Getting Fit

Lesson 4: Putting It All Together: The Secret Key to Success

Making Internal Dialogue Work For You

Often, our thoughts can cause us to sabotage new ventures in our lives without our knowledge. For example, when contemplating this fitness program and lifestyle makeover, by telling ourselves that the plan is too difficult or requires too much change, we are merely setting ourselves up for failure.

Before allowing your thoughts to progress to self-sabotage, however, I want you to practice awareness and redirection of your thoughts. Listen to what your mind is telling you and redirect those thoughts if they are negative or untrue. For instance, if you find yourself thinking that eating low-fat foods will be a completely tasteless or disgusting experiment, stop and redirect. Tell yourself that there are countless, delicious low-fat recipes to be tried and that eating low-fat foods will lessen your chance of heart disease.

Below you will find a list of negative thoughts which could derail your fitness progress. Write a positive phrase or statement to counteract them. Then, when you find yourself thinking the negative thought, redirect it to the positive version.

1. This requires too many changes.

2. I can't eat without butter (or margarine or...)

3. I don't have time to exercise.

4. I don't like to exercise.

5. I am not worthy of a healthy lifestyle.

6. I deserve to be fat.

7. This is too hard. I can't do it.

8. I can't (won't) commit to this.

9. Write your own thoughts.

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