Training Tips
Morning affirmations for a positive and productive day


Mornings are all about new beginnings and fresh starts. They are the perfect time to put your mind in a state of utmost belief in yourself and your potential before the day unrolls and everyone else gets to have their say. That being said, you can start each day feeling the way you want to feel about yourself and your life. If you are not sure how to do that and the concept of positive morning affirmations or positive mantras is unfamiliar to you, continue reading to learn about the power of positive thinking and transforming belief.
What are morning affirmations?
Affirmations are positive statements that can help you regain your motivation and overcome the limits of your beliefs. It is best to practice them in the morning, preferably in front of a mirror. I know, this may sound a bit silly and wacky, but time and practice will show you how inspiring they can be and how they can change your mindset for the better.
The reason positive affirmations work is that
they help surpass the limiting beliefs installed in us by sending a positive
message to parts of our subconscious. Regardless of whether you are struggling
with motivation to start the day, be productive, achieve success, lose weight, or
you are just lacking a general sense of happiness and contentment, positive
morning affirmation are a good start towards setting your mind towards the
achievement of those goals.
How to say morning affirmations?
While the checklist below on how to say morning affirmations is not a complete blueprint by any stretch of the imagination, it is definitely a solid framework that will help you practice your morning affirmations, especially if you are doing them for the first time.
- Choose statements that you can relate to, or create your own. Use words like trying or willing. You must be able to believe the affirmation in order for it to be effective.
- Say the affirmation in the first person, present tense, out loud. For example, say I can or I am instead of I will.
- Adjust the affirmation to what you want to cultivate that particular day.
- Believe the words you are saying! You must accept them as the ultimate truth.
- Repetition is definitely a key! Start by repeating each affirmation at least three times in the morning, and then use them during the day whenever you feel the need. The more often you use these affirmations, the more your brain will look for opportunities to support what you are confirming.
Benefits of morning affirmations
Affirmations work to improve all aspects of your life because they help make your life become filled with positivity and gratitude. The benefits of morning affirmations are numerous, and youll know you are on the right path when you start noticing (and this you definitely will) that:
- you are less negative
- you only surround yourself with positive people and things
- good things ARE happening to you
- you have a better perspective of things
- you have a better focus
- you are more grateful
A team of scientists published a paper in Behaviour Research and Therapy, arguing for the utility for positive ideation, even in circumstances where people are faced with a generalized anxiety disorder. According to their findings:
The replacement of worry with different forms of positive ideation, even when unrelated to the content of worry itself, seems to have similar beneficial effects, suggesting that any form of positive ideation can be used to effectively counter worry.
Eagleson C, Hayes S, Mathews A, Perman G, Hirsch CR. The power of positive thinking: Pathological worry is reduced by thought replacement in Generalized Anxiety Disorder.Behav Res Ther. 2016;78:1318. doi:10.1016/j.brat.2015.12.017
When to do morning affirmations?
Although there is no rule as to when it is the best time to use affirmations, using them in the morning is by far most effective. The main reason is that when you use affirmations in the morning, you are starting your day with a positive frame of mind. Also, saying morning affirmations just after you wake up can help get rid of any negativity from bad dreams and prevent your brain from becoming overloaded with any difficulties or problems you might be experiencing.
However, in order to maintain the positive thought flow, repeat the morning affirmations constantly throughout the day.
This will help you maintain a positive outlook, be optimistic, and perhaps improve multiple areas of your life such as health, fitness, your relationships, your career, etc.
How to create your own affirmations?
Think about what you are seeking to attract,
and then think about the beliefs that impede you from vibrating on the right
frequency. Do you feel insecure about something? Is there a fear haunting you?
As unpleasant as this first stage of the process is, it will help you design
affirmations that will bring you greater confidence and a more positive
self-image.
As a next step, get this negative belief out of
your mind by writing it down. By doing this, you are symbolically detaching
yourself from this assumption and getting ready to replace it with positive and
encouraging ones. Find the opposite of this negative belief and make it the
center of your affirmation. In doing so, stay clear from words that carry
negative connotations like dont, wont, or cant and use only positive
language.
For example, instead of replacing the negative thought I am ugly with I am not ugly, use a stronger and more positive statement, like I am beautiful. This will make your affirmation much more effective.
It is that simple, really!
However, if you need some inspiration throughout this process, there are a lot of ready-made powerful affirmations that may help you deal with a range of issues. The following list of morning affirmations might inspire you to create your own.
Morning affirmations for
success
- I
believe I can do whatever I set my mind to. - I
am strong and I am attracting great opportunities. - I
have dreams and goals that I am going to achieve. - I
am the sole creator of my life. - I
embrace every challenge as an opportunity to grow. - I
am brave. I am willing to face my fears. - Today
I am prepared for success. - I
will prosper. There are no limits to my growth. - I
will stay focused on my goals. - I
am a winner.
Morning affirmations for weight
loss
- I
am losing weight. - I
am confident about how I look. - I
listen to my bodys needs. - I
take care of my body. - I
feel good in my body. - I
love eating healthy and going to the gym. - I
believe I am able to change my habits and create better and healthier ones. - Every
day brings me closer to my ideal weight. - I
am strong in body and mind. - I
am unstoppable. I can achieve the body I want.
Morning affirmations for a
productive day
- Today
is going to be a good day. - Today
I focus on the good. - I
will fill this day with positive thoughts. - I
believe in my potential. - I
allow myself to go after my dreams. - I
feel motivated. - I
am determined and I will not give up. - I
know that each day is a new opportunity for great things. - I
greet this day with excitement about the possibilities that it brings. - I
have what it takes to overcome any obstacles.
Morning affirmations for happiness
- I
am choosing to be grateful and happy today. - I
am happy, I am healthy, I am strong. - I
am open to happiness and joy. - I
am worth loving. - Today
is full of beautiful moments. - I
am grateful for the happiness I feel today. - I
am surrounded by positive energy and peace. - I
am focused on finding happiness everywhere. - I
am open to receive happiness and kindness. - Today
I am allowing myself to stay positive and happy.
These are just some examples of positive morning affirmations that you can adopt, adapt or use as guidelines while creating your own. You can find thousands more online, and if you want to get really inspired and get rid of any doubt that you might still have in their effectiveness, I personally recommend you start this journey by following Louise Hay, and watching her YouTube videos.
Besides her amazing heartening life story, you will find many positive daily affirmations to uplift your day and help you create your best life.
Making a habit
Practicing positive morning affirmations is all about creating a strong set of habits. Habits of belief, habits of having a positive outlook, habits of repetition Having that in mind, the best way to adopt this set of habits is to anchor the practice of morning affirmations into your life. The most effective method? Tie it up with another habit.
A good way to approach this would be to have a very simple habit that you perform almost in a state of automation. This can be drinking your morning cup of tea, or having your breakfast.
Once you decide on the activity, simply make it a habit to follow this same activity with a practice of morning affirmations. You can spend one or two minutes at the beginning, and up the time window slightly from there onward.
That being said, to practice positive morning affirmations is to adopt a set of habits that inevitably leads to an improved self-image, better outlook, and plenty of mental energy to tackle whatever the day may bring. It is worth a try, isnt it after all, what is there to lose?
Have you tried this NEW workout plan that everyone is talking about?
Unlock Your Glutes
Beginner Workouts
5 Tips from a Dietician to Get Started with Plant-Based Eating


Whether you’re looking to make the move to a vegetarian or vegan diet, or just looking to add more plant-based foods into your diet that also may include animal-based proteins – we can all benefit from eating more plants. We get vitamins, minerals, fiber, and other nutrients from plant-based foods and research shows diets rich in these foods improves cardiovascular health, supports a healthy functioning immune system and good gut health, better controls blood sugar levels, and improves brain health!
With all these great health benefits, let’s talk through some simple tips for incorporating more plant-based eating into your diet:
Start small
If you’re new to plant-based eating, you’ve probably got some new habits to master. You’ll be modifying the way you grocery shop, plan, and cook and developing new habits and skills takes time. Rather than completely changing your diet all at once, set some small goals that will help you build toward your end goal.
For instance, you could have a Meatless Monday and eat all plant-based for one day of the week to start, or even just pick 1 meal to swap for now. Starting small will allow you to navigate your new habits and adjust as needed as you work to scale up.
Replace meat with a plant-based protein in a meal you already make
Rather than starting from scratch with new recipes, adopt meals you’ve already mastered to a plant-based version. For instance, instead of a beef hamburger or beef chili make a bean hamburger or bean based chili. Instead of an egg scramble, make a tofu scramble.
Plant-based proteins include lentils, beans, nuts, seeds, soy, tofu, tempeh, edamame, quinoa, nutritional yeast, and spirulina. Keep in mind there will be nutritional differences between an animal protein source and a plant-based protein source and you may need more of the plant-based protein in order to meet your protein needs.
Add more plants to your current meals
Along the same lines, instead of swapping the protein source, you can simply add more plants to your current meals alongside animal-based proteins. Add extra veggies to your pasta sauce, to scrambled eggs, on a sandwich, in a smoothie, soup, or in a casserole, on a pizza, in stir-fry, or in tacos.
Pre-prep plant-based snacks
Including more plants in your diet can be accomplished in a number of ways throughout the day. Make eating more plant-based easier by pre-cutting fruits and veggies that you can eat as a snack. Pre-cut bell peppers, cucumbers, mango, and pineapple. Dip veggie slices in hummus or a cashew-based dip.
Order a plant-based meal at a restaurant
Eating more plant-based doesn’t always have to mean cooking at home. Try a vegetarian or vegan restaurant or order a plant-based meal off the menu. Check out ethnic restaurants – many Indian dishes are plant-based. Thai, Indonesian, Chinese, Japanese, and Korean restaurants typically have plant-based dishes as well.
Beginner Workouts
How 3 Moms Use Life Time


Motherhood can be a challenging world: From work demands and kids’ schedules to household chores and other obligations, there’s a lot to juggle. However, some of the most critical items on that agenda include mom’s efforts to maintain her own health and wellness.
Physical activity, healthy eating, and stress management can often fall by the wayside amid the daily to-dos, but prioritizing them is not only essential for mom to stay healthy, happy, and strong, but it’s also a great opportunity to show kiddos the importance of cultivating healthy habits — while including them in your activities.
Get inspiration from these moms who use our spaces and offerings to support their family’s healthy way of life.
Kellie McLarney
Member at Life Time in Mount Laurel, N.J.
What is your favorite thing to do at Life Time?
Honestly, my favorite thing about being at Life Time is the community. It’s like my home; I feel so comfortable there. I love walking in and being greeted by Janelle at the front desk, then taking a yoga class taught by Jaime Marrero. We also really appreciate the Kids Academy team — they’re so great with children, and our kids truly enjoy all the staff there.
How do you and your family spend time together at Life Time?
My family enjoys going to the indoor pool to play and relax together. It’s always so warm, it feels almost as if we’re at a resort on vacation.
Do you have a Life Time “hack” you could share?
These days, it’s using a silicone insert inside my face mask. I don’t even feel it’s there during class!
What’s your go-to Life Time offering?
For sure the yoga classes. That’s when I get my me-time. My favorite is the FLOW format — I leave feeling refreshed and, of course, extra sweaty.
What does your ideal Mother’s Day look like this year?
We’re looking forward to spending the day together as a family at the Jersey Shore.
Idell Brown
Member at Life Time in Florham Park, N.J.
What is your favorite thing to do at Life Time?
My favorite way to work out at Life Time is in the small-group training classes or with a personal trainer. I thrive on working out in a group setting — a little competition never hurt anyone!
How do you and your family spend time together at Life Time?
Family time for us is typically spent at the pool. Lately, after my youngest son finishes his swim class, we’ll have lunch before enjoying family swim for about an hour. I’m sure when the outdoor pool opens for the season that will end up becoming a full day at the pool!
Do you have a Life Time “hack” you could share?
As a full-time working mom of two boys with a husband who works six days a week, the Kids Academy is a genuine lifesaver. I typically take both boys to Kids Academy while I go to my Saturday morning Zumba class, which falls perfectly before naptime. After my class, we have a “picnic style” lunch in the back seats of our car with the trunk open, which the boys love doing now that the weather is getting warmer. On the drive back, both boys fall fast asleep.
What’s your go-to Life Time offering?
The Alpha and GTX classes. Both are an amazing way to work out with others, develop perfect form, and build strength and endurance.
What does your ideal Mother’s Day look like this year?
Mother’s Day for me will be sleeping in until 9 or 10 a.m. (my boys are up by 6:30 a.m.!) then having a spa day before meeting up with my family for an earlier dinner. I’m a firm believer in self-care.
Melissa Moore
Member at Life Time in Peoria, Ariz.


What is your favorite thing to do at Life Time?
I love taking the barre and yoga group fitness classes, particularly the SURRENDER format for yoga. The instructors are professional, motivating, and always have great high energy.
How do you and your family spend time together at Life Time?
Most days we drop our daughter, Zoe, off at the Kids Academy. While she’s there, I like to take a barre class and then sit in the whirlpool. On Sundays, we all swim together in either the indoor or outdoor pools.
Do you have a Life Time “hack” you could share?
Always sign up for a class even if it looks full and you get added to the waitlist. Nine times out of 10, I end up making it into the class because of cancellations or no-shows.
What’s your go-to Life Time offering?
The barre and yoga group fitness classes. I love the barre classes in particular because I can get in a great full-body workout in just an hour. I also enjoy getting a massage at the LifeSpa.
What does your ideal Mother’s Day look like this year?
A day of relaxation at the spa — totally unplugged!
The post How 3 Moms Use Life Time appeared first on Experience Life.
Have you tried this NEW workout plan that everyone is talking about?
Try Bikini Body Workouts
Beginner Workouts
How to Get Razor-Sharp Abs


Most guys will tackle their abdominal training with a few sets of sit-ups or some version of crunches. Don’t get me wrong, this is a great start – but if the sides of your waist are soft and covered with fat, crunches may not be enough. Of course, your calorie intake needs to be in control and your diet has to be clean, and you must boost your cardio to drop body fat – but to carve hardness into the sides of your waist, you must target these weaker areas of your abdomen. Lying windshield wipers tighten and strengthen the major muscles on the sides of your waist and the lower part of the abdomen. A few months of lying windshield wipers and a good diet will eliminate any hint of love handles and replace them with razor-sharp abs.
Muscles Used in Lying Windshield Wipers
There are two major muscles and two deeper muscles that are responsible for maintaining the lateral boundaries of your abdomen. The external oblique muscle is the more superficial of the two muscles. This muscle begins on the lower ribs and extends to the hip bones. Small bundles of muscle fibers connect from lateral to medial, in the same direction that your fingers would point if you were to put your hands in your pockets.
When both left and right sides of the external oblique muscles work together, they flex the trunk and move the head toward the feet. When working one side at a time, the muscle flexes the trunk to the opposite side. For example, the right side of the external oblique strongly contracts when you bend or twist to the left side.
The second important muscle is the internal oblique muscle. It sits just deep to the external oblique muscle. The fibers of the internal oblique run around the side of the trunk at right angles to the external oblique muscle, fanning out from the origins and running toward the head (superiorly). It attaches on the lowest three or four ribs, where it becomes continuous with the internal intercostal muscles (respiratory muscles of the rib cage).
Similar to the external oblique muscle, the internal oblique flexes the trunk at the waist and moves the head toward the feet, if both left and right portions contract together. However, unlike the external oblique, if you twist to the right, the right side is most active.
Two other muscles act as abdomen stabilizers during lying windshield wipers. The transversus abdominis muscle helps to pull your abdomen inward. It is the deepest abdominal muscle, beginning on the inner surfaces of the inferior five to six costal cartilages of the ribs, the posterior side of the vertebral column, and also from the iliac crest region of the hip.
The second stabilizer is the iliopsoas muscle. This is a posterior abdominal muscle that consists of two fused muscles. The psoas major is a long and thick muscle that lies beside the thoracic and lumbar vertebral column. The iliacus muscle is a large triangular muscle overlaying the iliac bones of the hip and it lies along the lateral side of the psoas major. The fibers of the iliacus and psoas major combine into a single tendon that attaches near the head of the femur (thigh) bone. The iliopsoas is the most powerful flexor of the thigh at the hip joint. This muscle assists in stabilizing the femur of the thigh during each repetition of windshield wipers.
Windshield Wipers
This exercise targets both the internal and external oblique muscles.
- Place a flat bench under a Smith machine. Lie on the bench in a supine position (face upward). Place the bar at arms’ length above your face and grasp the bar. Your hands are here solely to stabilize your upper body and to prevent you from falling off the bench as you are twisting to one side or the other.
- Put both feet together. Extend your legs and hips so that there is a straight line from your torso down your legs.
- Inhale and raise your legs and hips so that they are perpendicular to your torso, with the toes pointed directly upward, straight toward the ceiling.
- Lower the legs to one side (e.g., to the left), until they are at an angle of about 45 degrees to the floor. Exhale as you lower your legs and try to pull in your abdomen as much as possible.
- Reverse the movement and inhale as you are coming up to the perpendicular point. Do not stop there. Go slowly to the other side until you have reached an angle of about 45 degrees. Exhale and pull in your abdomen on the way down. Continue to move your legs back and forth like a windshield wiper. Start with 10 reps to each side, but work up to 30. Three sets should be enough to make it feel like a tiger has been gnawing at your sides.
You should make an effort to pull the transversus in as much as possible as the legs are going downward. A strong transversus abdominis also acts to stabilize your spine and pelvis when you are lifting heavy weights in squats or rows. The iliopsoas largely acts to stabilize the thigh. You should not go down lower than 45 degrees on each side, because this puts too much strain on the lumbar vertebral discs and any further abdominal benefit is simply not worth risking any injury to your back. You will find that this smaller range of motion will get the job done, without any back risk.
References:
Hubley-Kozey CL, Hanada EY, Gordon S, Kozey J and McKeon M. Differences in abdominal muscle activation patterns of younger and older adults performing an asymmetric leg-loading task. PM R, 1: 1004-1013, 2009.
McGill, SM, Karpowicz, A (2009). Exercises for spine stabilization: motion/motor patterns, stability progressions, and clinical technique. Arch Phys Med Rehab, 90, 118-126.
Parfrey, KC, Docherty, D, Workman, RC, & Behm, DG (2008). The effects of different sit- and curl-up positions on activation of abdominal and hip flexor musculature. Appl Physiol Nutr Metab, 33, 888-895.
Teyhen DS, Williamson JN, Carlson NH, Suttles ST, O'Laughlin SJ, Whittaker JL, Goffar SL and Childs JD. Ultrasound characteristics of the deep abdominal muscles during the active straight leg raise test. Arch Phys Med Rehab, 90: 761-767, 2009.
Teyhen, DS, Rieger, JL, Westrick, RB, Miller, AC, Molloy, JM, & Childs, JD (2008). Changes in deep abdominal muscle thickness during common trunk-strengthening exercises using ultrasound imaging. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther, 38, 596-605.
Workman, JC, Docherty, D, Parfrey, KC, & Behm, DG (2008). Influence of pelvis position on the activation of abdominal and hip flexor muscles. J Strength Cond Res, 22, 1563-1569.
The post How to Get Razor-Sharp Abs appeared first on FitnessRX for Men.
Have you tried this NEW workout plan that everyone is talking about?
Unlock Your Hip Flexors
-
Exercise at Home4 months ago
Aging Strong: The Definitive Guide To Safe And Effective Weightlifting For Seniors"
-
Exercise at Home4 months ago
Age Gracefully, Age Strongly: The Far-Reaching Benefits Of Strength Training For Older People"
-
Exercise at Home4 months ago
Designing Victory: Your Guide To A Successful Senior Strength Training Program"
-
Exercise at Home4 months ago
Empowering The Silver Generation: Resistance Training Techniques For The Older, Wiser You"
-
Exercise at Home4 months ago
Reshaping Fitness After 60: A Comprehensive Guide To Strength Training For Older Adults"
-
Exercise at Home4 months ago
Never Too Late To Lift: Transformative Weightlifting Routines For Seniors"