3 Types of Self Abuse I See in Weight Loss and Fitness All the Time
Abuse #1 deprivation
The first abuse I notice is the practice of deprivation. It seems almost second nature for some folks who want to get in shape to suddenly hack and chop various pleasures out of their lives such as sweets, fun time with family and the permission to relax.
While getting in shape usually means cutting back here and there, it shouldn't leave you feeling like you created this huge gaping hole in your life. Doing so will only make you want to fill it in as quickly as possible and that usually means using old habits that were not so healthy.
So I suggest you trim back a little bit here and there over time. It won't bring about that 30 pound weight loss in 3 weeks, but at least you will keep the results for more than a month or two without feeling deprived.
Abuse #2 Working Through "Pain"
Change is not always a comfortable thing, but just because something makes you feel tired, sore, or generally miserable and in pain doesn't mean it's helping you achieve something.
Believing that pain is a good indication of a good workout is a great way to hit plateaus, and end and motivation to exercise. After all, who ever says "Boy I'm all phyced up to go to the gym and feel like crap today."
Instead look towards performance as a benchmark for success. Are you running faster? Lifting more reps? Working out more? If you're doing something on a higher level you're progressing regardless of if there is pain associated.
Abuse #3 Negative Thinking and Self Talk (being overly humble)
It might seem like a good idea to keep your head low and not boast about yourself to others, but too many people down play their own traits so much they are latterly verbally abusing themselves.
We tend to be so critical and negative, when it comes to how we picture ourselves, that we can literally beat ourselves up with our own thoughts.
Of course it's not easy to stop the flow of negative self talk so for now it's enough to simply recognise it and look at it from a realistic perspective.
No matter how slow, old, weak, short, tall, fat, skinny or unskilled you might see yourself always know that there are millions of people who would consider you just the opposite. Hardly anyone is truly fat, slow, ugly, unskilled or scrawny and half of the time we only feel as if we are only because we tell ourselves we are.
I'm not saying we have to start trying convince ourselves we are the opposite of what we think we are (that hardly ever works). Instead I'm recommending we start to recognise the value in what we truly are instead of beat ourselves up with negative self talk in an attempt to be humble.
Be fit and live free,
Matt Schifferle
PS. I'm always here to make your fitness journey easier and more rewarding. Let me know what I can do for you at http://www.TheFitRebel.com.
The first abuse I notice is the practice of deprivation. It seems almost second nature for some folks who want to get in shape to suddenly hack and chop various pleasures out of their lives such as sweets, fun time with family and the permission to relax.
While getting in shape usually means cutting back here and there, it shouldn't leave you feeling like you created this huge gaping hole in your life. Doing so will only make you want to fill it in as quickly as possible and that usually means using old habits that were not so healthy.
So I suggest you trim back a little bit here and there over time. It won't bring about that 30 pound weight loss in 3 weeks, but at least you will keep the results for more than a month or two without feeling deprived.
Abuse #2 Working Through "Pain"
Change is not always a comfortable thing, but just because something makes you feel tired, sore, or generally miserable and in pain doesn't mean it's helping you achieve something.
Believing that pain is a good indication of a good workout is a great way to hit plateaus, and end and motivation to exercise. After all, who ever says "Boy I'm all phyced up to go to the gym and feel like crap today."
Instead look towards performance as a benchmark for success. Are you running faster? Lifting more reps? Working out more? If you're doing something on a higher level you're progressing regardless of if there is pain associated.
Abuse #3 Negative Thinking and Self Talk (being overly humble)
It might seem like a good idea to keep your head low and not boast about yourself to others, but too many people down play their own traits so much they are latterly verbally abusing themselves.
We tend to be so critical and negative, when it comes to how we picture ourselves, that we can literally beat ourselves up with our own thoughts.
Of course it's not easy to stop the flow of negative self talk so for now it's enough to simply recognise it and look at it from a realistic perspective.
No matter how slow, old, weak, short, tall, fat, skinny or unskilled you might see yourself always know that there are millions of people who would consider you just the opposite. Hardly anyone is truly fat, slow, ugly, unskilled or scrawny and half of the time we only feel as if we are only because we tell ourselves we are.
I'm not saying we have to start trying convince ourselves we are the opposite of what we think we are (that hardly ever works). Instead I'm recommending we start to recognise the value in what we truly are instead of beat ourselves up with negative self talk in an attempt to be humble.
Be fit and live free,
Matt Schifferle
PS. I'm always here to make your fitness journey easier and more rewarding. Let me know what I can do for you at http://www.TheFitRebel.com.
Source...