In today’s episode of the Inspiration2grow podcast we are going to reframe some long-standing mindsets you might have about fitness, weight loss, working out and getting healthy.
Picture this…
There is a large glass jar in front of you with some fresh, moist soil in the bottom, about 4 -5 inches deep. You place a seed in the middle and gently push it into the soil with your finger in hopes that it will thrive and grow.
What does it take for this seed to prosper? Some watering every now and then plus sunlight. So, you place your glass jar strategically on the nearest window ledge.
After some weeks, you start to the meagre beginnings of fresh growth poking out of the soil. A plant has sprouted.
By watering it consistently and providing it with necessary sunlight, you are giving it the best environment and chances to grow.
I like to think of this as having a growth mindset -> blossoming, thriving, expanding, growing.
However, when our thoughts turn to a fixed mindset such as “I can’t”, “I’m not good enough”, “I’m too old” or “I can’t find the time” — it’s like you smother the plant. You no longer give it the things it needs to thrive. You rob it of its growing environment.
What happens to the plant? It eventually dies.
So do your goals, dreams and visions if you don’t learn how to flip the script on your negative, fixed mindset.
It is so important to know when and how to reframe your negative thoughts and attitudes towards doing something you KNOW will benefit you.
We always, always have two choices in life: #1. keep coming up with excuses and barriers that will hold us back from where we want to go and keep us stuck in the same place OR
#2. Reframe our thoughts to allow us to try new things without fear of failure and view fresh attempts as learning, thriving experiences. This is the difference between a fixed and growth mentality.
It takes awareness and conscious effort to do this but with some practice you can manage it.
Waking up every morning motivated, isn’t a talent. It’s a mindset and lifestyle.
So, today we are going to look at a few fixed mindsets around the topic of fitness and we are going to shift them toward a growth mindset.
I think we can all agree that mindset shifts are crucial if you’re pursuing improved fitness levels at any age, really, but when starting a fitness program at a more advanced stage in life, you have already been influenced and conditioned to thinking a certain way for many years.
You have quite possibly buried yourself between then (life back in your 20’s or 30’s) and now under the ‘business of life’. You might have been busy in your career or profession, or growing and looking after your family, not eating all that well, not finding the time for exercise and not feeling you even needed it.
Buying into exercise as a lifestyle looks and feels a lot different that when you were a young adult.
Women over 40 have to take care to balance their hormones, and deal with slowing metabolisms that threaten our energy levels. We can’t adopt an “exercise more, consume fewer calories” approach any more. We need to fuel our bodies properly while getting in the right types of workouts to prevent muscle loss. Over time we lose strength and stability but we gain weight. I am here to help you understand that by doing some regular exercises with weights, it will stop your muscle mass from decreasing and help rebuild it.
It might take some mindset shifts and work to rid ourselves of those decade-old thoughts surrounding fitness.
So, let’s dive in…
The first mindset I sometimes encounter is the “STATUS QUO” mindset:
People with a fixed mindset say, “I’m bad at that”
This could apply to anything like running, cycling or even following a diet plan. But here is the shift I’d like you to think about.
Instead of saying “I’m bad at that” adopt a growth mindset and say, “I don’t know whether I’m good or bad; I’ve never really put in much effort at doing it. But I know women who didn’t start running (or weight lifting) until they were 50 or doing triathlons until they were 60. So, if they can do it, so can I.”
I always find that when you say things like “I’m bad at this” – whatever it is, fitness or non-fitness related – you are closing off all possibilities. It’s like the thought about yourself, “I’m bad at it” is a thought in a glass jar and by saying the words and thinking the thoughts, you are putting a lid on it, kind of smothering the idea completely.
The next is what I refer to as the “NATURAL” mindset:
A person with a fixed mindset says, “I used to be good at that. I don’t know what happened.”
But a person with a growth mindset would say, “I really just had a certain level of success naturally and never had to put in any work to get better. I think it’s time to try again.”
Do you feel how you open up entirely by saying these words as opposed to shutting down your potential with a fixed mindset?
Then we have the “PERFECT TIME” mindset:
This could be the #1 mindset of people who want to start a fitness program but say, “I just don’t have time to do this right now. It’s too much to add to my already full plate.”
Does this sound like you? Chances are it does because I think we have all used time as an excuse for not doing something before.
Instead, I would encourage you to shift your mindset to this, “I am busy for sure. And because of it, I really need this more than ever. I’m going to reach down deep and find something else to give up or say NO to so that I have time to take this step.”
Wow, how powerful it that! Go from a fixed mindset -> I don’t have time for this right now… to -> I’m going to find a way to make this happen.
There is also the “WEIGHT” mindset which plagues a lot of women:
People who have a fixed mindset will say, “If I don’t lose weight, this will be yet another failure.”
Let’s flip the script to that of a growth mindset and say instead, “No matter if I lose weight or not, I know learning the right way to do this will make me happier and healthier right now.”
So, so good! I love how empowering this feels when you say it. No matter if I win or lose, I am learning how to live a healthier lifestyle and how to show up for myself in the right way.
Lastly, we have the “AGE RELATED” mindset:
A fixed mindset says, “I’m getting older; it makes sense that I’m slowing down and gaining weight. So why should I try to work against this. It’s impossible.”
Here’s a powerful shift toward a growth mentality -> “I don’t have to be a victim of age unless I choose to. I am capable of working out in a way that my body will respond to and eat smarter to feel better from the inside out.”
The same voice that says “give up” can also be trained to say “keep going”.
I would also like to invite you to become part of the Inspiration2grow community on Facebook. The group name is: Inspiration2grow for Female Goal-getters. It is meant to be a community of like-minded women who want to grow strong from the inside out. There will be daily journalling prompts, nutrition and fitness tips, exercises to try, encouraging conversations among the community and lots more. So, be sure to join this group for support, new ideas and the necessary rocket fuel to propel your health and wellness to new heights.
You owe it to yourself to take care of yourself, show up for yourself and become the best version of YOU.
In case you haven’t heard it yet today, let me be the first to tell you…
You are incredible, capable and your potential is limitless. Never forget that I believe in you 100%. Now, go out there and show the world what you are truly made of.
I hope to have inspired you to grow.
Til next time,
Lisa xoxo
