Total Gym

NEW! FitnessPsych – Your Inner Voice

Welcome new Total Gym Inside contributor Fitness Psychologist Michael R. Mantell, Ph.D.

There’s a great deal of psychology to becoming and staying fit. An important part of this is knowing yourself. I’m not talking about deep self-psychoanalysis. I mean knowing your personal preferences and mental filters—those traits that impact the way in which you perceive information. Use an ill-fitting approach, or allow yourself to be pushed in a direction that doesn’t fit you properly, and you’ll find reasons to avoid working-out.

A simple example: do you prefer the privacy of your home or like the idea of getting together with others out of your house? It’ll determine if you’ll find more motivation in individual or group exercise at the local gym or if you are more likely to stay with a home-based exercise program. If you don’t tailor your preferences to how you approach your exercise, you will find excuses for not exercising and end up feeling lazy. Sort of like an ill-fitting dress or suit—you just won’t want to wear it. You need to think about what fits your style and preferences and follow your inner voice. A more home-focused person won’t feel comfortable in the midst of a busy gym and similarly, if you like lots of people around, working out in your bedroom won’t do it for you.

Are you someone who moves “towards” things rather than away from things? You will find more motivation discussing the advantages of exercise with words like, “accomplish,” “achieve” or “goals.” If you are an “avoider,” then your motivation comes from “steering clear of,” “eliminating” or “avoiding” problems associated with poor health. Same goal, different path.

Let’s say you are someone whose inner voice is “internal.” You believe deeply that you know what’s best for you and are less likely to turn to, or listen to, others as to what’s best for your exercise routine. On the other hand, if you are more “external,” knowing what the experts say or what the latest research is becomes important to you before you jump in. Same goal, different path.

It’s all perspective. That’s your inner voice. Knowing your style will lead you to better controlling your approach to exercise and making the most of the time you can give to being active.

There’s no right or wrong, better or worse, it’s all personal style and preference. The key is to know your filters and how to use them to your advantage in your quest for better mind/body fitness.

Michael R. Mantell earned his Ph.D. degree at the University of Pennsylvania after completing his M.S. degree in clinical psychology at the Hahnemann Medical College, where he wrote his thesis on the psychology of obesity. He has served as Chief Psychologist of Children’s Hospital and Health Center of San Diego, and created and led the nationally recognized Psychological Services and Employee Assistance/Wellness program for the San Diego Police Department. He is a member of the Sports Medicine Team at The Sporting Club in La Jolla, California, maintains a private clinical practice in La Mesa, California, and writes and speaks for the American Council on Exercise.

Have a question for Dr. Mantell? Leave us a comment below or email TotalGymBlog@totalgym.com.