#MattsStory: Playing the Mental Game

​For the month of June, we asked Matt to tell us about how his mentality has changed and how his mindset shifts have impacted his journey. Here's what he had to say:

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​I’m so proud to say that I’ve been doing the WIlCOX program for more than six months!! I’m definitely over the hump in terms of training, but it’s not all downhill from here. I don’t want things to go downhill- I want to go up, up, and beyond! I'm so far into this now that I actually want to go to the gym, I want to get into better shape, and I want to work out hard! Even when I get sore, I power through. ​

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Over time, it has become easier to get myself to the training sessions and I look forward to going to the gym most days. About ninety percent of the time, I sign up for training the week before so I am ready. If something comes up at work and I can’t get out on time, I can cancel and reschedule for a later session. The flexibility is awesome and helps me so much! It fits into my lifestyle and work schedule, so going to the gym is less of a hassle, which I believe is half the battle.  

Does training get easier? Nope! I still struggle at the gym, sometimes due to physical limitations, but also the mental aspect. At one point, I remember asking myself, “Why am I doing this to myself? This is killing me.” When I started thinking that way, I went back to an assignment they had us do in the beginning- I wrote down the reasons I choose to go to the gym and do this program. It helped me remember why I’m doing this and it motivated me to keep plugging away.

There are still times when work has been a grind and it feels much harder to muster up the energy and motivation to go. I sometimes start thinking “I’m too tired” or “I don’t feel well” or “I just don’t want to go.” I hope I’m not the only one that feels that way. In terms of mindset, one of the biggest things that I’ve learned is that I can overcome those negative thoughts. I make myself go to the gym anyways and I am always so glad I did!

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The last piece that I have to work on is my healthy eating habits. I know I can still do so much better and be a great success story if I can get this down pat. Usually, when I set my mind to something, I can do it, but healthy eating has been the hardest part of my journey. I am constantly trying to remind myself to watch what I’m eating and make healthier choices. 
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One of my trainers said something about nutrition that really stuck with me and that I try to remind myself. Feeding yourself should be like feeding a fire. Stoke the fire several times during the day with just a few pieces of wood. Don’t overfill the stove or stuff it to its capacity, as this will suffocate it. Just add a little fuel at a time, several times a day, and your fire will burn clean all day! 

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