Probably one of the greatest tools to training, motivation. We all generally stay motivated as everyone here regularly trains but we all have those days when we are having issues getting totally psyched up like we know we have been before and everything is awesome. Would anyone have any tips on manipulating motivation on those days when we miss a rep and let it drag us down or just plain aren't feeling it (assuming the person is not overtrained and just having an off day)?
A few I can think of may be music although sometimes I like training in total silence too. I think another big one for me would be posters on the wall, especially if you were training at a home gym. Inspirational posters like the classic franco deadlifting with his dog watching and I have a poster of rocky at the top of all those steps with his arms raised. How about you guys?
Music is a big one for me. But the biggest, most solid motivator for me is the pictures you mentioned. Helps me invision my goal for myself.
One of my working associates stuck my head on the body of guy on Men's fitness magazine just as a joke for my birthday. Did a good job on the graphic almost looks real...anyway, I keep it on my wall in my cube. It's my goal to make that picture reality.
Some days though, other things get you down. It's tough to get pumped up but getting pumped up (well motivated) is as much a part of the job as is eating and getting my butt to the gym. I'm dedicated to all of the above and love it.
When I was in boot camp at Parris Island they had a motivation platoon. If they felt a recruit was lagging, they would send him to motivation for a day. The recruit basically spent the day crawling through the swamps and sewer drains at Parris Island. They would be standing at attention to greet us when wh came bake to the barracks for the evening. The sight of them scared the rest of us into performing better. Permanent motivation was apparently a week of motivation.
I'll tell you guys how to get motivated in the gym, become infected with a virus and be forced out of the gym for over a week and all you do is sit around reading forums about how everyone is having an awesome time lifting weights and reading your weight lifting books hoping you get better a.s.a.p. because can't stand not lifting. sigh....
No seriously thats good stuff Greg. I think we all have the good old fashion fire inside our belly's or else we wouldn't bother to even write on a fitness forum. I should have titled this thread, "The Art of Psyching Up". That would be a good thread...if anyone actually came in here Jimbo! thanks for replying guys
What I think is really interesting is that your motivation controls your ability. There are documented cases where people have lifted vehicles to save another person. There muscles were able to put out that amount of force when it was needed and they are able to put out more than what we think now most of the time.
I read recently that a sudden noise like a gun shot at the time of the lift will cause a temporary increase in strength. That's why you also see/hear guys doing big PR lifts with 10 other guys all standing around yelling at them... it actually helps you to be stronger temporarily!
So, in essence, we have greater capacity than we normally use and, if we could tap into that, how much stronger would be??? I think it's a pretty interesting topic.
Maybe it's not so much motivation controlling your ability, and we when are saying ability I take it we are talking about maximal strength, I think it is central nervous system which controls your ability and events can alter it briefly. We've all heard the stories of mothers lifting cars up to save their babies etc etc. We all have more strength than we realize or are allowed to tap into whenever we damn well please. Training your CNS allows you to tap into more of it little by little. There was actually a study done with hypnotisism and strength, shown that hypnotised inviduals could move more weight than they could conciously, whether this is a correlation or not I don't know but it's damn interesting isn't it?
Scientifically, your CNS works in a way of motor unit recruitment, rate at which they are fired, and synchronization of them firing. These three elements are altered to a more "athletic" or max strength productive condition when we train using maximal methods. Groovie stuff.
Originally posted by Jimbo: I turn my music down (I use ear phones) between lifts and back up (pretty much to an eye bulging volume) while lifting. I know it helps me...
I leave mine up at the eye bulging volume! Led Zeppelin... ahhhhhhhhhh.....
Oh yeah! Kashmir at max volume.
I had one of those 'old guy' moments last weekend while buying an MP3 player. I was trying to hold the package of a new tech device just right so I could read it with my @#$%&ing bi-focal contact lenses...
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How 'bout When the Levee Breaks really loud!?! I just heard that on the radio recently and went out and bought the CD used. Of course, Kasmir is probably my favorite, too!
Speaking of MP3, I just recently gave up on MP3's. My third one just crapped out so I just went back to a CD player in a fanny pack type thing. It works GREAT, I can create my own CD's much easier than hooking up to a USB port or I can play CD's that I already own. I'm not going back to MP3's!
I hope this isn't too vain, but looking in the mirror motivates me. When I see the changes that happen to my body when I'm working out, I really like what I see. I know if I stop, it will go away. And for me, unforunately, that happens pretty quickly. I know that I love the way I feel and look when I hit the weights, so it drives me to go back.
Originally posted by TrainingGirl: I hope this isn't too vain, but looking in the mirror motivates me. When I see the changes that happen to my body when I'm working out, I really like what I see. I know if I stop, it will go away. And for me, unforunately, that happens pretty quickly. I know that I love the way I feel and look when I hit the weights, so it drives me to go back.
I think everyone here can understand that motivation.
BTW, 'Kahsmir' is great ..... but the versions I listen to are PDiddy's ("Come with Me" - a much angrier version of the song; good for lifting) and Bond (the female string quartet; their version is upbeat and also good for lifting or intervals).
Originally posted by MarineWithEgo: Checking out the chicks at the gym motivates me too.
That can actually go either way with me..checking out the guys I mean. Some days it pushes me harder, others it can be a distraction. Depends on my mood I guess.
Originally posted by TrainingGirl: </font><blockquote>quote:</fon t><hr />Originally posted by MarineWithEgo: Checking out the chicks at the gym motivates me too.
That can actually go either way with me..checking out the guys I mean. Some days it pushes me harder, others it can be a distraction. Depends on my mood I guess. </font>[/quote]Good point.
Originally posted by Q.: What I think is really interesting is that your motivation controls your ability. There are documented cases where people have lifted vehicles to save another person. There muscles were able to put out that amount of force when it was needed and they are able to put out more than what we think now most of the time.
I read recently that a sudden noise like a gun shot at the time of the lift will cause a temporary increase in strength. That's why you also see/hear guys doing big PR lifts with 10 other guys all standing around yelling at them... it actually helps you to be stronger temporarily!
So, in essence, we have greater capacity than we normally use and, if we could tap into that, how much stronger would be??? I think it's a pretty interesting topic.
This was posted a while ago, but i just read it and have a personal story to share. When i was like a skinny lil 5 year old, my cousin and i were playing in my yard near a fence. Against the fence was this big piece of slate. We were standing next to it and something hit the fence and forced the slate to fall onto my cousin's foot-we were playing in the sprinkler so he had those water shoes on. He screamed in pain. I, the lil skinny weak ass 5 year old was able to pick up the slate enough for him to get his foot out and then some a little. Right after he got his foot out, i dropped it. tried again several times and the thing wouldn't budge. So, that special circumstances thing is true. Obviously a crushed toe isn't as severe as a person pinned by a car, but you get the point. He had a cool black and blue, but nothing serious. Still, in no other circumstance would i have been able to pick up that slate. Nobody (or nothing in this case [img]tongue.gif[/img] ) messes with my lil cousins or any of my cousins in this case, or else.... [img]smile.gif[/img]
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My 7 yr old son, when he runs up to me and says "press me, daddy!"
__________________ "I'm growing older but not up. My metabolic rate is pleasantly stuck. So let the winds of change blow over my head. I'd rather die while I'm living then live while I'm dead."
Motivation Led Zep - Dazed and Confused, makes for a good choice during running as it picks up drastically into the song, when your likely starting to get drained(if its near the end of the run)
I've actually just started this - for a new hairstyle i guess, i go alot shorter, basically buzzing it all. Think Brad Pitt in Mr. and Mrs. Smith.(like how i parallel my self to brad pitt...? [img]smile.gif[/img] ) Any way, so i buzz my hair, but the look obviously only suites a guy that would be fairly fit. Chubby face = no go. So its motivation to get in better shape/stay in shape, and I really dont know. Just a pecularity, it keeps me focused for about a week or two [img]tongue.gif[/img] .
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"Obsession is a word that lazy people use to describe the Dedicated."
my motivation will hit me suddenly throughout the day like if someone compliments me or if i can haul all 10 grocery bags at the same time or if I go for a jog and feel less tired after
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I luv to run because it dosent require any balls
Rev, I posted some of my motivational sayings that I have upon my walls in my gym (in the training discussion). I like listening to loud and fast music. I've got The Rocky Story soundtrack and it's awesome!
1. As one poster (I think Rev) said that injury or being sick -- not being able to workout. It stinks wanting to workout and can't.
2. Seeing others working their butts off.
3. I play little competition games in my head, as if I'm competing with someone else.
4. The mirror helps.
5. Good music.
6. Knowing I'll get those endorphins up and running around -- that great feeling.
7. The results I'll get with time.
8. I like to play math games in my head. It makes me feel like I'm making progress during my workouts and makes the time fly (yeah, I know, sick).
9. Knowing THIS workout will help me look and feel better...fit into that sexy outfit and look great.
10. It's also my alone time where no one needs me or bothers me. I love that time every day.
11. It makes me feel strong & capable to be able to workout.
12. There's this guy at one of the gyms I go to that is in a wheelchair. He is so dedicated. He's very motivating. If he can make it to the gym with no use of his legs, no reason why I can't be motivated.
I know this is mundane but keeping a log and taking progress pics along the way is a good motivator for me. It is cool to look back 6 months or a year at the logs and pics and see (hopefully) that progress is being made.
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thanks for replying guys
so I just went back to a CD player in a fanny pack type thing. It works GREAT, I can create my own CD's much easier than hooking up to a USB port or I can play CD's that I already own. I'm not going back to MP3's!
"I'm growing older but not up. My metabolic rate is pleasantly stuck. So let the winds of change blow over my head. I'd rather die while I'm living then live while I'm dead."
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