Mental Game

Exercising can be such a mental game. Its a choice, but that doesn't mean its easy to stick to! And that doesn't mean its going to be easy to do! I was talking with a friend the other day who was talking about "Self-Efficacy". She mentioned that she has friends that have the covetable quality of self-efficacy. If they say they are going to run a marathon, there is no turning back, no questioning or wavering, but they will run that marathon and truly believe they are capable of doing it the whole time. Even if they had never run a marathon before in their life! Phenomenal! What a quality to have!

Don't most of us say "I might do this or do that" and then debate about it, weigh the pros and cons and think about it some more. Don't hold me to it! What if I chicken out? Or what if I can't do it?

There's another quality that goes really well with self-efficacy. Integrity. Isn't that one of those deep-rooted qualities you have always wanted people to describe you as having? I want to be known as a person of my word. If I say it, I mean it and its true. That can be hard to do though!

Lets look at the actual definitions:
Self Efficacy: the belief that one is capable of performing in a certain manner or attaining certain goals
Integrity: acting according to one's beliefs and values at all times

When it comes to exercising, we need to have a little self-efficacy and integrity. We all know we need to exercise. We know that it reduces the risk of heart disease, helps ward off chronic diseases, keeps us trim, gives us self confidence, blah, blah, blah. But then when it comes time to do it every day or most days of the week, we find other things to occupy us. "I don't have time".


Don't get me wrong, I get it. You have a job, kids to pick up, a husband to feed, a meeting or two, a Grey's Anatomy episode, a football game to watch... However, its important to try and change the way you're thinking and make time. I understand that there are bills to pay and fitting in time to exercise does not pay the bills. HOWEVER, by leading a lifestyle complete with exercise and healthy eating you can add 5-10 years to your life and potentially rid yourself of having to deal with and manage a chronic disease. I'm pretty sure your body will be paying you back ten-fold for that time you took to exercise. Sounds like a pretty FAT paycheck to me!

Furthermore, no one said exercising was going to be fun and easy ALL THE TIME. If something is worth having, its worth busting your butt for! Believe in yourself. It may not always be easy or fun, but it will definitely be rewarding at times and you are definitely capable of doing something that will get you moving. A small something is better than nothing at all.

Make exercise a priority. ACTUALLY write it in your planner. Block that time out for you. Allow exercise to be cathartic. Let it be that time to take a moment for you and you alone. Release. Relax. Let the busyness of your day drift away. Even if its 15 min in the morning before work and 15 minutes when you get home. Block out that time. You owe it to yourself and your body to have a little self-efficacy and a little integrity.



What does tomorrow look like? Pull out a permanent pen. Pick a time and write it in (a hike with a friend, a walk around the block, take the dog to the park, go to a group fitness class at the gym).



Be the person you are envious of. Be the person you want to be. Decide to exercise. Decide to be healthy and DO IT. Be known as the person with self efficacy and integrity. Go exercise!

Find Your Path

Exercise is an important part of a healthy lifestyle, but it can get monotonous and hard to keep the excitement and energy. Mix up your usual routine by doing more reps and less weight or more weight and less reps or you can do the same exercise in a different way. Ask your friends what ab exercises they do!

With your cardio, instead of jogging, do several sprints with walk breaks in between or bike outside instead of doing the same group cycling class. If you usually do 30 minutes of cardio, choose one day a week to do it for 45 minutes instead. Its important to keep your body guessing so you don't get stuck in a rut! If you always bike or jog the same path, find a new park or neighborhood to exercise in. It will keep your environment interesting and your mind wandering so you don't continue to count down the minutes until you finished your allotted 30 minutes for the day!

When you travel, whether for business or pleasure, see if the city has greenway or jogging path. It can be invigorating to be with new exercisers in a new city! In addition, you will be able to experience new city sites. For the 4th, I traveled to the city of Cumming, GA and was lucky enough to stay near a beautiful wooden greenway. The wood absorbed the weight of each foot as I jogged and the wetlands trickled with life.




So, find your path and bring some excitement into your exercising!

Joie

joie is sentiment exaltant ressenti par toute la conscience...meaning, involves one's whole being. Eating well and exercising are the same. They are commitments that involve all of you. Eating nutritiously is a lifestyle choice and a specific intention, but doesn't have to feel like a chore. Its important to make it fun and interesting. Granted, this can take some extra time. For instance, set your alarm 10 minutes earlier one morning and instead of skipping breakfast or grabbing a breakfast bar on the way out the door, make some Squash n' Eggs! You can get a healthy, hearty breakfast to start your day out with some veggies and some protein. And you only got up 10 minutes earlier!

Squash n' Eggs:
1/3 thinly sliced zucchini
1/4 thinly sliced yellow squash
1/4 c yellow bell pepper
1/4 c red bell pepper
cayenne pepper
salt
pepper
basil
shredded smoked gouda cheese
3-4 egg whites

Sautee' the zucchini, squash and bell peppers in a little olive oil, add seasonings (just a dash or two of each -- depending on how spicy you like it). Once the squash begins to get soft, add the egg whites and stir immediately. Let sit for a minute on low-med heat. Stir again and add a sprinkle of smoked gouda cheese. Stir and turn eye off, but leave pan on to let the cheese meat. Serve!

You've heard it once, you've heard it a million times and yet you still choose to ignore it: Breakfast is the MOST important meal of the day! Its true! After going 10-12 hours without food, your body has used up all of its glucose and your body, brain and muscles won't have anything to help them function properly. How well does your car drive without gas? Breakfast eaters have more energy, concentration and problem solving abilities. Plus, even if you don't think you are hungry, your body will begin to think its STARVING by lunch and you are more likely to overeat. Furthermore, by eating breakfast, you can jump start your metabolism and get things moving and burning in your body. Who doesn't want a great metabolism?

Here are some more great breakfast options...that take less than 10 minutes out of your day. 10 minutes!

Oatmeal with fresh fruit, dried fruit, nuts or peanut butter
Whole-grain cereal topped with banana, strawberries or blueberries
Toast with peanut butter and a banana
Yogurt and granola or other whole-grain cereal
Egg sandwich with tomato, spinach and swiss cheese on a whole-grain English muffin
Fresh fruit smoothie and wheat toast with peanut butter

If you know you aren't good at extra time in the morning, make it the night before and have it in a bag ready to take with you. You can dump cereal and yogurt in a bowl quickly or take a banana and trail mix on the go!

Set your intention. Start your day with a bowl full of energy!