Set yourself up to succeed for the sake of fitness

Success starts in the mind. You can decide to fail or succeed, so break through that lack of resolve and motivation. Try some of these simple steps for changing how you approach goals mentally and see how much easier they are to achieve.

• Start out with a positive mental approach. The happier you are feeling, the more productive you’ll be. As you continue to check things off your list, enjoy that great feeling of accomplishment and keep it going. Make a point to find a silver lining when starting a negative spiral. This will help you feel more motivated.
• Getting and giving rewards raises the bar for people to get things done. Try setting up a reward system for positive behaviors. You might try only letting yourself flop down on the couch for a guilty pleasure kind of show after a trip to the gym. Friends and family are also excellent places to find rewards. Maybe your best buddy agrees to join you for dinner only after you’ve stuck to your workout routine all week. These kinds of associations with rewards make a big difference within your own brain, as you develop better habits.
• Speaking of your friends and family, it’s an awesome idea to surround yourself with like-minded individuals. The friends you choose to spend time with tend to like similar things. Think about physical activities, eating habits and even work goals. Gym classes are great or you can try joining a running and/or biking group to nurture friendships with others who share your interests.

Don’t underestimate your brain power to defeat the excuses you use to avoid exercise and healthy choices. Start with a positive attitude, reward system and peers who share your fitness goals. You can do this!