April 23, 2024

Get in the Moment…of your Workout!

January 21, 2016 By Leave a Comment

Get Fit Quick Tip:

Get in the Moment!

Are you in the moment of your workout? Or are you preoccupied about what you have to accomplish later, worried about this and that, distracted by to-do lists? Stay present in the moment of your workout for better mental focus, and better physical results.

Here’s how to get in the moment of your workout:

Set workout mini-goals. Each workout should serve a purpose, and therefore have a goal. Every exercise you perform should be chosen for its desired outcome.

Stay present. Consider your workout as the time during your day where you don’t have to think about work, schedules or other commitments. Stay present in your workout by focusing only on the current rep, the current set.

Breathe through each rep. Every lift and every lowering phase of your rep, should include an inhale or an exhale. Focused and mindful breathing is an effective method to clear your mind of distractions.

Eliminate self-talk. Regardless of what your body is doing, often your mind is full of internal dialogue, conversations and opinions. Reduce the self-talk by counting out your pace for each rep.

 

Filed Under: Get Fit Quick Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Train your Mind.

January 6, 2016 By Leave a Comment

Get Fit Quick Tip:

Train your Mind.

Doubts about meeting your fitness goal? Normal. Unsure you’ll be able to keep up with your exercise program? Understandable. Anxious about your physical capabilities? Common. The answer is in training your mind by adopting a regular workout mantra. A mantra uses positive thinking to empower your mind, and in turn your body. Improving your mental fitness takes specificity and repetition, and is well worth the effort. Harness your mental power and strength by practicing just a few minutes throughout your day. Here’s how it works:

A mantra should begin with “I am…” or “I have…” For example, “I am a strong, steady and powerful runner.” Choose a sentence or phrase that includes your personal power words, and uses vocabulary in the present tense as if you’ve already reached your goal.  Recite your mantra regularly during your workout and during your day in general. Your mantra will act to silence the negative self-talk, and re-focus your efforts. Consider your mantra as your mental fitness program.

Filed Under: Get Fit Quick Tagged With: , , , ,

How’s your Mental Fitness? By Jennifer Austin

September 23, 2015 By Leave a Comment

Fitness is not only about the body, but the mind as well. Try a few of these mental fitness moves to boost inspiration and motivation.

Race! That’s right, compete! For some reason, as adults we sometimes think we can’t or shouldn’t be competitive or admit wanting to win. However, striving to be the best or wanting to place in your age group, paying attention to time splits and wanting to pass others on the course is perfectly acceptable in athletic competition. Go ahead; keep time on a stop watch, push hard, announce wanting to finish first or set a personal record!  Bringing some friendly competition into your exercise routine will peak interest and involvement as you’ll be less likely to miss a workout when your ego is on the line.

Hone leadership skills. Why not send an evite to your friends, family or co-workers inviting them to a specific location each week for an outing such as a beach walk or neighborhood bike ride. If you’re the leader, organizer or point person for the group, you’ll be guaranteed to show up! With a meager 15-20 minute time investment each week, you could send fun fitness email tips to club members every so often, send links to healthy recipes, offering fun home-made prizes for the most improved or most consistent participant each season or year will also maintain interest. Have some fun, keep it light hearted and on task. Host a wrap up pot luck at the park once a quarter or once a year, invite spouses and others to expand the group. The momentum that builds toward wellness will keep the group (and you) on track, as well as setting new fitness goals.

Take in a change of scenery. For example, pack your bike and heading to a neighboring town or city for your regular Saturday ride will eliminate exercise staleness. Carpooling with friends to a different area of town for our long run is also a fun option to mix up the mundane same old running route. Conduct a search online for information pertaining to the specific activity, including roads, and safety notes, then invite some friends and embark on a fitness focused road-trip. Having to refer to a map or notes on the new area, along with new and different scenery will keep you engaged and interested.

Filed Under: Your Fitness Tagged With: , , , , ,

Do YOU have what it takes? Sarah Stanley offers wisdom gained from endurance athletics.

September 21, 2012 By Leave a Comment

Sarah Stanley is an ultra endurance athlete who is passionate about her faith, eating real food, fitness and helping others! She’s completed 22 marathons, 11 ultramarathons, countless half marathons, plus 2 cycling adventures (DC to NYC and San Francisco to San Diego.) Allow her wisdom and encouragement to empower YOU to challenge your own fitness!

How do you handle all the different emotions that come with ultra-events?
It’s part of being an ultrarunner- you just accept how you’re feeling and keep on running! For longer ultra’s you’ll go through a wide range of different emotions. I’ve cried, laughed and cursed (yes) but always had fun! 
 
What physical/psychological skills have you’ve learned from endurance events?
It really is all in your head. You have to push yourself by giving yourself a pep talk (or two.) There are times when the going doesn’t just become rough, it becomes downright unbearable. And then I’ll think about those who can’t run or those who are serving our country or how the world needs some positive examples and I keep on trudging.
 
What do you say to yourself to keep going during an event?
I think back over my life and the things that I’ve overcome and survived, and that is what keeps me putting one foot in front of the other. I’ve come up with quotes such as “the 11th commandment: thou shalt not quit” or “giving up is for wimps” or “a finish is a finish.”  I also visualize the finish line, getting to the next aid station or top of hill. When you run an ultra you are your own cheerleader.

How do you control negative self-talk along the course?
I must (you must!) keep positive. Some races don’t always go as planned. It can be easy to get sucked into the mud (literally and figuratively.) If I get in a rough mental spot, it will be very hard to keep on running! Remember that running ultramarathons is 99% mental! I really try to just be thankful for the gift of running and enjoy the beauty that is around me. Ultras are run mainly on trails so there is usually plenty to gaze at; I find a special sweet spot-a grove or zone as some would call it- and I just stay there for the duration of the race (and even training for that matter.)

How do you handle/respond to others negativity while preparing for or during a race?
Ignore the haters! I surround myself with positive, loving, supportive people. Negativity always destroys while positive always builds up. Negative people are people trapped in their own unhappiness and will try to bring you down. Haters or negative people is about them- not about me or you. The best way to respond is with love and kindness and to keep doing what I am called to do, which is to make a positive difference in this world. 
 
What keeps you coming back again and again to race?
Love! The love of the sport, people, seeing how far you can push yourself when the going gets rough, being alone in the woods and really, there is just something about ultrarunning that I can’t describe with mere words. The energy, the woods, the challenge, the thrill of the unknown- it’s a sport I am in love with. And I hope I always will be.  
 
How has racing ultra’s helped you in everyday life?
Ultrarunning and life go hand-in-hand. I think that’s why I love it so much! Life has not always been easy for me and I’ve learned to rise above the bad and make the most of each day that I do have. My life has helped me in ultrarunning; ultrarunning is just the icing on the cake (or the salt on kale chips in my case.) 
 
What’s the number one thing racing has taught you? Either about yourself or others.
You never know how strong you are mentally, physically, spiritually and emotionally until you tackle what most people think of as inconceivable and come out on the other side smiling (and yes, sometimes crying too.)

Are there stereotypes you face about female ultra-competitors? How do you debunk them?
I think that women are generally perceived as weaker to begin with. There are some incredible women athletes out there! I think the best way to debunk them is to just keep training and showing up-saying yes to life. Show others that you are committed and will always do your best- no matter what! 

What is your best advice to someone considering participating in an ultra?
Have some running under your shoes! You’ll have better long term success if you start small, stay diligent and consistent. Start running on trails. Ultras are synonymous with dirt, woods, river crossings, jumping trees, hills- you get the picture! Work on the small things that add up over time for example planks, side planks, squats, lunges, one leg squats, pushups. Then sign up for a 50k! And let me know- I would love to cheer you on either virtually or in person.

About:
Sarah is the founder of Sarah Stanley www.sarahstanleyinspired.com, faith+food+fitness. When Sarah isn’t running or cycling she enjoys creating new recipes, taking a hot yoga class and traveling. She’s been featured in various media outlets such as SHAPE, Ladies’ Home Journal, Washingtonian and SELF. Follow her on Twitter http://twitter/sarahstanley and Instagram http://web.stagram.com/sarahstanley_/

Filed Under: Your Fitness Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,