INNER FITNESS = OUTER FITNESS

Personal fitness is one of the keys to a long, happy and healthy life. In addition to increased energy, vitality, strength and flexibility, the benefits of good fitness include better concentration, more stamina and greater readiness to meet life’s challenges. Research also shows that good fitness greatly reduces the risk of a variety of illnesses and physical problems such as osteoporosis, heart disease, and adult onset diabetes.Despite the many positive consequences of fitness, people often struggle to achieve and maintain it. Sometimes this is due to lack of knowledge of effective health habits. It can also be because people need help to reshape their lifestyles and reprogram unhealthy patterns of behavior.Physical and mental fitness both involve developing a certain degree of flexibility and stamina. These are achieved through consistent exercise and healthy life practices rather than through “quick fixes.” In general, fitness is a result of personal congruence, respecting the value of the body, and promoting the connection between mind and body. Good fitness, then, is more than physical conditioning.

Complete fitness applies to both body and mind. To be truly “fit” means to be healthy physically and mentally. Ultimately, fitness comes from living a healthy lifestyle. Nutrition and exercise are the two areas of focus necessary for good physical fitness. Both are very important. Eating a healthy diet, for instance, leads to having a healthy heart, a sturdy cardio vascular system, low body fat, strong muscles, solid bones, etc. Being fit also means having a healthy attitude and outlook on life. Attitude, physical conditioning and good nutrition all support each other to produce a healthy life style.

Mind Fitness......"The inner Game"

The mental aspects of fitness are related to what can be referred to as the inner game of fitness. Success in any area of performance involves using your mind as well as your body. Preparing yourself mentally to perform well is the essence of your “inner game.”The “outer game” has to do with physical skills. In fitness training, for example, this would involve how many calories to eat, which types of exercises to do, how many repetitions to make, etc. The “inner game,” on the other hand, has to do with your mental approach to what you are doing. This includes your attitude, confidence in yourself, your ability to concentrate effectively, deal with setbacks, and so on. People tend to think of fitness training as being mostly focused on the “outer game” of fitness, but in order for people to successfully reach fitness goals, they must also develop their “inner game.” The hardest muscle to train and the most neglected is the muscle “between the ears.” You can have a room full of the latest and best equipment, but if it is not used, it is no help. Some key components of a successful inner game of fitness include:

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  Setting clear and achievable goals
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  Developing the motivation and self-discipline to follow through on those goals
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  Having tools with which to break old habits and set new healthy ones
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  Updating your self-image and mental maps of yourself
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  Appreciating and acknowledging your progress and building self-esteem
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  Creating the Future

Fitness is preparing for your future and constantly looking toward the future. People who are truly fit make fitness part of their identity. Good exercise and eating habits should be as natural as washing your face, brushing your teeth, bathing, etc.Achieving good fitness involves making yourself a priority. We do so many things for others in our lives (children, partner, boss, clients, colleagues, etc.); it is also important to consider, “Who is taking care of me?”Fitness is about doing what you can for yourself. When deciding what to eat, for instance, think of yourself as an expensive car. If you had a Ferrari or a Jaguar, what type of fuel would you put in it? Treat your body the same way. Think of your body as a temple. Care for it the best you can. If you owned a prize race horse would you feed it with junk food, let keep it up late at night, have it make do with 4/5 hours sleep and only exercise it now and again…….Well is your life not more important than a prize race horse…..How long will your body and mind keep up with neglect, destruction and misuse…….

So what is the key to a new life style?

Motivation and Confidence
Motivation is critical for people to achieve good fitness. Someone can tell you what you need to do and how to do it, but that will not make any difference unless their you are motivated.Many people desiring to achieve good fitness are challenged by motivational issues, especially when they are overweight, tired, discouraged, etc. People who are out of shape frequently feel very low self-esteem. They joke about their “multiple chins,” for instance, and feel embarrassed to be seen by others. This can even start a downward spiral. They will avoid going to the gym to work out because they are embarrassed to be seen in their gym clothes and, as a result, end up even more out of shape. Good fitness requires a lot of learning, discipline and control. It can be difficult for people to keep up their momentum, and they may find themselves struggling with laziness and boredom.

Some people will go to the extremes of having their upper intestine removed or have their stomach stapled because of their ambivalence towards losing weight. It is important to realize, however, that drastic or extreme measures such as these do not ultimately lead to fitness. They leave flabby skin, affect the body’s ability to retain sufficient water and nutrients, and rob people of the opportunity to learn about healthy living for themselves.
People’s belief and confidence in themselves and what they are doing are crutial factors in the game to stay fit. Belief and confidence are built up piece by piece. Another important motivator for people can come from thinking of others whom they care for and who look to them as role models or mentors.