Mental Muscle: Strength Training for the Mind

What is it that makes some people have the resolve to eat right and exercise, while others are continually challenged?  Is it a personality characteristic or can we train ourselves by developing the right mind-set?

I like to think that we can strengthen our resolve with mental training.  We are able to develop a hardy attitude and perseverance to overcome obstacles and take on new challenges.  When we are using our mental muscle, we don't allow fatigue, inconvenience or apathy to discourage us from achieving our goals. 

The New Year is the traditional time to take stock and re-evaluate.  Compare your level of physical fitness to where you were a year ago at this time.  How are you doing?  Have you been able to maintain your weight or have the pounds been creeping up?  Do you have the same stamina and energy you had or is the couch looking more inviting?  When you wake up in the morning, do you spring out of bed or do you have to slowly ease the stiffness out of your body?

 I'm so proud of my husband's resolve to lose weight.  He's lost 23#'s since last July and he lost it very gradually simply by giving up desserts and continuing his normal exercise routine of running and performing calisthenics (push-ups, planks, and crunches).   He knew that desserts were a weakness of his and if he even had one bite, he would eat the whole thing.  So he went cold turkey – walked away from the table when desserts were served at Thanksgiving dinner, politely refused to taste a home made truffle his friend had made and did not indulge in our sister's incredible gourmet desserts at Christmas.

Think ahead:  how will you feel in a month if you continue your present habits?  Exercise your mental muscle to stay rested, eat one less dessert or one less bite, and take an extra 2000 steps every day, even if it's indoors at the mall.

Have a Happy, Healthy and Prosperous New Year!!