Get Your Mind Right and Get Going
"Son! It's time for you to get your mind right"!
-College Football Coach Jerry Claiborne
"Do not do anything harmful; do only what is good; purify and train your own mind. This is the path to enlightenment.
-Buddha
Many people struggle to get into the proper frame of mind to exercise. Their workouts often lack focus and intensity or they fail to exercise at all. This pattern of distraction and lack of discipline is ubiquitous in our society. I learned many important and beneficial lessons regarding focus, dedication and discipline as a scholarship student/athlete in college. One man who had a profound impact on me was Jerry Claiborne, the head coach of the football team at the University of Maryland. His was a tough, old SOB who learned the art and skill of coaching football from his mentor, Alabama's legendary Paul "Bear" Bryant. Coach Claiborne was also one of the finest men I have ever known. It was he who saw the potential in his athletes and urged them not to squander it by telling them, when they needed to hear it, "Get your mind right". This was his unique phrase that translated into "get your thoughts, emotions and energy completely focused on the task at hand, and do it right now. I believe that many could benefit from this simple yet direct phrase and improve their workouts and themselves greatly.
To achieve true lasting fitness and wellness one must make a commitment physically, mentally and emotionally. A Harvard University Medical School study showed that by mobilizing our thoughts and practicing new ways of thinking, we could reshape our nerve cells and change the way our brain works. This discovery offers proof as to the malleability of our brains and could have a direct bearing on those people who struggle greatly to get connected to the athletic or fitness mentality. The reality is that we are all capable of changing the way our brains work by deciding and literally willing our minds to embrace and actually enjoy working out.
For those of you who are currently overweight and not working out (more then half of the adult population), or know someone in this position, I strongly recommend brisk walking. Walking is an essential movement pattern that not only burns calories but also increases metabolism and immune system function. Walking can also be natural cure for popular internal organ dysfunctions among sedentary people, the most common of which is constipation. It is notable that unhealthful eating and reduced exercise has led to constipation remedies being the third best selling drugstore item. An increase in resting metabolism was explored in a study by biochemist Eherefred Pfeiffer, who suggests that walks of two miles can increase "post exercise oxygen consumption" for up to twelve hours. This means that the exerciser will continue to burn calories for up to a half a day after completion of a long walk. The more deconditioned the individual, the greater the initial metabolic effect. Once a foundational level of conditioning is reached the exercise intensity must also be increased to counter the effects of neural and muscular adaptation, but walking is the best way to begin the conditioning process in highly de-conditioned or very overweight people.
In addition to daily walking, I would encourage daily meditation. This centuries old practice of inward thought or prayer is the modern day antidote to the high levels of stress that most people experience every day. Meditation as normally practiced, seated crossed legged on the floor, is very difficult for most people to do. Heavy people cannot manage the seated position and most struggle to keep the mind centered and quiet while remaining still. A more practical consideration for many is combining the disciplines of walking and meditation into "meditative walking" developed by Buddhist monks centuries ago. To achieve maximum benefit, find a rhythm between the breaths you take and the steps you make. A rhythm might be four steps to one breath. Breath through your nose if possible and concentrate on how the ground feels beneath your feet. Do not be distracted by the sights and sounds of your journey, just let them wash over you. Just walk. If possible and safe, walk barefoot for part of your journey on a gentle surface such as grass or sand. This will literally connect you to the earth and provide important sensory-motor feedback to your brain. Remember how great it was to walk barefoot as a child? It was important then to develop, and now maintain, the 19 muscles, 33 joints, 107 ligaments and 26 bones, in each foot. I highly recommend that you take your shoes off and walk around barefoot, today!
The longest journey begins with a step and I might add a positive thought. The journey for physical fitness and health is life long. The reasons to not workout will always exceed the reasons to workout, yet everyone I know who doesn't has time to drive to the doctors office to seek remedies for their diseases. The reality is if someone is overweight by more then 10% of their normal bodyweight, they are already sick and in need of getting their "mind right". No more excuses. Start today. Get your mind right and the world is yours!
As always your comments are encouraged and welcome at pete@petekoch.com.
Yours in Health,
Pete