Starting afresh with a workout routine is an area in which our mind often acts in the manner described above. Some people get to the point of frustration with their fitness and health and their mind will not take no for an answer. It may be that it is a weight concern issue that must be addressed. It may be that a person is worried because of the history of health in their family. It could be a doctor has given an ultimatum concerning your personal health. It may be any number of reasons. The bottom line is something has to be done.
A person may be motivated to get started with a routine because they want to have the endurance to complete a marathon or go hiking or go on a ski trip. It could be they want or need to relieve stress in their life. It may be they are finding it harder to do daily tasks due to their fitness. And then there are those who have just ‘bought in’ to being fit and it is similar to a hobby for them.
Most of us have experienced the other end of the spectrum where we allow our mind to just say no to fitness. It is so much easier to eat whatever we want. Watching television can stimulate our mind, but really does little for our health. Reading is great for the mind, but again, it is of no use to our fitness unless we are doing it on a treadmill. The internet provides us with hours of entertainment; however it takes time away from what we could be doing to benefit our bodies.
We dismiss the idea of healthy activities because they require us to do something, to get up and move. All you have to do is look at our nation’s health statistics to see that we don’t fare very well when it comes to exercise. Just look at the charts below from the American Time Use Survey.
Obviously, people in the Pacific region of the United States are more likely to participate in sports or exercise activities than the rest of the country. But, they are 50% more likely to do so than people in the East South Central and West South Central regions.
Education most definitely plays a role in sports and exercise participation. If we look at people 25 years of age and older, individual’s with a bachelor's degree or higher were more than twice as likely to take part in sports and exercise activities on most days through the years 2003-2006 as those who graduated high school or did not finish high school.
Below is a further breakdown of specific activities used.
Rather than making excuses we are going to be about overcoming obstacles in our path. Life presents us with obstacles almost daily. Maybe your alarm didn’t go off at the usual time. Maybe there was a detour on the way to work. You might have to stay late at work to get something done. Your children may need help with something at a time that is normally yours to use.
Our goal is to not let life get in the way of our fitness and health. As important as it is to be fit physically, it is also important to be fit mentally so that when life throws you a curve you are prepared with a plan B. Positive thinking plays a huge role in fitness.
Starting a fitness program is challenging, so having a plan of attack is crucial. Managing the ‘what ifs’ will allow you to stay focused on the task of becoming fit and healthy. There are a number of things that can be done to get your program off on the right foot and keep you there. So we are going to present a few suggestions before you run that first mile, lift that first weight, or do that first sit-up.
First, write down in your own words the reason(s) you want to start a fitness program. Be as specific as you can be. Mentally, you will need to go over what you will need to start. You will also need to analyze your ability to do what you have written. Re-read your reasons making changes if you need to. At this point you should fully commit to giving your fitness and good health a fair chance.
After we have described our desire in detail, analyzed our ability to carry out the plan, and thought about what is needed, it should clarify what we need to do. It is very important that we do each step in preparation in order to make this new adventure a success. Planning in advance, how you will adapt to different situations prior to starting will take away discouragement when roadblocks show up. You and I want you to be successful. Committing through preparation at the beginning will go a long way in establishing the mental focus that is necessary. Communicating our commitment to others is not necessary, but it is a great way to hold ourselves accountable for the long haul.
The time has come to improve your physical health and fitness. Our current fitness level is the result of the activities we engage in regularly, for good or for bad. Starting new disciplines allows us to change if we really want change, and have the life we desire. Establishing new disciplines however, is a challenge for most of us. Doing what has been described above gets us engaged in the process of change. Once this is completed you are on your way. Good luck! 
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