Fitness
A New Study Says You Can Blame Your Lazy Workout Ways on Your Sign
Fitness
13 Excuses Super-Fit Chicks Never Make
Hate to exercise? These expert tips will motivate you to reach for your running shoes
The Excuse: "I'm so frustrated with my progress" Frustration is totally normal when you're working toward a fitness goal. The key, however, is to understand how to work through it. First, Gervais says we need to realize that frustration is a secondary emotion; it's actually a reaction to hurt or fear. So ask yourself what you're afraid of, he says. "You may be fearful of some outcome, like 'All the work I'm doing is not going to pay off' or 'I'm not going to get where I want to be,'" says Gervais. When you know what's really bothering you, you can address that and make adjustments in your fitness plan to work through it.
Gervais also points out that frustration isn't actually bad. "Frustration is where growth takes place," he says. "Most people are trying on a regular basis to be comfortable, but that's not where true learning and growth happens. When you're frustrated, know that you're on the edge of the comfort/uncomfortable zone."
When you do get in that zone, Vokshoor says it's a good idea to stop, take a deep breath, and have a conversation with yourself. Remember that you're doing something great for you. Carrie Cheadle, MA, a sport and exercise mental skills coach, says it's also helpful to visualize yourself feeling strong and excited and motivated -- even when you're actually feeling the exact opposite. "Just by doing this you are planting those seeds in your brain and making it more likely that you will [continue]," she says.
SEE NEXT PAGE: The Excuse: "Exercise is overrated"
Gervais also points out that frustration isn't actually bad. "Frustration is where growth takes place," he says. "Most people are trying on a regular basis to be comfortable, but that's not where true learning and growth happens. When you're frustrated, know that you're on the edge of the comfort/uncomfortable zone."
When you do get in that zone, Vokshoor says it's a good idea to stop, take a deep breath, and have a conversation with yourself. Remember that you're doing something great for you. Carrie Cheadle, MA, a sport and exercise mental skills coach, says it's also helpful to visualize yourself feeling strong and excited and motivated -- even when you're actually feeling the exact opposite. "Just by doing this you are planting those seeds in your brain and making it more likely that you will [continue]," she says.
SEE NEXT PAGE: The Excuse: "Exercise is overrated"
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