Train Your Brain

Sports trainer Kenneth Baum, author of The Mental Edge: Maximize Your
Sports Potential With the Mind/Body Connection (Perigee, 1999).
share's his tips for getting your mind in sync with your feet:

Write a Desire Statement.On an index card, write your personal
mission statement. Begin with "I walk because ..." and list the
reasons you walk and the benefits you expect.

Reward Yourself. End your statement by promising yourself a specific
reward after you walk regularly for, say, six weeks.

Read Your Desire Statement Every Morning. Tape a copy to your
refrigerator, the dashboard of your car, your computer - anywhere you
can see it and contemplate it throughout the day.

Create a Walking Mantra. Imagine how you'll feel after you achieve
the walking goals you listed in your desire statement. Then, choose
up to three words that capture that feeling, such as "I did it"
or "Beautiful" or "Sexy."

Recite Your Walking Mantra. Repeat it over and over whenever you're
trying to convince yourself to walk. "Your Walking Mantra connects
you to all the positive feelings in your desire statement," Baum
says.

Visualize a Successful Walk. When you're wavering on whether or not
to hit the road, sit down and picture yourself walking. "See yourself
walking with a smile on your face, walking your way to better
health," Baum says. "That's very motivating to a lot of people."