So do I! Sometimes I look in the mirror when I'm at the gym and I see myself, covered in sweat, huffing and puffing from the effort and I think I've done well. Then when I think back to individual exercises I realise that I could've tried for another rep or two. I keep a journal and write the number of reps I did and why I failed as I finish them. Then when I look back I can see which ones I gave up on and which ones I truly failed on.
I am too used to working in my comfort zone, even though I think I have been trying hard.
lardass,
Couldn't agree more. That's the single most important thing I took away from my sessions with Anthony.
Intensity.
You think you've been pushing yourself, and within 30 minutes your frame of reference for what hard work actually is, is completely changed.
This kind of intensity has to be experienced to be properly understood.
I had read about it, and thought, "Yeah, yeah, I know, push myself until the weight stops moving yada, yada, yada, don't bore me with all that!"
Then when I'd been through the workout, I remember that my first thoughts afterward were how my previous levels of intensity were laughable in comparison, probably about 4 or 5 out of 10, (having just experienced 8 or 9).
If you take anything away from your experience take away the link between intensity and form.
*How breathing and focus help massively in continuing that set.
*Basically, intensity is, not totally, but mostly, mental.
Your body is capable of that level of performance almost any time you train. It's whether you mentally fire yourself up for it that makes the difference.
If you have a bit of a slack training session intensity-wise, it's not because you had a broken leg, a sprained ankle or the flu (because you wouldn't be training in the first place!) It's probably because, mentally, you were somewhere else.
Again, you've actually been through it all now so hopefully it should make some sense.
I am too used to working in my comfort zone, even though I think I have been trying hard.
lardass,
Couldn't agree more. That's the single most important thing I took away from my sessions with Anthony.
Intensity.
You think you've been pushing yourself, and within 30 minutes your frame of reference for what hard work actually is, is completely changed.
This kind of intensity has to be experienced to be properly understood.
I had read about it, and thought, "Yeah, yeah, I know, push myself until the weight stops moving yada, yada, yada, don't bore me with all that!"
Then when I'd been through the workout, I remember that my first thoughts afterward were how my previous levels of intensity were laughable in comparison, probably about 4 or 5 out of 10, (having just experienced 8 or 9).
If you take anything away from your experience take away the link between intensity and form.
*How breathing and focus help massively in continuing that set.
*Basically, intensity is, not totally, but mostly, mental.
Your body is capable of that level of performance almost any time you train. It's whether you mentally fire yourself up for it that makes the difference.
If you have a bit of a slack training session intensity-wise, it's not because you had a broken leg, a sprained ankle or the flu (because you wouldn't be training in the first place!) It's probably because, mentally, you were somewhere else.
Again, you've actually been through it all now so hopefully it should make some sense.
Good luck!
I think your spot on, and have said it much better than I. I have read your posts before on intensity, and although I tried to practice it, its just a different level. I have DOMS everywhere today, chest, biceps, triceps, back, glutes, hamstrings. Which says something considering I only done 1 or 2 new exercises. I look forward to Thrusdays gym session, and I appreciate my form wont be spot on through the whole set but I will be interested to see how I can perform effort wise alone, when I know what I need to do.
If you have a bit of a slack training session intensity-wise, it's not because you had a broken leg, a sprained ankle or the flu (because you wouldn't be training in the first place!) It's probably because, mentally, you were somewhere else.
This is spot on.
I go to the gym after work. It is a couple of train stops from where i work. Obviously end of the working day i just want to go home and in the past, it's so easy, especially when the weather's bad to just miss that stop and continue on home.
There's times i've forced myself to go but keep saying to myself, 'you shouldn't be going, you're tired and will do nothing worth while'. I get there and it's half arsed.
Then there's other times i've been just as tired / ill, but looking forward to it, went and it's been a great workout.
It's a case of not feeling sorry for yourself and being determined not to waste your own time. Talking about it just makes me want to work out :D
