You know, I can't say I've always been best buddies with ellipticals or cross-trainers. But picture this: you're inching closer to the big 40s, and you get this genius idea of “fit in” your already busy schedule, the preparation for your first fitness competition.
Yup, we're talking about the kind where you wear a tailored made bikini, at least two coats of tan spray and pose looking all jacked but glamorous. It's like a blend of sweaty hard work and glitzy glam, and it's a wild ride!
Going back to the ellipticals, let me take you back to the time when I found myself needing to squeeze in a whopping 360 minutes of cardio every week.
I used to have a real bromance with the Stairmaster, but my 37-year-old knee ligaments were having none of it when it came to my grand plans of conquering the "shredded summit."
So, here we are. Still pushing the limits with a different approach.
Or, like the cool kids in Project Management would say… We are just agile.
Why am I even sharing all of this?
Because in a century where we're practically drowning in an endless sea of information and constantly surfing the anxiety waves of feeling behind and not doing enough, I want to hit the brakes for a moment and curate some experiences and knowledge just for you.
I get it. We're all unique beings and choose to live our lives in very unassociated ways.
BUT, if anything I'm sharing here can sprinkle a bit of extra goodness into your day without making you feel like you're betraying your love for real coffee (none of that mushroom stuff), succumbing to the 5am Club pressure, keep a daily journal, or secretly plotting ways to escape your boss's clutches – well then, then I've done my job!
This is how this Fit Boss Diary came to life.
On a Saturday morning, me on Elliptical No. 5, swinging my legs and arms, I was not just working my body but also rearranging the chaos in my mind.
At this exact moment, I rewired my brain from “All that I do has to be with this F*cking competition” to “Let’s channel this energy into something productive and insightful”.
So, as this marks my very first letter, I want you to walk away with more than just a tale of my cardio machine dilemma. Let's dive into something tangible you can carry beyond the elliptical!
And I’ll go with MINDSET.
If you were to tell 30-year-old me to work on her mindset, I'd probably brush it off as some fluffy, time-wasting nonsense. But as the years roll by, and hopefully, you become a tad wiser, you realise that your mind is basically the control centre of your life.
“Where focus goes, energy flows.”
― Tony Robbins
It can either be channelled into productive outcomes or sucked into a vortex of negativity when things hit the fan.
Guess what? Things will ALWAYS get hard, or at least that is our perception until we remove the emotional swelling and unveil that the problem wasn’t as big as we thought.
So, how do you cope with anxiety, emotional roller coasters, and all the stuff that's not doing you any favours?
Well, I've got two trusty strategies I've been sticking to like glue, and they've made a world of difference.
- Number one:
I will pause daily to engage in a 10-minute breathwork session.
My personal favorite protocol is NSDR (Non-Sleep Deep Rest) by Dr Andrew Huberman. It’s a form of guided meditation that combines breathing and body scanning to bring you into an aware yet relaxed state.
Non-sleep deep rest is proof that you have conscious control over your perception.
And don't worry, it won't slow you down or zap your momentum. In fact, it does the complete opposite. It helps you find the sweet spot to power through that never-ending to-do list, sharpens your focus, and boosts your creativity.
It's like stepping out of a luxurious, five-star hotel shower after a rejuvenating holiday.
In case you want to give it a go, grab your favourite headphones and use this link to the YouTube recording:
- Number Two:
Hypnotherapy (one session weekly)
In the words of Grace Smit, Hypnotherapy is simply meditation with a goal.
Back in the wild year, 2020, when someone mentioned hypnotherapy, my mind instantly conjured up an image straight out of a Merry Melodies cartoon.
You know, the one where Bugs Bunny has Elmer under his spell, issuing commands left and right. Frankly, the idea of letting someone take the reins of my mind sounded pretty darn scary.
I decided to do some digging and educate myself on the matter.
And guess what? No need to fret, my friends. No one will whip out a pendulum clock and start swinging it in front of your eyes, trying to hijack your thoughts and turn you into their puppet.
Let's break it down: How does hypnotherapy work?
During the session, you'll be wide awake and firmly in the driver's seat the whole time.
Think of it as a meditation journey that's all about helping you “breathe out” emotions, worries, and negative thoughts that have been cluttering up your mental space. The goal? To hit the reset button on your mental narrative, swap out those unhelpful thoughts for a fresh batch that'll serve your current goals.
You see, sometimes we react to things or get triggered without even realising it.
Whether it's fears, worries, compulsive habits, or just anxiety that tags along with our everyday lives, it can throw us off balance.
But that's where hypnotherapy comes to the rescue. It helps you dig deep and uncover the root causes of those reactions, paving the way to reframe, upgrade, and supercharge how your subconscious operates.
Why is this method relevant for entrepreneurs?
Well, because your mindset and that sneaky subconscious of yours are often the ones to fail you.
We've all been there – thinking we can't possibly reach our goals, tossing around negative self-talk, all because we're trapped in a cycle of fearing the unknown, worrying about what others might think, and imagining every worst-case scenario under the sun (because, hey, we're experts at brewing up mental Armageddon).
If you’re wondering how on earth I've managed to juggle contest prep on a super low-calorie diet, lots of cardio (like all my life's worth in cardio), client work, and my own personal life – well, this right here is my secret sauce and the reason I still smile at you at the gym.
I’m working on my mind daily and rewiring it to my favour.
Let me tell you, it's not all smooth sailing.
Balancing the hustle and grind of life and work with prepping for that competition is like trying to juggle flaming torches while riding a unicycle.
But there are ways to make it all a bit smoother. And that's precisely what I'm here for.
Each week, I'll be dishing out some fresh tools and tips so you can find that sweet spot where your fitness and wellness goals will finally cohere in your professional life.
So, take a deep breath and enjoy the rest of your day.
Until next time!
Abraço,
