Are you familiar with the term ‘own worst enemy’? Some of that comes down to your mindset. Mindset is the set of attitudes a person holds. Oh, attitude — I have plenty of that — but there’s no need for me to derail this post so early.
All of us have an internal dialogue running through our minds at any moment. We can be harsh on ourselves up there, making us our own worst enemies. It happens to me at 3 am, when I remember every mistake I’ve made in detail.
Our internal dialogue plays into our fitness mindset, which is a fancy way of saying, Did you get up from the couch and move today. There are people in this world who don’t see themselves as a fit person.
I aim to change that by flipping your mindset to a fitness one.
Fitness Mindset
“Whether you think you can, or you think you can’t – you’re right,” explains Henry Ford. I’m not going to get all Tony Robbins or Dr. Phil on you here, but there’s truth to the idea that we become our thoughts. Belief plays a significant role in taking action, whether it comes from within or from a loved one. You wouldn’t be reading these words if nobody believed in me.
Coming up, I’ll explore four ways to develop an enhanced fitness mindset, so you’ll always see yourself as a fit person.
Reframe What “Fitness” Means
If you Google’ Fitness, what kinds of images do you think pop up? If you guessed attractive people when lean and muscular bodies, lifting weights, or performing challenging exercises, you’d be right.
When you see these images and then look in the mirror, you don’t look anything like that. Therefore, it’s easy not to think of yourself as a fit person. Many people imagine intense workouts, ripped abs, or perfect meal plans when they hear “fitness.” It’s not that these things aren’t fitness; they are.
There’s just much more to it than that.
Instead, think of it as doing things that make you feel stronger, move better, and live freely. Fitness doesn’t have to mean spending six days in the gym — it can be walking your dog, carrying all of your groceries in one trip, or having the energy to play with your kids. Fitness is the ability to do a task. If you’re able to do stuff unhindered and have the energy to do it, congrats —you’re a fit person.
Focus on Identity, Not Outcomes
It’s great to have health and fitness goals. Things like losing the love handles, seeing your abs, losing 10 pounds, or doing your first chin-up. They are all worthy goals, but some get wrapped up in the goal rather than the behaviors that lead to it.
There’s a better way to achieve your goal while enhancing your fitness mindset.
Your behavior reflects your identity. Instead of saying, “I want to lose 10 pounds,” start saying, “I’m someone who takes care of my body.” Every small action —a walk, a stretch, a workout —is a step toward your goal and the person you wish to become. When you act like the kind of person who values movement, the mindset shift follows.
Then, you might reach that goal.
Start Small and Win Daily
Most people don’t fail because they lack motivation. They fail because they try to overhaul everything at once. New diet, new workout plan, new morning routine — and by Friday, they’re burned out and back on the couch.
The key to building a healthy fitness mindset isn’t going all-in; it’s going small and consistent. Think of it like strength training — you don’t load the bar with 300 pounds right away.
You start where you’re at, and earn the right to add weight.
The key here is choosing tiny, winnable habits that you can repeat even when your life gets wild. Ten minutes of walking after dinner. A few mobility drills before your morning coffee. Those may not look like much on paper, but they stack up — and that’s the point.
So, forget the all-or-nothing approach, because that’s a hiding-to-nothing and leads nowhere. Instead, focus on one small thing you can do today — and win it. Then do it again tomorrow. You don’t build a rock-solid fitness mindset in one big leap. You build it one step at a time.
Shift the Internal Dialogue
The hardest fight in fitness doesn’t happen under the barbell—it happens between your ears.
Many people don’t fall short because of time, motivation, or equipment. It’s the nagging inner voice that stops them—the one that whispers “I’ll never be fit,” or “Who am I kidding. I’ll never have a six-pack.” That voice whispers just enough doubt to make you hesitate, to skip the session, to stay on the couch.
Your brain doesn’t like discomfort, and you have to talk it into exercise.
To prove that inner voice wrong and to get your brain in fitness mode, action is the key. Lace up your shoes. Knock out your warm-up. Move your body as I explained in Start Small. Give your brain small doses of it, and it will realize this discomfort is a good thing.
When your inner dialogue sounds like a critic, it’s time for a new head coach — one who speaks with facts, not feelings, because feelings are not facts. You showed up tired and still moved? That’s resilience. Did you make time for your health in a chaotic day?
That’s who a fitness person is.
Every rep, walk, or stretch is a small rebuttal to self-doubt. Over time, those actions stack up and reshape how you see yourself from the inside out. Before you know it, you’re not pretending to be a fit person — you are that person.
So, when that old voice pops up again, shut it down with proof:
“I showed up.”
“I did the work.”
“I’m becoming stronger.”
Okay, well, I did go a bit Tony Robbins on your eyes and ears, but hopefully you got the point.
Wrapping Up
The weight you carry or the clock pushing you to the next task on your to-do list is not stopping you from being a fitness person. It’s flipping your worst enemy into your best friend. It’s changing the inner dialogue from a critic to a coach who says, “You can do this.”
You can do this because if you couldn’t, you would not have read this far.
Work With Me Online
Whether you’re just starting or you’re tired of piecing together random YouTube workouts, my online coaching can help you succeed with:
Customized workouts you can do at home
Mobility routines to reduce stiffness and move better
Expert guidance and progress tracking that fits your lifestyle
Real accountability
Click here to get started today.
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