In my previous blog, we went over some concrete ways to create sustainable success in training. Steady training is an integral part of maintaining a lean physique, but your mindset is the key to making everything purposeful and enjoyable. Do you look forward to training, or is it something you feel you need to do in order to look the way you want? Do you like eating healthy foods, or is a chore to be on a “diet”? Do you have clearly defined ideas about what success is? Lets take a look at a few quick ways to reframe thoughts and change perspectives!
Self Approval
In the time of social media, many people look outward for approval. It’s great to get feedback, but really, the only person who needs to approve of your choices is you! A good way to find balance and stay connected is to turn off social media notifications on your phone, and set times and parameters for scrolling through other people’s posts. You’re more likely to be happy with your direction and progress if you’re not comparing yourself to someone else or seeking validation from people who aren’t close to you. Decide what standards guide you and stick with them. If you’re finding happiness in your path, you’re doing great!
You Define Success
You hold the yardstick that measures your progress. You define what success means. I think we often complicate this journey by letting others’ goals become our own. Clearly define your goals and break them down into mini goals. Perhaps you want to be able to bench 200 lbs., get to 7% body fat, or just be able to walk up a few flights of stairs. If it’s a goal that’s worth your time and effort and will challenge you, it’s worthy. As long as you’re in pursuit of a worthy goal, you are a success!
Perspective
We create our own reality. Many of the situations that occur in our lives have no meaning – we give them meaning based on our reactions. If we’re able to change our perspective on things, it will create a major shift overall. It’s like the old saying, “life doesn’t happen ‘to’ us, it happens ‘for’ us”. Focus on the big picture and try to find the humor in a potentially stressful situation.
Think like an Athlete
Athletes train. Athletes fuel their bodies with healthy foods. If you consider yourself an athlete who is working towards a tangible goal, you’re more likely to hit the gym. Whereas, if you’re someone who is simply going to the gym to exercise, it can seem more like a chore. Consider swapping out terminology. Start using words like train, meal plan, recovery, treat meal instead of exercise, diet, day off, cheat meal. Small shifts in thinking can help push you to the gym when you’re not as motivated, and can help you make better meal choices overall.
Visualization
Where do you see yourself in 6 months? In a year? How does your physique look in the future? Have you attained your goals? Each night before bed, take 10 minutes to clearly visualize your goals. Go into perfect detail regarding your achievement(s). The more details you can conjure up, the better. Once you are happy with your visualization, continue to replay it. As you near achievement of your goal, you’ll be surprised how closely it mirrors the images in your head! It has been said that everything on earth was created twice – once in someone’s head, and once here on earth!
All of these tips take time and effort each day. Just as you would train your muscles repeatedly, the brain must be trained, in order to see results! Speaking of results, I love taking PEAK ATP to get extra reps while lifting! My overall training volume and quality has improved!
Thank you for reading. Until next time, train hard – body and mind, y’all!
Erin Stern, 2x Ms. Figure Olympia