Bad Attitudes - What You Can't Afford

by Heather Long | More from this Blogger

16 Jan 2007 06:00 AM

Good morning and welcome to Tuesday, today feels like a Monday here, even though I know intellectually Monday was yesterday. My daughter was home from school yesterday since her school was closed and with half the month down and fifteen days to go, let's take a good look at the bad attitudes that can derail your best intentions and leave you feeling like you can't achieve your resolutions.

The first bad attitude is to focus your attention on the unrealistic idea that losing weight or getting in shape will end all of your problems. The thing is, fitness is more about getting your body healthier, your mind healthier and leaving you feeling more satisfied with yourself. But it won't solve your problems, it won't make your life one hundred percent better. The reality of our resolutions is that we have to work on them and they take time. Be realistic about what you expect from the workout to the weight loss to the goals you set for yourself.

The second bad attitude is using the words never and always. I am constantly telling my daughter this and while she is only six, now is the time to help her correct the belief that she will always mess up or never be able to get something right. We had the same problem with the Dance, Dance Revolution. Too often we set those unrealistic goals for ourselves and then reaffirm the idea that we will never be able to achieve those unrealistic goals. So don't use the words always and never and be realistic about the goals you are setting for yourself.

The third bad attitude is a culmination of the first two believing in all-or-nothing. The all-or-nothing attitude says you don't build up your workout slowly, you get out there and you bust a move for at least 60 minutes at a shot and that no matter how much pain it causes you or how much discomfort you're in - you have to keep going. If you fail, even once or you take one break - then you've lost it and you might as well quit. The all-or-nothing attitude will inevitably leave you feeling like a failure. One setback is not enough nor is two or three or four - the healthy, positive attitude understands that workouts begin slowly and build up. Whether you're working out at 20 minutes a session or 10 minutes a session. You want to make it regular and you want to be able to achieve those goals. If you miss a day, that happens - that doesn't mean you can't make your next workout session and the next and the next. Does this always work? Of course not. Does it never work? The answer is the same - of course not.

Do you have any of these attitudes?

Related Article:

10 Tips to Finding Time to Exercise

Top Ten Best Fitness Goals You Can Set for Yourself

Positive Affirmations for Fitness

Learn more about Heather Long

Heather Long is 35 years old and currently lives in Wylie, Texas. She has been a freelance writer for six years. Her husband and she met while working together at America Online over ten years ago.

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