Our words have a lot of power.

They might not change reality - but they can change your perception of reality. And that’s a pretty big deal. As such, it’s important to choose words wisely.

Choosing words wisely is especially important when it comes to health and fitness. Through the words we express, we can dramatically shift our experience of exercise - and, ultimately, our results. To that end, I’ve picked a few key fitness phrases to replace in your vocabulary.

1. “I hate this exercise.” When we say that we hate an exercise, what we usually mean is that it’s difficult. And if an exercise is difficult, that’s a good indication that we need to do more of it. Let’s be clear: You’re at the gym to exercise and get stronger. To get stronger, we need to challenge ourselves - and it’s these difficult exercises that help ensure results. Rather than hating difficult exercises, embrace them! Don’t hate the exercise, love it!
2. “I want to be skinny.” The dictionary defines skinny as “lacking sufficient flesh; very thin; emaciated.” Despite the images we see and the messages we hear, skinny isn’t a wise fitness goal. Instead of aspiring to be scrawny or gaunt, let’s work towards healthy, strong, athletic or fit. There are so many words more deserving of our attention.
3. “I need to go to the gym.” When you say it like that, going to the gym sounds like a chore. And if it sounds like a chore, it will feel like a chore. Going to the gym isn’t something to dread. On the contrary, going to the gym is a tremendous gift to your body - and it’s a step in the direction of your goals. You don’t need to go to the gym. You want to go to the gym and to experience its benefits.
4. “I’ll never look like that.” Why in the world would you root against your goals and your body? By feeding yourself negative sentiments, you’re fighting against the reality you want to create. Instead of building walls up, knock them down. Be your biggest cheerleader. Rather than focusing on the ‘nevers’, bring your attention to the changes that you can and will make - and let each day be a step in the direction of your goals.

At the end of the day, what you tell yourself and the people around you becomes your truth. So let’s use language that keeps us in alignment with the truth we want and the goals we wish to achieve. Bring awareness to what you listen to, what you tell yourself and what you tell others.

P.S. If you want a strong and healthy core, download “Davey Wavey’s Six Pack Program” and use discount code “YouTube” to save 25% during checkout! It contains five, 12-minute ab workouts that you can do at home to achieve real and lasting results!