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If you’ve ever found yourself frustrated because progress feels slow, the scale isn’t moving, or a lift didn’t go as planned, you’re not alone. We’ve all been there. But what separates those who give up from those who continue improving is often one thing: mindset.
More specifically, a growth mindset.
What Is a Growth Mindset?
The term “growth mindset,” coined by psychologist Carol Dweck, refers to the belief that your abilities and intelligence can be developed through hard work, effort, and persistence. In contrast, a fixed mindset assumes your abilities are set in stone. You’re either “good” at something or you’re not.
When it comes to fitness and nutrition, that difference is huge.
A growth mindset says:
- “I can get stronger if I keep showing up.”
- “I can learn how to eat better for my goals.”
- “Progress takes time, and I’m in it for the long run.”
A fixed mindset says:
- “I’m just not athletic.”
- “I’ll never be able to eat healthy.”
- “That workout looks too hard for me.”
The truth? Everyone starts somewhere, and every single person can improve with consistency and a willingness to learn.
How It Applies to Fitness
At CrossFit Influence, we see the growth mindset in action every day. It shows up when someone gets their first pull-up after months of banded work. It’s the member who modifies workouts but never skips class. It’s the person who celebrates progress, not perfection.
CrossFit’s methodology itself reinforces this mindset. Workouts are constantly varied, designed to challenge you in different ways and highlight both your strengths and weaknesses. One day you might crush a workout; the next day, you might feel completely humbled. That’s the beauty of it. Every day is an opportunity to grow.
When you focus on what you can do instead of what you can’t do yet, you begin to see fitness as a lifelong journey, not a short-term challenge.
How It Applies to Nutrition
Nutrition is another area where mindset makes all the difference. So many people fall into the trap of thinking they have to be “perfect”. No sugar, no carbs, no slip-ups. Then, when they have one “off” day, they feel like they’ve failed.
But a growth mindset reframes those moments. Instead of saying, “I messed up,” you say, “What can I learn from this?” Maybe you skipped breakfast and ended up starving later. Maybe you didn’t plan meals ahead and made a quick, less nutritious choice. Those don’t have to be failures; they’re feedback.
With that feedback, you can adjust and improve next time. That’s growth.
Progress Over Perfection
The truth is, no one becomes fit or healthy overnight. It’s the accumulation of small, consistent actions that build into something incredible. The people who make lasting changes aren’t the ones who have perfect streaks, they’re the ones who get back up, again and again.
A growth mindset helps you stay motivated when results are slow, patient when challenges arise, and proud of every bit of progress along the way.
Bringing It All Together
Whether it’s mastering a new skill in the gym or building better nutrition habits, success starts with believing you can change. At CrossFit Influence, we’re here to help you develop not just physical strength, but mental resilience, too.
Because when you approach fitness and nutrition with a growth mindset, you stop asking, “Can I do this?” and start saying, “How can I get better?”
