By Tommy Flaherty from Activate Fitness

How many of you have said or thought “I’m not fit enough” or even heard others say it? Quite frankly it grinds my gears. That mentality is going to hold you back. Change your “I’m not fit enough” to “I will get fit”.

Break free from this limiting belief

If you think you are not fit enough then you never will be, and let’s face it, you’ll never know if you’re fit enough to do something unless you do it! You can achieve so much more if you have the right mindset, and that this is a mental hurdle to overcome, not a physical one.

Everyone must start somewhere, and that can be as simple as aiming to sit a little less and move a bit more.

More gentle exercises that don’t require too much skill such as walking and housework can help start you off slowly and build up gradually. You will still be making progress, physically and mentally, and will enjoy it more. A common mistake is trying to achieve too much, too soon. If exercising feels too hard, you will be put off.

Use these tips to help motivate and start you off:

Visualise success

Visualisation is an athletic tool that has been used for decades. By closing your eyes and imagining what it would look and feel like to achieve a goal or to complete an exercise, we can prepare ourselves physically and psychologically for the task at hand.

Consider a trainer

Certified fitness instructors add to the cost of your workout, but they can also add a lot of value. An expert can design a programme based on your goals, show you how to use equipment, and provide tips on nutrition.

Log your workouts

By recording distances, weights, and other objective milestones in your fitness journey, you will be able to see progress on paper. That record can come in handy when you are feeling uninspired or lethargic.

Don’t over-promise

Having goals, even lofty ones, is key to anything you want to achieve in life. Make sure the bar is reachable - even if it means aiming for just 15 minutes on a bike - so you are not overwhelmed. Don’t forget to celebrate the small wins along the way!

The placebo effect and how it could help you:

Research on the placebo effect has focused on the relationship of mind and body. One of the most common theories is that the placebo effect is due to a person’s expectations. If a person expects a pill to do something, then it is possible that the body’s own chemistry can cause effects similar to what a medication might have caused.

For instance, in one study, people were given a placebo and told it was a stimulant. After taking the pill, their pulse rate sped up, their blood pressure increased, and their reaction speeds improved. When people were given the same pill and told it was to help them get to sleep, they experienced the opposite effects - meaning when you believe something, it can and will happen. That is the power of strong mentality.

If you keep thinking you are “not fit enough” then you will believe it, but if you start to change your way of thinking and change your mindset to “get fit”, you have made a huge step in the right direction. Take small steps to start new habits, no matter how small they may be, and you will start to see some remarkable results.

If you would like help with any of your health and fitness goals please contact us at www.activate.ie.