The Essential Mindset For Getting Back In Shape: Unlock Your Fitness Potential

If you’re looking to get back into shape, you’ve come to the right place. Here is the essential mindset for getting back in shape.

An optimistic mindset is essential to long-term success. This is where the rubber meets the road, and your ability to overcome challenges will be tested.

Being in shape is that it’s tricky and requires a lot of work. It requires you to exercise, eat well, sleep well, manage stress, etc. And all of these things are tough to do on their own, let alone all at once.

We’re not here to tell you that getting in shape is easy. It’s not. But if you want to get back in shape and stay there for good, adopting these mindsets will make the process easier.

Key Takeaways:

• Cultivate a growth mindset, not a fixed one
• Establish realistic fitness goals
• Prioritize consistency in your routine
• Persevere and don’t give up easily
• Maintain a positive and motivated attitude
• Embrace a healthy eating habit consistently
• Ensure adequate hydration by drinking water regularly
• Get sufficient quality sleep each night
• Engage in regular physical exercise
• Monitor and track your progress effectively
• Reward yourself for achieving milestones
• Take action and just get started

Here are ten essential mindsets for getting back in shape.

Aim for a growth mindset and not a fixed one

Remember that feeling of sluggishness, the clothes getting snugger, and the mirror becoming a less friendly acquaintance? I’ve been there. After years of neglecting my fitness, I decided to reclaim my health and energy. But starting felt overwhelming, filled with doubts and “what-ifs.” That’s when I discovered the power of the right mindset. Let me share the 10 mindshifts that unlocked my fitness journey, and they can do the same for you!

The growth mindset is simple: “I can do it.”

The fixed mindset is equally simple: “I can’t.”

I’ve seen people with both mindsets. The fixed mindset is that people don’t know they have it. They’re just being realistic.

This fixed mindset is hard at work, preventing people from getting in shape every day. This mindset is so dangerous because you will make excuses and not take action if you have it. But if you don’t know you have this mindset, how can you change it? You’ll never know you’re doing it if you don’t understand the fixed mindset.

The growth mindset is the opposite. People with this mindset believe that they can do anything if they try hard enough and put their minds to it. They don’t give up easily, and they’re not discouraged by setbacks. They see setbacks as a learning opportunity. If they fail the first time, they’ll try again. And they’ll keep trying until they get it right.

The growth mindset is what you need to have if you want to get in shape. Because if you believe you can do it, you will. And if you don’t give up, you will eventually succeed.

Set Realistic Fitness Goals

Your body is your temple. Don’t wait until your health deteriorates to the point where you struggle to get out of bed or climb stairs. A healthy lifestyle is about making choices every day that, over time, will make you feel better, look better and live longer.

If you have never set goals before, this will be your first time setting them. Setting goals can help motivate you when training and keep you on track with your fitness plan. Last year, while getting ready for my half-marathon, I didn’t know my final position until I completed the race. That made me feel great! However, having a goal helps you stay focused throughout your daily routine.

Set goals that are realistic but challenging enough to push you beyond where you currently stand. Set achievable goals to help you become fit instead of aimlessly reaching for the stars.

I’m always trying to get back in shape but never seem to stick to my goals.

Agitate: There are many reasons we don’t stick to our goals. Perhaps you’ve set a difficult goal, haven’t given yourself enough time, or lack the motivation to keep going. Whatever the reason, it’s essential to find ways to motivate yourself to stay on track.

Solve: You could try setting yourself small goals along the way, like walking 10 minutes every day or doing some push-ups every week. Or you could even try something more ambitious, like running a 5k race or completing a triathlon. Whatever you choose, remember that it’s not about how far you go. It’s about how fast you get there!

Be Consistent

Maintaining consistency is an essential mindset when it comes to regaining fitness. The more consistently you work out, the better results you will see. There is nothing worse than starting strong to fall flat by week three. By being consistent, you won’t let that happen.

Consistency is critical when trying to lose weight or gain muscle mass. Make sure that you stick with an exercise routine that works well for you. Find something you enjoy doing. You’re more likely to exercise regularly if you like what you’re doing. If you hate working out, you’ll quit sooner rather than later.

I don’t have time to workout.

Agitate: Exercise is good for you. But there’s no reason why you should have to sacrifice your social life or your sleep schedule to get in shape. If you want to start losing weight or building muscle, you need to change your lifestyle. You need to find a way to incorporate exercise into your daily routine.

Solve: There are lots of ways to squeeze fitness into your day. Try taking a brisk walk during lunch break, or take the stairs instead of the elevator. Or try joining a gym or signing up for a class at your local community center. Whatever you decide to do, make sure that you stick with it.

Don’t Give Up

As mentioned above, consistency is crucial. But so is perseverance. Sometimes things go wrong during workouts. Whether due to injury or illness, sometimes we simply cannot make it through our planned exercise session. Do not give up, though. Instead, try something else next time around. Remember, there’s always tomorrow.

You can do it if you want to and believe that you will succeed. Without a strong belief in your ability to achieve your goals, you won’t be able to make them happen when life gets busy. So start by believing that you can do this and that you will succeed.

I’m always tired and feel like I don’t have time to exercise.

Solve: I will get back in shape by doing this workout every day.

Problem: You’ve tried to get back in shape before, but you don’t seem to stick to any plan.

Agitate: It’s hard to stay motivated when not seeing results.

Solution: Start with a simple goal like walking 10,000 steps every day. Then build on that success by increasing the distance each week. Once you reach your goal, set another one.

Stay Positive And Motivated

When things aren’t going according to plan, stay positive and motivated. Remind yourself why you decided to work towards achieving your fitness goals in the first place. Also, try not to dwell on negative thoughts because these tend to hold you back from reaching your desired results. Focus only on the positives and remind yourself how far you have already come along the way.

I don’t have time to exercise. 

Agitate: You may feel like you don’t have any time to exercise, but that doesn’t mean you should give up on your fitness goals. There are many ways to get active, even if you don’t always have time to go to the gym. For example, you could take a walk outside every day, do some yoga at home, or join a local running club.

Solve: Exercise is essential to maintaining good health and wellbeing. Even if you don’t have time to go to a gym, there are still many ways to get moving. Go for a walk every day, do yoga at home, join a running club, or take a class at your community center.

In conclusion, it’s easy to let ourselves slip from healthy habits into bad ones when life gets busy. However, this isn’t something we need to worry about too much. Eat healthy and be active to enjoy the health benefits of being fit.

Eat Healthy Food Regularly

Healthy eating helps keep you energized and gives you the nutrients needed to function optimally. It will help you maintain a healthy weight and reduce your risk of developing certain diseases. Eating nutritious meals keeps your body strong and improves your mental outlook.

I’m constantly hungry.

Agitate: If you find yourself constantly craving unhealthy snacks, you might be suffering from an underlying medical condition. This includes diabetes, hypoglycemia, celiac disease, lactose intolerance, Crohn’s Disease, irritable bowel syndrome, ulcerative colitis, chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, thyroid problems, etc. These conditions cause cravings for specific types of food, leading to overeating.

Solve: To avoid overeating, try cutting out junk food and replacing them with healthier alternatives. Choose whole grains over refined ones, fresh fruit over processed versions, lean protein sources over fatty meats, and low-fat dairy products over full-fat options. Make sure you drink water frequently throughout the day to stay hydrated.

Drink Plenty Of Water

Drinking enough fluids each day is essential for keeping your energy levels high and preventing dehydration. Dehydration causes headaches, dizziness, muscle cramps, tiredness, constipation, nausea, and other symptoms. When you become dehydrated, your brain becomes less efficient, and cognitive functions such as memory and concentration decrease. Drinking more than 2 liters of fluid daily is recommended by doctors.

My stomach hurts after I eat.

Agitate: Stomach pain following meal times is common among people who suffer from Irritable Bowel Syndrome. The reason behind this is unknown. However, experts believe stress plays a role in causing abdominal discomfort. Stressful situations can cause changes in our bodies, like increased blood flow to the gut, leading to bloating and gas. Other factors include dieting, caffeine consumption, alcohol intake, smoking, medications, pregnancy, and hormonal fluctuations during menstruation.

Solve: Avoid foods that aggravate your digestive system and instead focus on consuming fiber-rich foods. Fiber promotes proper digestion and prevents intestinal blockages. Foods high in soluble fiber include oats, beans, peas, lentils, broccoli, apples, pears, oranges, bananas, berries, carrots, spinach, nuts, seeds, and tofu. Soluble fiber has been shown to lower cholesterol levels, while insoluble fiber reduces inflammation.

Get Enough Sleep Each Night

Sleep deprivation leads to poor decision-making skills, impaired judgment, decreased productivity at work or school, and mood swings. Lack of sleep affects how we think, feel, act, and perform. Harvard University’s research shows that not getting enough sleep makes it harder to learn, remember, concentrate, make decisions, and solve problems.

Lack of sleep deprives your mind of processing long-term memories. Studies have found that adults need between 7 and 9 hours of uninterrupted sleep. If you wake up feeling tired and can’t go back to sleep, it’s probably because you haven’t slept enough. Try going to bed earlier to have more time to relax before falling into dreamland.

Solve: Instead of forcing yourself to go to bed early, set aside some quiet time before turning off the lights. Lower the volume on your electronic devices (TV, computer, phone, tablet, etc.), reduce the brightness in the room, tidy up any distractions, and take some deep breaths. Once you’ve relaxed, close your eyes and let your thoughts drift until you doze off.

Exercise Regularly

Exercise helps keep us healthy physically, mentally, emotionally, socially, and spiritually. It improves self-esteem, body image, and confidence. It also relieves depression, anxiety, and strengthens relationships with family and friends by encouraging positive thinking. Research shows that regular exercise can reduce feelings of loneliness, improve social interactions, increase life satisfaction, and help prevent heart disease, diabetes, obesity, osteoporosis, hypertension, stroke, cancer, arthritis, asthma, Alzheimer’s Disease, dementia, Parkinson’s Disease, multiple sclerosis, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, and many others.

If exercising is difficult for you because of injuries, illness, or physical limitations, try these tips: Start slowly; increase gradually; listen to your body; stay hydrated; stretch regularly; warm up properly; cool down appropriately; use proper form; wear appropriate clothing; and don’t overtrain.

Solve: Find an activity you enjoy doing and stick to it! Don’t worry about whether you are getting fit or losing weight. Start moving – walking, running, swimming, dancing, biking, hiking, gardening…whatever gets you out there! Remember to breathe deeply throughout the workout and stay hydrated. Also, consider joining a gym where you will be able to meet like-minded individuals and receive expert advice.

Keep Track Of Your Progress

Keeping track of your progress is extremely helpful when trying to reach new heights. Tracking your daily activities allows you to measure your success over time. Seeing positive changes in your physical appearance motivates you to continue pushing forward towards reaching your ultimate goal.

I’m always trying to keep track of my progress, but it’s hard to remember what I’ve done and how far I’ve come.

Agitate: Keeping track of your fitness goals is essential to staying motivated and ensuring that you’re doing what you set out to do. You’ll find that it’s easier to stay focused if you have a visual reminder of your progress.

Solve: Our handmade Nepalese yoga mat bag is designed to help you keep track of your progress. It has a pocket for your phone at the back and a loop at the top for hanging it.

Reward Yourself

Finally, rewarding yourself once you’ve reached your desired fitness level is incredibly motivating. A reward system works best when you choose small rewards instead of big ones. Smaller rewards encourage you to stick with your program even harder.

I’m always trying to get back in shape, but I never seem to have time to do anything fun.

Agitate: I know that feeling. I’ve got a lot going on at the moment, and I don’t have time to go running or do any other exercise.

Solve: So what can I do? I could get new trainers or fancy gym clothes, but that would cost money, and I’d likely just store them again. Or I could take myself out for lunch or dinner somewhere nice. But that’s still money, and I’d probably eat something unhealthy.

So instead, I decided to reward myself with a bit of a treat. I bought myself a voucher for a massage session at my local spa. I booked it online and paid for it with my debit card. Then I went home and waited for my appointment. I was greeted by a friendly receptionist who took me through to the treatment room when I arrived. She gave me a towel and told me to relax while preparing the room. Then she left me to it.

Conclusion

By having a growth mindset, setting realistic fitness goals, being consistent, staying positive, and maintaining healthy habits, you can start your fitness journey. Remember to track your progress, reward yourself for accomplishments, and most importantly, just take that first step. So, embrace the challenge, stay committed, and watch yourself transform into the best version of you. Your fitness goals are within reach – start today and make it happen!

Just Get Started

These Essential Mindset Tips For Getting Back In Shape are basic. However, they are often ignored and skipped over. They are the foundation upon which we build our lives. We often forget them and then wonder how we failed to get started or why we didn’t get enough momentum to get going. If these ten mindsets sound familiar, you may need to start thinking about them more seriously. Maybe you should be taking action right now rather than waiting until next week.