I have been in fitness for 20 years and to this day I am still learning how to get better results in the gym, on runs and in the pool. What keeps me going is a Growth Mindset for fitness.
Though, when I starting 20 years back I never imagined I would become a fitness addict while starting this journey.
I learned a tremendous amount of things on this 20 years journey being in fitness and it is not all epic moments.
Like most life journeys, it has its ups and down and thanks to those ups and downs I was able to become a better athlete and human being.
These Principles applies to any sports or fitness activities you are in right now and will take you to that next level if you have been struggling to do so.
Here are the 10 Growth Mindset SHIFT for Fitness That Will Make You Better and More Disciplined
1. Model Your Ideal Fitness Person
Having a growth mindset for fitness means you are open to learning from anything and anyone.
If you are just beginning your fitness journey there is no rush in finding a role model to follow but, eventually you will need one to grow more if you want to make fitness a part of your daily routine.
Finding a role model came 5 years after being in the gym for me. I was working out on my own learning from people I met in the gym or coaches but nothing serious.
After deciding to find a workout plan I came across bodybuilding.com website and subscribe to their fitness app.
This was a gold mine for me as a beginner you might say.
I found many high performance fitness coaches inside the app and fell in love with it.
Some less aligned with my fitness goals and style and some more aligned to how I wanted to look and train.
Now, take a look at the people around you or someone you follow on social media that has the type of body you would like to have.
Listen to that person, learn from that person and model them in anyway you can when it comes to their workout routine and eating habits.
If you decide to do things yourself through trial and error that’s fine too. But, it might take you 10 years to get to that ideal physique.
With the concept of modelling you will have someone who did the trial and error for you and telling you what to do and not to do.
There is no price you can put when it comes to learning from some else experience and it might take you only 2 years to get there instead of 10.
2. Use What You Have
If you think you need great gym equipment’s, fancy clothes to workout you are wrong.
What you see on social media are just a small portion of people’s lives. You see only a 5 minutes video of that person but not the 24 hours in a day of their lives.
Being physically active can be achieved anywhere anytime with just your body. In fact, I do many bodyweight exercises along with my weighted ones.
I remember during the covid-19 pandemic all gym were closed but that did not stop me working out everyday.
I started being creative at home using water bottles as weights and running in an alley for cardio, doing abs on the floor.
If you are just starting out and you are not sure where to start I always tell people to start where they are with what they have and evolve over time.
3. Find Your Style
From my experience each fitness person has their own style.
When you watch soccer for example: whether it is Cristiano Ronaldo, Mohamed Salah, Thierry Henry or David Villa they all play the same sport but they all have a different style of playing.
I believe the same is true in any fitness activities. you will be learning from mentors for many years until you find your personal style for working out.
As for me, I like more high intensity training with cardio exercises. I like to burn my body during each workout.
But for some other people in the gym I see a totally different style when they workout.
Some might be slower, some might be faster, some might come to the gym just to look at their phone or talk to others.
So, keep things exciting when you build your own style.
Eat What You like
In the beginning I was eating what was recommended by my mentors and this helps me identify healthy food and bad ones.
I learned a lot with their meal plans in terms of how much protein, carbohydrate and fats I needed to consume each day to maintain a certain physique.
Some of the food I liked and some not so much. with time I modified and prepare my meals to my liking with other healthy sources I learned from them of course.
For example, you might not like steak but you can alternate with chicken breast, eggs or tofu. You might not like rice but you can alternate with oats or couscous and so on.
For me eating the same meals everyday to keep things simple was a game changer. I buy my ingredients weekly and that minimizes a lot of buying and preparing stress.
I think this is the ultimate place you can be in terms of food choices when you prioritize fueling your body with healthy food rather than satisfying your taste buds with unhealthy food.
Supplements
Some of us have the tendency to think that supplements are bad for us or even it is like taking drugs.
I found that to be total nonsense. Supplements are a very effective way to get more good nutrients like protein, vitamins and minerals in your body to support the activities you put yourself through.
I have been using supplements like protein powders, pre workout, BCAA, Creatine for years.
There are also meal replacements in case regular foods are not accessible to you if you are travelling.
My recommendations is to learn more about supplements and what it can compensate for your overall health and fitness.
Modify as You Grow
Over the years I have been following one workout plan but, the more I get use to the exercises I try to modify it and make it more challenging and exciting.
Change is important and cultivating a Growth Mindset for fitness will give you that edge to be open to try new things.
Your body adapts to any challenge you put it through. So, add more weights, add more reps, just add more to it as you see fit to make it harder.
This method will keep your body and mind growing as you are breaking pattern in your mind and when you break that pattern your body says “what is happening?”
This is how it grows.
Focus on Progress NOT Destination.
When you watch super athletes or fitness person on social media. You might think that they got that body or achieved that performance level quickly but that is not the case.
To build your body, build any skill or lose weight, it takes years of deliberate practice.
When you focus too much on the results you are after you will tend to give up on the days you fail to deliver and it will seem very far to reach.
But, that is the process to the destination. If you focus instead on the daily practice it will make you move one day at a time.
Failure is Your Friend
I lost count on how many times I have fall off track and fail with my fitness over the past 20 years.
Having a Growth Mindset for fitness will help you get through these tough phase, believe me!
Things happen and if you keep an open mind that, it is the normal course of life, you are going to love it more when you fail.
You might encounter a heat break, a failed marriage, deceased closed ones, illness or even being broke.
Failure is a natural part of the journey, without it you won’t grow and learn from experience.
I wish you great success in your fitness journey.
