Overcome Exercise Obstacles

Obstacles are unexpected, never welcomed, and seem to come up at the most inconvenient times. (But then, who has ever had an obstacle come up at the right time?) A central key to dealing with them is ATTITUDE. For example, when you see a detour sign on your way to work, do you shrug your shoulders and return back home? Of course not! Any fitness guru or fitness expert will tell you that it is normal to face obstacles on the road to fitness, the key is that they must be faced and overcome.

1. Realize that what may be an obstacle for you may be nothing for another person, and vice versa. Is this obstacle REALLY an obstacle, or are you CHOOSING to look at it that way? If you are heading out late to work and the gym is about to close, this does not prevent you from sneaking in a quick burst of cardio exercise on the treadmill for 20 minutes.

2. Look at who and what's in your corner with you. Just like a professional boxer has a trainer, coach, and manager in the corner to keep him going every round, so you have your own will power in your "corner." Determine what kind of support and help you need and then look within.

3. Back off! Remain cool and objective. If fear or intimidation is part of the obstacle, ask yourself, "What is the worst that can happen if I approach this task?"

4. What you would tell a friend if THEY were faced with the same problem? Sometimes it can be easier to tell someone else how to approach an obstacle and get around it. Act as your own friend.

5. See yourself having conquered the obstacle. Then work your way back. Visualize yourself having achieved your desired end result. Evaluate the tasks you did in order to overcome the problem. You will learn some surprising truths about yourself.

6. Don't be shy. Ask for it!v Sometimes a direct request for help and support is all that's necessary to get what you need to conquer the obstacle. "Hey, I'm working on getting through such-and-such. Would you help me out?" Simple as that. That person will then ask questions about how s/he can help you. You just tell him/her. Then go about obliterating your obstacle.

7. Determine how you CAN do it. If you think you can't conquer your obstacles, there are reasons why you can. Think positive, not negative. Use this simple exercise: take a sheet of paper, and divide it into two columns. Title one column "How I Can," and the other "How I Can't." Draw a big X to fill the entire How I Can't column - because that doesn't matter. You're not concerned with how you can't conquer your obstacle. You're concerned with how you CAN. Think of creative ways you can conquer the obstacles; for every "can't" you think of, just write down in the "Can" column the direct opposite solution.

8. Use artful persuasion. Make a good argument for why it's of mutual benefit to the other party to lower or remove the obstacle standing in the way. If given the rationale, people usually would rather please others than not.

9. One bite at a time. Obstacles can be so overwhelming that you end up doing nothing about it except "take" it, every single day. Break it down into sub-conquers; what you're doing here is getting started toward the ultimate conquer. Have faith in yourself, and take it one step at a time.

10. Forge ahead with unyielding determination. By doing this, you will gain the energy and momentum needed to knock down what gets in your way. Sometimes just "working through" works in overcoming obstacles. Always remember. Nothing can deter you from reaching your goals, unless you give permission to let this happen.

Nitin Chhoda is a fitness guru, licensed physical therapist and bestselling fitness author. Learn his philosophy at http://www.totalactivation.com/ and join his fitness boot camp at http://www.jerseybootcamp.com/. You can also read all his articles on weight loss and fitness at http://www.best-weight-loss-programs.net/