Does your fitness journey feel like a “punishment”? Is your inner dialogue all about “restriction” and “deprivation”? A fitness professional suggests this “punishment” mindset is why you’re failing. The key to success is a “gentle,” “compassionate” approach. Here are three “gentle” shifts to make.
The first “punishment” is the “hypersonic” rush. We try to “punish” our bodies with “instant results”-seeking: crash diets, over-exercising. A veteran coach warns this is a trap. This “punishment” leads to burnout and “rebellion” (bingeing). The “gentle” approach is to slow down. A patient, deliberate pace is kind and compassionate. This “gentle,” sustainable pace is what leads to faster, permanent progress.
The second “punishment” is obsessing over results. We “punish” ourselves when the scale doesn’t move. A fitness expert insists you must focus on your ‘efforts,’ not your outcomes. This is the “gentle” approach. You must focus on what you can control.
This means your energy must be invested in controllable, ‘gentle’ actions: getting enough sleep, drinking water, going for a “calm” walk. This is “self-care,” not “punishment.” This leads to the third shift: choose small, ‘gentle’ changes over big, ‘punishing’ ones. A big, “punishing” overhaul is not “gentle.” A small, “kind” change—like adding a vegetable—is manageable, sustainable, and the “gentle” path to success.
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