Do you consider yourself an athlete?

She tells me that hearing the word athlete conjures up certain admirable characteristics.

Athletes set goals for themselves, theyre willing to challenge themselves and their limits, Stokes says.

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They connect their mind and body.

They harness every possibility both physically and mentally.

Calling yourself an athlete sets the mindset of willing to challenge yourself, she says.

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7:19 is early for me. Don’t judge.

Youre thinking, I can do this, I have what it takes.

It also comes down to the power of positive thinking.

You have to approach every sweat session with confidence and strength.

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7:19 is early for me. Don’t judge.

Believe that you are strong enough, and I promise youll surprise yourself.

Working out isnt just physical.

I took her advice, andgave myself a few minutes to focusbefore class.

Self talk means a lot more when youre looking in mirror and talking to yourself.

You believe it a lot more, says Stokes.

I think I may have even winked at myself at some point.

Athletes fight for one more rep.

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OK, so heres the deal.

I cant lift weights on my own.

The room is thick with enthusiasm andmotivation.

Like an athlete thatplays a team sport, I let this surrounding energy fuel mine.

No one else is stopping, and as part of this team, I cant either.

I crushed thatstrength trainingclassand not only felt good after, but proud of how I challenged myself.

This is what I told myself.

No one made it to the Super Bowl orWorld Cupbyskipping workoutsbecause their bed felt too nice.

You want to leave a workout without having a single regret like you left anything on the table.

Even Aaron Rodgers doesnt have his best game every single game.

But he sure as hell tries to do the best he can on that day under those circumstances.

It didnt have to be mybest run ever.

Id just make it the best I could considering I was not at myprime.

And it wasnt my best run.

I was tired, and my stomach was growling the whole time begging me for thescrambled eggsI was withholding.

I sprinted the last quarter mile until mycool-down.

Just like an athlete.

Remember at the end of the day that athletes take time off, too.

If youre going to train like an athlete, you should probably recover like an athlete, Stokes says.

Tonight, Im resting and fueling, because Im an athlete, and I earned it.

Also because mylegs are really sore.

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