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Fitness

Your Mental State vs. Your Success

Exercise is healthy. But sometimes our approach to it is not. Our mentality when we walk into the gym can do more damage than junk food ever could.

Becca Borawski

Written by Becca Borawski Last updated on June 1, 2014

Editor’s Picks of the Week

Exercise is a healthy thing. But sometimes our approach to exercise is not. Our mental state when we walk into the gym, dojo, or studio can do more damage than junk food ever could. We train too hard, we don’t listen to our coaches, and we compare ourselves to impossible goals.

This week’s editor’s picks look at our mental approach to training and where it can go wrong. But each article also offers solutions you can apply to your training – and your life – starting today.

Your Mental State vs. Your Success

How You Can Use Comparison, Instead of Letting It Abuse You

We spend a lot of time comparing ourselves to others. And when most of us do this, we come to a negative conclusion about ourselves. Coach Amy D. Hester asks us to examine these comparisons and put them and ourselves into a more positive light.

Are You Addicted to Exercise? The Tell-Tale Signs

Too much of a good thing is still too much. But why do we pursue exercise even when it begins to break us down? Have you been going too hard for too long? Coach Eric C. Stevens explains the symptoms of exercise addiction.

Open Your Mind and Say Yes to Your Coach

Have you ever found yourself saying, “yes, but…” to your coach? Do you ask questions and then not follow your coach’s advice? If this is you, then read this piece from Coach Valerie Worthington on how to turn your “yes, but” into a “yes, and” and improve your performance.

Real Yogis Use Props (And You Should, Too)

Sometimes it sucks to be the only one in yoga class with a pile of blocks holding you up. I totally get that. But would you rather handicap your progress or improve your health, performance, and mobility? Coach Alison Bristow-Wilburn gives props to props.

mind training, mental training, opening your mind, fitness dogma, dogma

What If We Thought About Movement Like Nutrition?

Do you fast all day and then binge on food? Because most likely that’s how you treat your exercise. What if instead you treated exercise like you do your nutrition? Coach Chris Garay explains the approach and how it can make you happier and healthier.

You’re Not Ronnie Coleman – Don’t Be Afraid to Tweak

You are a unique butterfly. Okay, maybe you’re not a butterly – but you are unique. So why in the world would you follow any workout plan down to the letter? Coach David Varnes explains how and why you should adjust your workouts to your own body and goals.

Jiu Jitsu Is Awesome (Athlete Journal 35)

Sometimes you do have a great approach when you’re at the gym. It feels right and it feels like where you’re supposed to be. When you find that flow, everything just goes right. You’re open to success and accomplishment. Athlete Jess Papi explains how this feels for her in jiu jitsu class.

Photos courtesy of Shutterstock.

Becca Borawski

About Becca Borawski

Becca found her way to a career in health and fitness through Martial Arts and CrossFit. Originally a music editor for film and television, Becca started studying Martial Arts in 2000. Though she started with traditional Martial Arts it was not long before she discovered Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) and her path was forever altered. She began training in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) and Muay Thai and started working with professional MMA fighters, building websites, working on fight promotions, and producing videos.

As a competitor in BJJ herself, Becca wanted to get stronger and fitter. In 2006 she discovered CrossFit and became a student at CrossFit Los Angeles. In only a couple of years she became CrossFit Level III Certified, left her career in the film industry, and dedicated herself full time to coaching. She has since been certified through CrossFit in Olympic Lifting, Powerlifting, Nutrition, Endurance and Kids coaching. She also held an NSCA-CSCS from 2006-2008 and is a certified IndoRow instructor. In addition to coaching adults, she founded the CrossFit LA Kids program in 2010 and taught children aged 5-17.

Becca regularly takes on new sports, which have included indoor rowing, fencing, and most recently, cycling, as she believes it makes her both a better athlete and a better coach. In order to reach more people with her coaching, Becca also created ModernAthena.com – a website dedicated to women in pursuit of physical fitness and self-improvement.

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