A Beautiful Mind

This weekend I watched the film A Beautiful Mind. I know what you’re thinking ‘that came out ages ago!’ and I’ll admit I am a bit slow on the uptake with this one.

The film tells the story of troubled genius John Nash. Without wishing to spoil the film, although I’m sure most people have already seen it, John Nash has schizophrenia. Like most mental illness it is somewhat unknown and misunderstood, especially in the 1950’s when this film was set. Despite his difficulty, with the help and support of his peers he goes on to counter his demons and win a nobel prize.

Anyway… What does this have to do with fitness? I hear you ask.

Well… In my opinion the most important aspect a person needs to address when starting a fat-loss or fitness plan is not nutrition or exercise (they are both REALLY important), it’s not sleep, stress, digestion or even hydration (although they are important too). It doesn’t matter about flexibility, posture, range of motion, strength, metabolic type, hormone imbalances, medication, time to train or anything else…

It’s all about mindset.

When a person makes a true decision to change all of the above will not matter. When a person makes a true decision to change they will forget all other options – the leftovers from there children’s dinner, the chocolate or wine when the kids have gone to bed, the beer with workmates on a Friday night, the peer pressure from friends on a Saturday night when you decide not to drink, the coffee and cake just to fit in with the mums from school – it will all disappear.

It is all to do with making a true decision. Deciding what you want, why you want it makes all the difference. If you value you goals enough and have a really powerful reason why, then, and only then, will taking action towards your goal be the right path.

If for whatever reason you don’t have a big enough reason to do it then you probably shouldn’t waste your time. I use the example of slimming clubs up and down the country. I was invited to sit in on a slimming world meeting a couple of years ago (as a fitness consultant NOT as a client!!!) and sat in disgust as they went around the room listening to excuse after excuse as to why these people hadn’t stuck to the plan. I found it kind of embarrassing.

There is nothing worse than someone who is on a permanent diet. Not only do they not achieve their goals BUT they never enjoy themselves either!

Make a true decision and stick to your plans.

The reason that mindset is so important is because physiology follows psychology. You can quite simply change the physiological processes of your body by changing your mindset.

Don’t believe me? Is it not true that you first become embarrassed (psychological) and then you go red (physical)? Do you first become scared (psychological) and the get goose bumps (physical)?

If you change your mind, the rest becomes easy.

What does this have to do with the film? John Nash knew what he wanted and worked hard everyday to get it. Sure, it drove him to mental illness but arguably with his personality he was vulnerable to it anyway (a different discussion!!)

Nevertheless, later in the film John Nash was able to temper his demons and received recognition for it. Now you don’t need to watch the film. Ha. More time for exercise…