Magic of fitness processes rather than fitness goals!!!
Smaller , seemingly insignificant fitness improvements are the key to healthier life. This article is the second post of the “New age smarts series” that is being published in this page.Do 👏 for us below so that many others can reach us.
Exercise to stimulate, not to annihilate. The world wasn’t formed in a day, and neither were we. Set small goals and build upon them.
Lee Haney
We all have our own stories of trying to get fit. Either we would have joined local gym just after any new year or would have tried to go on jog in the local park with a friend. As it begins things are pretty regular but we will see that slowly the sessions are skipped one day at a time. one day becomes one too many days and before we know it its already 10 days we have been anywhere near to a physical activity. Before we start to notice that and put things in place , life kicks in and fitness goals go for a toss.
There are many presumptions, thought processes and myths faced by us as we progress ( regress rater :-p) from highly motivated for fitness to completely stopping any fitness activity whatsoever. Lets take few of them and see of the ways to deal with them.
Fitness as binary concept
This is one of the major reason that hampers our thinking towards a fitter lifestyle. We always see other individuals and even ourselves as either fit or unfit. But its rarely the case. All of us , even the fittest of us are all in the various phases of the fitness spectrum.
Some are either starting , some are midway and some are in advanced stage of integrating fitness habits into the life style. Depending on our body types and the level of activity, the results vary a lot.
Hence the importance here needs to be given for the process and activity rather than the results. Motivation and happiness should be built in the processes rather than achievements. Try and get fit the happier way.
100% u turn of lifestyle choices mandatory
“Arjun decided one fine day that he is going to get fit and fabulous. He changed his eating, the way he heats, started working out for 3 hours a day, made all healthier choices and before anyone know… six packs started appearing…………”
Well everyone wants to hear such stories and sincerely hope that this happens in their lives also ;-)
Pl wake up.
Speak to real people who are busy with their daily lives and have done magnificent changes in their lifestyles. You will know that the process is slow , gradual and time consuming. You will fall back to square one many a times in journey but the beauty is in picking yourselves up and plowing through again.
Larger than life fitness goals
Its not so uncommon for the beginner to start thinking about their first marathon when they are still struggling to complete their first mile. So is the case with going complete vegan or Paleo when skipping just an ice cream gives you jittery.
The problem is not with the goals per se but when we are unable to look across and come with realistic time lines to achieve that goals. we are quick enough to form our target timelines even before understanding the realistic requirements needed to achieve those milestones.
Here comes the beauty of having mini goals. The key here is to make them so insignificant and small so that we can easily achieve them first in our mind before executing them in real life.
For example a person who wants to do a marathon should first plan for 5k, then 10k. Continue doing 10k for a while before training for half marathon. Complete and do half marathons satisfactorily before thinking about full marathons. Time required from being a beginner to a marathon can range between 18 to 24 months for a healthy individual.
Fitness as a chore
The present generation is so engrossed with the to-do lists that we are so compelled to add even our fitness activities into holier than thou to-do lists. When this happens we start to go through the tension and emotional turmoil of completing the task as though its the biggest of the chore.
The guilt of not doing or delaying the same takes a toll on our mental peace :-)
As Leo babuta says, make fitness a social activity. Invite friends and colleagues to join in the activity. Don’t over stress to achieve and complete the activity, rather enjoy the process and focus on slow improvements. The activity should be pleasurable enough so that you can look towards for the next occasion to repeat the activity.
Come up with new fitness initiatives <-> Focus on the processes rather than the goals <-> Repeat the processes till they become a part of your lifestyle.
