Given the tremendous health benefits and the hype generated by movies, TV commercials and social media, it’s no wonder that quite a few people are trying to get their bodies in shape these days. Whether we want to admit it or not, the Internet (and by this we mean mostly social media), has become an integral part of our lives, causing us to emulate other individuals in every possible way. In fact, people often go to great lengths to mimic their favorite celebrities on social media. You have probably seen pictures (or memes) on the Internet captioned “Social Media and Reality”, right? In them, we see photoshopped bodies of famous people and the way they look in real life. The idea behind is to expose deception on social media that has been going on for years now. Another way to look at it is as follows: you shouldn’t pretend your body is in great shape because it actually isn’t. So, why fake it? It’s like to buy a paper for college in order to deceive your professor instead of writing it yourself.
On August 2016, neuroscientists at the University of Pittsburgh published their research findings. According to them, they discovered a specific neural network that connects the cerebral cortex (responsible for thinking) to the adrenal medulla (responsible for aggression). Their study aimed to explain why a physical activity like yoga is helpful in controlling the body’s response to emotional and mental stress. It succeeded in proving scientifically the existence of the mind-body connection. Which reinforces the age-old adage, “You can do anything if you put your mind to it”. Given all the above, the question you should be asking yourself is, “How badly do I want that summer body?”
The Mindset of Fit Men and Women
Arnold Schwarzenegger, a famous actor and former bodybuilder, once said , “The first step is to really believe that becoming massive is possible”. And he had a point there, didn’t he? Arnold is not the only professional bodybuilder who believes in the power of having the right mindset. That is not to say that every man Jack wants to have a massive body frame. However, it’s always nice to know a professional opinion, isn’t it?
So apart from self-belief, what other mental attributes do bodybuilders have that can help an average person achieve the results they want? Let’s take a look at some of them:
- Consistency
- Hard work
- Self-motivation
- Patience
Consistency
Anyone who has been working out for a while will tell you that consistency is the key. And that’s because mastery requires consistency. Below, you’ll find a practical scenario that illustrates the importance of consistency in physical exercise
James is a CEO of a pharmaceutical company. He has a bloated tummy and would like to do something about it. So, he wakes up early in the morning to jog but finds it hard to continue after 10 minutes. He’s unable to go on because he quickly runs out of breath and has chest pain. But James continues to jog for another 20 minutes regardless of the pain. He repeats the routine and discovers to his no small amazement that he doesn’t feel any discomfort at all on the third day. Nor does he feel any on all the subsequent days.
Peter is an entrepreneur who has what they call “a beer belly” which he really wants to get rid of as soon as possible. So, he also decides to jog in the early morning hours but finds it hard to continue after 20 minutes into the exercise. Therefore, he stops jogging and practices it sporadically, which in plain English means ‘whenever he feels like it”.
In your opinion, which of these two will benefit most from jogging? We reckon you’d choose James. It’s a no brainer, right? So, the lesson to be drawn here is this: If you want to get tangible results, you should work out consistently
Hard Work
You’ve no doubt heard the phrase “No pain, no gain”, right? Actually, there’s no better way of saying it when it comes to keeping your body in shape. Hard work and consistency go hand in hand, so you need to make sure you have both.
Self-Motivation
Another distinctive quality that professional bodybuilders share is self-motivation. Working out is undeniably difficult and painful. Therefore, whenever you see a person with finely toned muscles, you should know: you too can look the same way if you have enough motivation.
Patience
Patience is another important quality that all gym fanatics have. The thing is, it’s impossible to see a great improvement in muscle mass after several workouts. It takes time to achieve tangible results, so you need to be patient.
How to Develop the Right Mindset
Knowing what to do is one thing but knowing how to do it is quite another. And the same applies to working out. Now that you know the importance of having a good mindset, what else can you do to make the most of your workout sessions? We suggest you try these:
- Come up with a reason for working out
- Get educated
- Have a plan
- Visualize your end goal
Benefits of Working Out
- Cures depression
- Improves mental agility
- Improves overall muscle strength
- Increases social acceptance
- Helps control your weight
- Improves sexual life
- Reduces blood pressure
- Reduces chances of having heart-related diseases
- Alleviates body pains
- Reduces the urge to smoke
- Lessens health expenses
- Improves overall quality of life
- Ensures more restful sleep
- Helps to have a healthy pregnancy
- Serves as an alternative to addictions
- Improves resistance to pain
- Improves confidence
- Boosts immune system
- Increase one’s lifespan
- Helps internal body organs to function properly.
Working out is undeniably one of the most beneficial things you can do for yourself, especially if you’re young. So, we suggest you stop procrastinating and start giving your body the proper care it needs. But before you do, you should devise a workout plan and stick to it no matter what. Be patient and you’ll be surprised at the results you can achieve!