Starting exercising or healthy eating can be more difficult than you first thought.
Have you ever wondered why?
What is really holding you back?
Maybe it is the way you are thinking.
Here are the top five reasons, why your thinking patterns could be stopping you from that change that you really want:
1. All or nothing thinking
All or nothing thinking manifests itself in thoughts like “If I can’t starting exercising 100%, I might as well not even start… I should wait until I can “Do it right’”.
Or once you have started, all or nothing thinking could be – “I messed up this meal, so my whole day is ruined” (or worse yet, my whole week, or the entire program).
All or nothing thinking, in all its forms, is the greatest saboteur of diet and exercise.
2. Procrastination
You might think the time is not right, it might be too cold or holiday seasons.
You are too busy.
You have parties to attend, food to eat, places to go, and you want to enjoy yourself.
You think the conditions will be better next month or next January.
Wrong.
The best time to start anything you want is NOW.
The worst part of procrastination is that it becomes a habit, just like any other behaviour.
It takes about three weeks to begin a habit, so if you wait until next week, next month or next January, you will have developed a stronger procrastination habit and it will be harder to start, not easier.
Develop the start NOW habit.
Be a do it NOW person.
3. Perfectionism
Perfectionism is another type of all or nothing thinking pattern.
It is understandable that you want to do everything right.
But when you consider the power of the 80-20 rule, we know that just getting the few important fundamentals (the 20%) in place, is enough to get the majority of your results (the 80%).
The rest is the details which you can fine tune later.
You do not have to get it perfect, you just have to get started.
Starting exercising or eating healthy NOW, even if it is not much, it is better than no exercise at all.
4. Over-planning
Minutes spent in planning can save you hours in execution.
Planning is crucial.
However knowing the importance of planning, some may spend too much time in this “thinking stage” eg reading, studying, collecting information and organizing the data into a overly comprehensive plan.
The common problem is when you get stuck in this stage. Planning is a virtue. Over planning is a vice.
It is merely another form of procrastination or perfectionism in disguise. (I have been guilty of this!)
5. Unrealistic exercising deadlines
Scientists have confirmed that what works for one person in nutrition and exercise may not work for the next person.
As an example: the ideal calorie deficit may vary and as a result the speed of weight loss will vary.
What is important is to set goals, to assign a deadline to each goal and to break them down into smaller, more easily achievable (bite-sized) chunks.
Know thyself.
These little goals and deadlines must be easily attainable FOR YOU. Once you have them, keep your goals and deadlines in front of you.
There is an old adage that says ‘The body will not go anywhere the mind does not lead it’.
So going back to these five thinking patterns could explain what is holding us back from exercising and healthy eating.
Overcoming these thinking patterns will not only help you exercising and healthy eating but achieve other successes in life.
Cameron Corish has been caring and achieving results for the local Wishart, Mansfield and Mt Gravatt community for over 12 years. Together with the Core Health Coaching Team, he takes a multi-disciplined and holistic approach to health and fitness addressing the physical, mental and emotional aspects of one’s health.
Ready to feel and look your best? Come in for a FREE chat and see how we can transform your life. Call 0406 451 907 or book a session here.
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