We often treat fitness as an “external” game: “external” results (the scale), “external” plans (the diet). But a fitness professional argues that fitness is an “internal” game. The “internal” game is your mindset. If you “win” the “internal” game, the “external” results will follow. Here’s how to “win” the “internal” game.
The first “internal” shift: slow down. The “external” game is “hypersonic” and “frantic,” obsessed with “instant results.” A veteran coach warns this is a trap. Rushing leads to “internal” burnout and frustration. To “win” the “internal” game, you must be patient and deliberate. This “internal” “calm” (a sustainable pace) is what leads to faster, permanent ‘external’ progress.
The second “internal” shift: focus on your ‘efforts.’ The “external” game is obsessed with results (the scale). The “internal” game is obsessed with efforts. A fitness expert insists you must focus on your ‘controllables’ (the ‘internal’) not your ‘uncontrollables’ (the ‘external’).
This means your energy must be invested in controllable, ‘internal’ actions: your sleep, your hydration, your food choices, your 10-minute walk. This is your “internal” win. This leads to the third shift: choose small, ‘internal’ changes over big, ‘external’ ones. A big, “external” overhaul is overwhelming. A small, “internal” habit (a manageable change) is sustainable, “calm,” and the “internal” secret to “external” success.