If you've ever told yourself, “I’m just not consistent,” or “I’ll never be one of those fit people,” you’re not alone. But those thoughts might actually be standing in the way of becoming your best self!
At 10.40.10 Fitness, the best gym in the Northwest Chicago suburbs for building consistency and helping you achieve the best fitness results, we see this all the time. When people express limiting beliefs - either out loud or in their own heads - the beliefs can end up shaping their habits, motivation and even results.
In other words, your inner dialogue can either sabotage or supercharge your fitness journey, and today we’re talking about how you can flip the script for good.
Your Mindset Might Be the Biggest Thing Holding You Back
There’s a member here at 10.40.10 Fitness who rarely makes it to class on time. She makes no qualms about it, either. At first, we assumed she was just very unlucky with traffic. But as time has gone on - quite literally - we’ve jokingly called her out on more than one occasion.
“I’m never on time for anything,” she says with a sheepish grin.
And she’s right. She’s not on time — and never will be — because she’s created a self-fulling belief. Imagine if she actually did manage to show up on time. It would go against something she fundamentally believes about herself, and there’s a subconscious conflict there.
Joking About Your Limits Might Be Reinforcing Them
This concept isn’t limited to the fitness mindset in the gym. Let’s use a fictional example about Linda. She’s an entrepreneur who’s just launched her business. Money is tight. Other adjectives for the funding situation could include “non-existent” and/or “broke as a joke.”
And joking is exactly what Linda does. Friends invite her out to dinner or coffee or Punta Cana and she can’t afford any of it. So she makes jokes about being a “broke business owner.”
So low and behold, Linda continues to be… you guessed it… a broke business owner.
She has never even considered the idea that she could actually be speaking her beliefs into existence.
If instead, she would start to think with an abundance mindset, believing she has everything she needs to be successful, she would start making self-fulfilling, positive statements.
But think about this: If you had someone consistently telling you that you’re ___ (smart, stupid, meaningful, worthless, etc.), you’d start to believe it over time, right?
So every day, whether we’re saying these things to ourselves or out loud, we’re either starting a belief or reaffirming a long-standing one.
What Beliefs Are You Repeating Without Realizing It?
Statements about your beliefs can show up in a variety of forms. Here are some common ones:
“I’m just not a morning person. I can’t function before I have coffee.”
“I suck at math.”
“I’ll never be able to lift that much weight.”
“I’m really not good at standing up for myself.”
What are the statements that you’ve found yourself telling people, or saying in your own head? And how long have you been making them?
Note that this isn’t about that one time you told your brother’s friend, “I’m not strong enough” to get out of helping him move. (That wasn’t a limiting belief - moving is the worst.)
This is about all those things in your fitness mindset or otherwise that you need to fact check before you ever let them escape your lips again.

Is That Statement Even True? How to Fact-Check Your Self-Talk
Let’s go back to the 10.40.10 Fitness gym member who’s always late for class. She’s using the statement, “I’m never on time to anything” as both an excuse and an explanation.
The funny thing is, she was actually on time for work every day this week. She manages to get her daughter to practice on time consistently. And she recently got together with an old friend for coffee. She showed up 20 minutes early.
So is she truly “never on time to anything?” Or is it only with things that aren’t high on her priority list?
The truth is, lately she’s been feeling frustrated with her nutrition. Her poor eating habits have led to lower fitness motivation, and feeling like she’s not able to perform at her best in the gym. So she’s been subconsciously waiting until the last second (or ten minutes into class) to show up.
She doesn’t even realize that she’s doing it. An activity that’s normally fun and invigorating has become temporarily hard. So she’s come up with the perfect excuse, that she’s never on time for anything.
That’s just this time. Before that, it was something else. Different reasons, same self-fulfilling belief.
There’s good news: this means her excuses are temporary. And therefore, they can probably be altered. However if she’s not careful, or says things — in her head or out loud — enough, they could become permanent beliefs.
How to Flip the Script and Start Showing Up Differently
There are three simple steps to flip the script on these inaccurate statements that might be steering your beliefs.
First, figure out what they are. (Duh?) Pay particular attention throughout your day to any statements that start with things like, “I always,” “I never” or “I can’t.”
Second, fact check. Ask yourself if what you’re saying has any actual validity. Even if something is truly applicable in some situations, are you saying it so much that it’s becoming true all the time?
Finally, make an adjustment. Even if it’s as simple as changing, “I always” to “I sometimes,” big adjustments usually take time. Another good one is to change, “I can’t” to “I’m currently working on…”
Lastly, if you’re one of those who are “never on time to anything,” here’s a suggestion. Try, “I’m capable of being on time. I’m just choosing not to be.” Does that change the way you look at your belief?
Ready to Change Your Story? Join the Top-Rated Gym in the Northwest Chicago Suburbs
If you’re tired of feeling stuck in old habits or hearing the same loop of negative thoughts in your head, it’s time for something different, and we want to help.
At 10.40.10 Fitness, we’re not just about workouts and training. We also believe in the fitness mindset, providing you with accountability and progress. We know that these shifts can lead to real, lasting change. So whether your goal is to increase strength, energy or consistency, we’re here to help you break the cycle and start writing a new story.
Come see why we’re the top-rated gym in the Northwest Chicago suburbs — where your goals actually become reality.
Book a free class or consultation today and take the first step toward the version of you that shows up, levels up, and sticks with it.
Start here: https://www.104010fitness.com/programs/get-started