The mind is such a powerful thing, it can help you get through tough times, or it can cause you to break! The strong learn how to handle and control their mind when it starts to rant, rave and tell them to stop what they’re doing. It's possible to develop a few strategies to help break through the barriers and achieve your goals! Here are a few ideas:
Do it one more time!
So you're at bootcamp having a great workout, when that voice inside your head starts screaming at you to “stop” or “give up,” you fight back by completing whatever exercise your doing and then add one more. Completing just one more exercise, when everything inside of you is telling you to stop is a sure way to grow your mental muscles, and the next time you might do two more. Over time, this builds and you begin to control that voice.
Set Small Goals.
When you're in the middle of a workout, always have small goals in your head. Small goals add up to big goals. For example, if my workout calls for 15 burpees, my first goal might just be to get to 5. When I get to 5 and still feel good, I start thinking, “good, I’ll do 5 more without rest,” and when I get to 10 and start to feel fatigued I might just talk myself into “two more.” But at 12, I might use the “do it one more time rule,” and then do it again. After a few more you'll be knocking out every set!
Break through the wall.
A trainer is supposed to push you! Pushing you helps to break through the wall so many people develop when working out. A person needs to be pushed to reach their physical and mental best. Breaking through a wall = strength. Sometimes you're barely able to stand after an intense workout, but you never want to lose the mental battle, so fight to the end. After doing this over and over, you're WILL wins and you break through the wall. It's amazing! One of Texas Fit Chicks Trainers, Jodi, says "suck it up on soreness. if you're sore, your body is changing and thats what we're all in this for!" So push it chicks!!
Take You're Mind Off.
During a tough workout, take you're mind off the challenge. Talk about something random, etc. Discuss progress outside of scale/measuring like "hey, I lifted the baby carrier with no struggle this week. I'm obviously stronger."
Celebrate Non-Scale Victories.
It's a lifestyle change and non scale victories can make all the difference! Making healthy food choices when out to eat, drinking all of your water, not eating sugary foods, working out on off boot camp days, dropping a size in clothing...these are all victories to celebrate. Celebrating these victories will help you break through barriers. Other non scale victories that can be celebrated are being a good role model to your kids, friends, and family. Love yourself enough to be healthy for YOURSELF because you deserve it!
Trainer Motivation
Your trainer might help you get past the point of breaking by telling you a funny story or nonsense story! Especially if you are doing a minute or timed challenge it always helps to push you through, so if you're trainer is talking listen up and before you know it the challenge will be over! Beth, one of our TFC Trainers in Austin says, "I also will do some of the harder exercises with my chicks and ask them what is burning. .... for example if we are doing a plank hold- I ask "who is shaking? because I am! I also help by giving quotes of "no pain no gain" "Sweat, Who cares, it is dark out and nobody can tell" "You got this, and just think this is ONLY 60 minutes and you have the rest of the 23 hours to make it matter!" Motivation is key to breaking barriers!
Your body can handle more
than your mind thinks