Fit Mind:

Keep thoughts positive!

You are what you think you are! Strong, powerful, capable? Weak, tired, defeated? Mental fitness is part of a healthy lifestyle. Mental, emotional and psychological fitness is what keeps you focused, determined and moving along the path to accomplish your goals, especially when times are tough. Adopt a workout mantra to repeat while exercising to keep self-talk positive. I am strong. I am powerful. I am capable. Repeating your mantra when workouts are tough or focus is lacking will serve as a moving meditation, powering you forward and through. You will become what you believe, think, say and do. Keep it positive!

How’s your Mental Fitness?

Keep moving forward!

Moving forward, no matter how slowly, is better than standing still. Keep putting one foot in front of the other. Keep moving forward. If can’t do 5 more reps, do 1 more rep. If you can’t do 10 more minutes of cardio, do 2 more minutes. Find a way,  an opportunity, a will, a motivation to muster up some grit and keep moving your fitness forward.

Your Fitness: Keep moving forward!

All Fitness Counts!

Think all fitness has to be about counting reps and measuring heart rate? Think again! All physical activity counts toward a healthy heart, strong muscles and decreased stress. Think outside the box when it comes to workouts and you’ll keep motivation fresh and interest up. Here are just a few ideas to get you started:

Dance.

Jump Rope.

Kickball.

Adventure Race.

Rock Climbing.

Boxing.

Orienteering.

Martial Arts.

Roller Blading.

Slackline.

All Fitness Counts!

1) Fill your Vision Board with vibrant visual expressions: You might want to keep your board small (letter size paper) or go poster size, depending on the size and number of the images you’ve chosen. Cut out photos and phrases that represent your heart’s desire, and feel free to include physical, professional, spiritual, financial, and relationship goals. The more dynamic and exciting to you, the more inspired you’ll feel every day!

2) Keep your Vision Board in a central place: Whether that’s in your office space or framed on top of your nightstand, it’s best to display your Board where you will see it daily. The thoughts you see repeatedly are the ones that will slowly creep into your subconscious mind, and will help you regain focus on the goals that you are intent on reaching. For additional inspiration, add dates for your goals to drive you faster and harder!

3) Actively visualize yourself reaching your goals: Starting a Vision Board is a great time to put your mediation skills to good use. Take 10 minutes out of your day every day to imagine the specific feelings you want to experience when you reach your goals. Picture your success in your mind, including every detail: what you’ll be eating, drinking, the perfume and clothes you’ll wear, and even the sounds you might hear when you know you’ve “made” it. Scientific research shows that the more deeply you connect to your goals on an emotional level, the more likely they are to come to life.

Once you have clear goals, set to visual tangible results, success is much more likely. Don’t let new habits scare you off this year: Get back in the game and make a visual and emotional commitment to living your best life.

Melissa Kahn is a Jenny Craig ambassador and the proud founder of Run, Heifer, Run! —a fun-loving community of fitness enthusiasts dedicated to common sense solutions for weight loss and healthy living. Melissa competes in triathlons now, having lost over 100 pounds, or the equivalent of 45 kilos of fear. She has maintained her healthy weight for more than five years.

Get Visual with Your Fitness by Melissa Kahn

Get Fit Quick Tip:

Volunteer!

What’s one sure fire way to ramp up your workout motivation instantly? Volunteer at a local athletic event or race. As each athlete passes, you’ll be inspired to reach your own fitness goals. Get motivated by giving back to your community where you train and race.

Here’s how to get started:

Research. Look in your local newspaper for a listing of events or do a simple online search of your community events. You’ll truly find a volunteer niche for everyone from walking, running, cycling, track competitions, weight lifting events, swimming, triathlon, and many supporting many charitable organizations.

Reach out. Call or email the event director or volunteer contact and ask where you may be most helpful. So many volunteer duties exist from a few days prior to the event to the event day itself such as from working the check-in tables, timing,  manning a water stop, to crowd control at the finish line.

Invite friends to join you. Send out a quick email or group text with time, day and details encouraging others to join in.

Be cheerful. Athlete volunteers have an extra special understanding of the details needed for competition. You’ll be able to make the athlete’s experience extra special by anticipating what they need, when they need assistance and how they need your support. Draw from your athletic experience and pay it forward.

Get Motivated by Voluteering