Fri, February 12, 2010 - 10:40:50

Get Fit, Step By Step

If you’re like one in five people around the world, you always get winded no matter how frequently you work out and, contrary to what you might assume, it’s not because you’re lazy.  In fact, according to recent research findings released in the Journal of Applied Physiology, 20 percent of people are actually genetically predisposed to seeing little improvement in their endurance levels, even when exercising regularly.  But, despite these new findings, scientists assert that regular exercise has potent benefits for people of all abilities and genetic make-ups, and especially if you’re like a fifth of people out there, taking small steps toward your fitness goals can help you make huge progress.

Sure, for many of us, exercising can be a chore and if you’re physically incapable of increasing your endurance, it can be even harder to get motivated.  Luckily, we’ve devised a trick that we use to conquer the much-dreaded Stairmaster® day in and day out and it’s surprisingly easy.  All you have to do is count backwards.

Instead of attacking the morning exercise routine as one arduous 45-minute climb, we break it down into more easily accomplished goals, starting by setting the timer to just 10 minutes.  After the time is up, we reset the timer to nine minutes, then eight, then seven, and so on until we’ve whittled it down to zero.  By setting manageable mini-milestones, it makes the whole work-out much more bearable and completing each increment allows for a brief moment of celebration that helps us stay motivated until the end.

Of course, you can use this trick in a multitude of ways, even when you’re not working out.  In fact, the method of setting miniature goals, or “mini-tasks,” and working on them one at a time can help you achieve success in your approach to health and wellness, throughout your career, and even in your personal life.  The key is to take on each challenge with micro-focus instead of becoming overwhelmed by the big picture. 

So, the next time you’re confronted with a seemingly insurmountable obstacle, whether it’s an upcoming session on the elliptical machine or a looming deadline at work, change that mindset and think small!  Then, you’ll be on your way in no time.

Posted by Linda and Robin