Think Yourself Fit!

How Your Thoughts Affect Your Body

-- By Jason Anderson, Certified Personal Trainer

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Visualize the Positive
Another tip to think yourself fit is to visualize your exercise session before you even go to work out. This is a technique used by many professional athletes. Before a game or performance, they envision how they will perform in their mind before the competition even starts. And when it's game time, their brains just replay the performance they imagined and their body follows suit.

You don't have to be an Olympic athlete to picture yourself living a healthy lifestyle, making positive choices, and reaching your goals. Take some time each day to visualize yourself exercising and enjoying it! When you imagine yourself doing well and having a good time, your thoughts will be positive and you will be more likely to do the very things (like workout regularly) that will help you reach your goals.

As in most of life, your attitude will determine how well you do. Believe in yourself and talk positively to yourself, just as you would encourage a friend or loved one. Tell yourself that you CAN do it! Visualize yourself living healthy and exercising and your body (and actions) will follow. Remember that negative talk will bring you down, but staying positive will help you to think yourself fit!

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About The Author

Jason Anderson
Jason loves to see people realize the benefits of a healthy, active lifestyle. He is a certified personal trainer and enjoys running races--from 5Ks to 50K ultramarathons. See all of Jason's articles.

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Member Comments

MONTHONY

For my last marathon, I used "Just keep swimming, swimming...." over and over, from Dory in Finding Nemo. It worked. - 4/17/2013 10:09:48 AM
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EXPOGIRL50

I'm a firm believer in positive self talk -- I'm always doing it and getting in longer workouts, accomplishing more at work, and just getting lots done - 3/2/2013 4:16:09 PM
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BRIANSLOU

My motivation is not only for myself, but for my family as well. Especially my parents! They both have cancer and have TERRIBLE diets. I want them to see what I'm doing and my results. Hopefully they will jump on with me!
The new products I found are helping too! - 3/2/2013 4:09:40 PM
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PATTISWIMMER

I find the repetition of swimming very zen... I am up to 75 minutes non stop and use a mantra and find it relaxing and enjoy the endorphins too. - 1/5/2013 12:12:06 AM
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TPENGUIN24

Loved this article. I try to use positive self-talk in most areas of my life. Thanks for the suggestion of visualization. My daughter is an athlete and I do this with her before her competitions. I never thought of using for myself. - 11/25/2012 11:59:33 AM
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NKOUAMI26

I can definitely agree with positive self-talk. When I am running and I feel exhausted, if I let the fatigue make me stop, then I feel weak but when I start pep-talking myself into finishing my run, then I always find it to finish! - 9/30/2012 9:12:27 AM
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SHASHANNA1

I try to do this. Some times though my body just doesnt want to listen to me lol Gotta keep pushing through though - 9/17/2012 7:36:33 AM
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BIGBROTHER323

I always say I can stop after I adjust to my longer stride after the crest of the next hill, knowing fully well that I will have recovered from the hill by then and I won't feel like stopping! - 8/30/2012 6:35:27 PM
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KRYSTL719

I recently found out that when I get tired during a workout, I just keep telling myself, it's just a feeling, I have to push myself instead of needing that easy break... that which I can push through until its over. If I always gave in, I sure wouldnt be making progress. - 8/30/2012 4:06:35 PM
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SPARKLINGME176

Loved this artical! My mantra is usually a song. Right now I'm singing "With a smile & a song, life is just like a bright sunny day, your cares fade away......"
It helps when I'm not remembering who & what I am!
*~LIGHT - 8/30/2012 2:51:58 PM
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PMRUNNER

Yogi Berra reportedly said "Baseball is 90% mental and the other half is physical." You can apply that to any exercise, not just baseball. - 8/30/2012 1:35:00 PM
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TERRIMMIX

I think my mantra will be Fit & Fierce! Great article. Thanks. Ü - 8/30/2012 11:35:30 AM
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ANA_CECILIAS

Great article!!! I wish there were more articles like this one, and read more about research over the role the power of mind and the emotional health play. - 8/30/2012 11:25:54 AM
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MIGHTYN11

this article was great & so true! Mine is change what you can & accept the rest with grace
poop happens!! - 8/30/2012 11:13:28 AM
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TUBLADY

That positive attitude gets me out many mornings when the arthritis pain is showing up. I think I can over come that twinge, I am going to do my mile. That is my minimum distance. many times once I am out and jogging/walking I am energized and I go farther than I thought I would.
It's all in our mind, whether exercise, job performance, of controlling our eating.
Have a positive attitude. believe you can and you will.
If you don't try you will never know what you can do.
Tisha - 8/30/2012 10:47:32 AM
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