You know how people often say, “it’s all mental?” Well, I happen to be a believer in this. Sure, it takes physical fitness and training to run a marathon, but once your body is ready, it’s really just a psychological battle between you and the miles to the finish line.
So, collegiettes™, I have a challenge for you: I challenge you to change the way you think about working out. Your attitude alone has the ability to drastically affect how much you enjoy your workout and how well you perform.
Let’s stop for a moment. Think about why it’s important to work out. Many work out for the superficial element of looking “good,” but you’re beautiful without a ripped bod. So instead, think about this: exercise to enhance your quality of life. Working out will keep your muscles strong, which will fight off diseases like osteoporosis; it will keep your heart strong, which protects you against various cardiac complexities; and it burns fat, which is important to avoid obesity and diseases like diabetes… need I go on? Should I remind you that it releases endorphins that simply make us feel totally great? Ok, and feeling confident in a healthy body doesn’t hurt either!
During my half marathon training, when I would hit miles nine and 10, I was in desperate need of some sort of inspiration. And let me tell you, in case you haven’t trained for a distance race, during training you have a lot of time to think. Here’s what I realized: there are people in the world that would kill to run, but can’t. There are people who are limited by various health restrictions that keep them from working out, or from going to a yoga class. But you have the ability.
To have a healthy body is such a blessing; we need to never take our two legs for granted. That is why I have come to see working out as a privilege. It’s my way of saying thank you. When those miles kept coming, I would think to myself, do it for them. Do it for everyone who wishes they could. Do it for your friends and loved ones who passed away. Run for your present, run for your future. Do those extra lunges for the kids you hope to keep up with some day. Exercise for the joy of being healthy and living a longer, more fruitful life.
When it comes down to it, so much of working out has nothing to do with you, and everything to do with those you love.
So this week, go to the Plex with these thoughts in mind. Get excited for your workout. Don’t just exercise because you have to, but because you want to. Use that 30 minutes or hour to work off all the stress from your busy school week. Think about it as you time.
Ok, so you still want a Workout of the Week? Find something you really enjoy. Try ZUMBA, kickboxing, yoga, spinning, X-Fit, BC-X, chiseled, Pilates, or hip-hop. Jump in the pool, go for a run, climb some stairs. Do it alone, or do it with a friend. Try out a trainer, or jump in a small group fitness class. Go for a walk around the Res, or ride your bike downtown.
Exercise because you love and respect yourself, your family, your friends, and your future.
Photo Sources:
http://www.gloucesterpharma.com/the-merge-of-science-and-a-healthy-body/
http://www.lucilleroberts.com/blog/http:/www.lucilleroberts.com/blog/wor…