The Weight Loss and Exercise Success Mindset

I went to a particularly challenging Pilates class which got me thinking about exercise and success. I've been going to Pilates once or twice weekly for about six months now, and wow, is it tough.
But I'm actually starting to feel stronger (and less sore the next day), which is exciting. And equally importantly, I'm learning a lot about the psychology of peak performance in sport (which of course applies to all areas of life). I'm actually learning about how to coach and motivate people by the way the instructors teach the class.
I believe that with pain comes growth so as I was trying to hold the "plank" position (kind-of like a push-up pose with straight arms or leaning on your forearms), I thought about the lessons and growth messages I can take away. These lessons, I believe are true for any intense form of exercise where you push yourself right up to your physical limits.
Here's what I came up with about how to use intense exercise to hone your success mindset:
1. Having a great coach is crucial to push ourselves and achieve more than we thought possible. My teacher, Chris, is a powerful motivator, and I felt myself trying even harder when her eyes were on me.
2. We must continue for 20% longer than we think we can. This is where the real improvements occur. It’s tempting to give up early, and it’s sometimes wise to stop to prevent injury. But be honest: are you really at risk of injury or just tired and not wanting to continue?
3. Pain is all about our interpretation. As I held a challenging pose I heard people grunting and moaning in discomfort which made me focus on my own discomfort. But when I switched my focus to, "Wow, I'm really getting stronger," I was able to hold the position for longer tha
I have before.
4. Success should be a bit uncomfortable (since we're pushing ourselves and doing something new) but also fun. I focused on the fun during class by laughing at the instructor's humor and enjoying the great music. I also brought in some relaxation by focusing on my breathing-- a great mindfulness technique that helps you accept information (read, pain!) as neutral, a very Zen attitude.
5. 90% of our ability to succeed is based on our mental attitude. Chris pointed this out during the class. She said, "You are all strong enough to do this one-- this exercise is completely mental." We probably all attribute more to our abilities than we should. Attitude plays a much greater role than natural abilities.
6. We often don't notice our steps towards success. If you have a pet or a baby, you know how you don't notice their daily growth, but then one day it strikes you how big they look? The same thing happens with success. We may think we're making no progress or that we've reached a plateau but then one day you surprise yourself and realize you really are making great strides.
7. When we achieve a physical goal, we feel on top of the world. You'll get a great confidence boost and be ready to go after all of your dreams.
Use this psychology of success to attain a great athletic goal of yours.
Think about how you can find a physical activity to push yourself and develop your weight loss success mindset. It can be anything: running, Pilates, yoga, biking, mountain climbing, weight lifting. Just pick something that you enjoy and will get a real sense of accomplishment when you achieve more than you ever thought possible!