc. and you want to do all of this in the healthiest way possible so being able to gain and see results will take time. The best thing to do when exercising and working on bettering yourself is to not just set goals, but realistic goals.
SMART Method
Avoid goals that are too vague. Without a definite goal, you might get confused about whether you’re making any progress. This can lead to discouragement and abandoning the exercise program. The American Council on Exercise recommends using the acronym SMART to set an effective goal. SMART stands for specific, measurable, attainable, relevant and time-bound. For example, you might want to take 30 seconds off your 5K time for a race you’re running three months from now. The “T” for time-bound can be especially motivational and help you maintain your focus on your goal. (az central)
Studies have shown that setting realistic goals allows a person to visualize realistic results that can be attained in a specific amount of time. This goes forward to provide the motivation to push a person to work hard and not give up on his/her fitness journey. Having a clear picture of what you are capable of drives you to push through the hard parts because you can see the light at the end of the tunnel, no matter how far it is.
“Even though it might seem cliché and somewhat silly, visualizing your goals can help keep you motivated. Regardless of whether your goal is to burn off enough flab to flaunt washboard abs at the beach, or slim down to squeeze into your high school prom dress, visualizing your moment can help you achieve what might currently seem impossible. Do what you can to fend off brief moments of discouragement by remembering why you became an avid workout enthusiast to begin with.” (Fit Day)
“Brain studies now reveal that thoughts produce the same mental instructions as actions. Mental imagery impacts many cognitive processes in the brain: motor control, attention, perception, planning, and memory. So the brain is getting trained for actual performance during visualization. It’s been found that mental practices can enhance motivation, increase confidence and self-efficacy, improve motor performance, prime your brain for success, and increase states of flow — all relevant to achieving your best life!” (Psychology Today)
We all underestimate the power our mentalities alone have on many aspects of our lives. Mindset contributes a lot for motivation, dedication, and drive. Having a positive and healthy mindset with clear goals opens you to so many possibilities and allows you to achieve anything you put your mind to no matter how difficult the struggle gets. Mind over matter!
