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Health & Fitness

You Don't Need to Be an 'Athlete,' You Just Need to Show Up!

Don't negatively self-condition yourself for exercise (and sabotage your fitness goals) by telling yourself things like "I'm not an athlete."

"I am not an athlete." That statement was made to me by an individual when we were in the midst of a discussion on exercise. I was never interested in that arena, therefore I will not go.

"OK," I thought. I did not reply, but later, when I was thinking about the subject, I reflected on my wife Ali's recent experience in a group workout session hosted by Shaun T, a celebrity fitness trainer who is well-known for his Insanity, Hip Hop Abs, Asylum and Rockin' Body DVD workouts. Shaun T holds events around the country and world because he loves what he does for a living. 

The event Shaun T hosted locally was attended by 100 people in Bangor--yes, Bangor. When my wife registered for it, she was not asked if she was an athlete. Now, she is very athletic and in great shape, but she relayed to me that everyone struggled with the workout, and some more than others. My point is that they came. They showed up. They did not let negative self-conditioning prohibit them from taking control and improving their lives.

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Now, in the afterglow of working out with Shaun T, my wife realizes, "Hey, I need to work. I have gotten here, but want to go there." She did not say "I am not," "I can't," "what if" or "I don't know." Instead, she and 100 others who descended on Bangor--regardless of athletic skill level--got it done just by deciding to show up.

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