You’re not competitive?

I never have considered myself competitive—not with other people, anyway. That being said, I’m always in competition with the little voice in my head. It says, “You can stop running at the corner.” Then my competitive voice reminds me of my goal when I started running. I keep going.

Competition can be a good thing when it comes to fitness. Teaching women’s fitness for the last six years, I’ve learned that I can get a group of gals to do an extra set of pushups just by adding the word “challenge” to my description. Competition can push you a little farther than you intended to go previously, or make you move a little quicker to keep up with another runner in a 5K.

My client Jana Reyes, a Keller Williams Realtor, was telling me just the other day how a little healthy competition with the runner on the next treadmill keeps her on until the other person finishes their workout. “I could use the workout equipment I have at home," says Jana, "but it’s inevitable that the dryer will buzz or my phone will ring, giving me an excuse to cut my workout short.”

So whether you compete with your own voice, your friends in a group workout, or the runner on the treadmill next to you, keep it up.  You just might be healthier because of it.