Exercise Is Mental

I truly believe that a lot of people fail to even begin or maintain a exercise program is because they simply do not believe that they can do it and be successful. It saddens me, because you can do it. It is imperative to your overall health in so many aspects that no doctor will argue.

It is not to say that you will reach perfect health or that you won't falter in your exercise regimen or that you won't have days that are not as successful as other days. But 95% of it, is mental. There is nothing more powerful than your self talk when it comes to exercise. Here is a great book on building your confidence while taking stewardship over your body by Joyce Meyer.

It you tell yourself that you can not lift something or do a extra repetition or set, then I promise with all that I am you will be right. Do this enough times, then you will literally talk yourself out of doing anything at all.

This is not to say that you can tell yourself that you can lift way more than your capabilities and exercise for hours at a time. At no time should you ever do anything that is outside of your capability or threatens your safety. There is never any exception to this rule.

With that being said, you can add small amounts of weight at a time or do a few more repetition in order to push yourself to the next level. However, in order for you to do this, you have to tell yourself that you can and then believe that you can. Then and only then will you be successful.Read Proverbs15:4

There will always be days when you will feel either stronger or weaker than your known capabilities. Use the days that you feel weaker to confirm that you are stronger than you give yourself credit. Use the days that you feel stronger to confirm that you were correct.

When you do this, you will continue to build your confidence when it comes to exercise. The more your confidence is built, the more you will enjoy exercise and make it part of your lifestyle rather than something that you do for just a few weeks or months.

Stop Comparing Yourself To Others

I think that so many of you have started and then stopped going to the gym or exercising all together is because you constantly compare yourself to others. The Bible teaches that we are wonderfully and marvelously made. That means that we are all unique in ourselves. You really, really do need to stop comparing yourself to other people. God wants you to be the best that you can be. Read Look Great, Feel Great and/or Donna Richardsons Lets Get Real

In reality what it means in terms of exercise and eating right is that what works for one may or may not work for you. Each and every one of us has gone through individual phases in our bodies. Stick to what you can do, there is always room for improvement for all of us. None of us are perfect.

You have to do this for you, not for someone else. They had to do it for themselves so now you must do the same. Strive to be the absolute best that you can be. There is greatness in you. Be like David when he had to face Goliath. David remained strong and fearless even when everything seemed to be against him. When he did, God gave him the victory.

I said that to say this to you. Don't let yourself fail in taking care of yourself, even when everything seems to be against you. When you remain strong and fearless in your stewardship of your body, then you will have the victory.

Help I Am Much Stronger on One Side

The vast majority of us are stronger on one side over the other. Very few are equally balanced. If you are right handed, you use your right more and therefore as a direct result build more strength on your right side. The same is true for the left side. However, the actual difference is usually minimal and you don't notice it in your every day life.

There are some things that you can do to help balance the difference.
1.) If you are using free weights or dumbells, you can do a few more repitions on the weaker side. Do not use different weights, because it will throw off your center of gravity causing you to lean to one side sacraficing your form.

2.) If #1 does not seem to be working you can pick up one weight and just do that side. However, be careful not to overcompensate the other side. Always do this in a mirror to watch your form.

Using one or both of these methods will help minimize the difference between each side. Once the difference no longer bothers you, you can go back to doing equal weight on both sides. Don't let it bother you.