"It's All Mental"
rachsoderberg
Posts: 55 Member
So I've heard this said a lot and I understand the concept - your body will complain for rest much sooner than it actually needs it, so it's up to you to mentally push beyond that point. Unfortunately, that's all I understand about it and I find that I struggle actually *doing* this. I can go into a workout with the intention of pushing as hard as possible and somewhere from start to when I get tired that intention breaks down and I find myself resting more than I should have been or need to.
I am here to ask you to describe in your own words what it means to you when you hear the phrase "It's all mental." I am hoping someone can explain it in such a way that I can use it to teach myself to push past my body's complaints and reach the level where I want to be.
I am here to ask you to describe in your own words what it means to you when you hear the phrase "It's all mental." I am hoping someone can explain it in such a way that I can use it to teach myself to push past my body's complaints and reach the level where I want to be.
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If I'm not 100% sure that I'm about to die, then I'm not going hard enough.0
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If I'm not 100% sure that I'm about to die, then I'm not going hard enough.
And you responded to my post, so obviously you haven't died to it yet lol
I like that though, you put it well. Might just have to try dying next time I work out, as strange as that sounds. I can't say I've ever pushed so hard that I thought I may die, we'll see how this goes.0 -
It's like at the top level of most sports - they're all often of an extremely similar ability.
What separates out the top guys (and girls) from the tier just below is often between the ears.
How you find that within yourself (is it something you just have, or can it be developed, for instance?) is something you'll have to work out for yourself.
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rachsoderberg wrote: »If I'm not 100% sure that I'm about to die, then I'm not going hard enough.
And you responded to my post, so obviously you haven't died to it yet lol
I like that though, you put it well. Might just have to try dying next time I work out, as strange as that sounds. I can't say I've ever pushed so hard that I thought I may die, we'll see how this goes.
To be fair, my workouts center around weights 99% of the time these days. So while I haven't died, going to failure now and again has been a good benchmark to ensure that I'm giving it everything I've got. I've surprised myself a few times doing that.
Cardio-based goals may not mesh as well with this philosophy.0 -
It depends on what you mean by "push past my body's complaints". If it means push past feeling tired and add the one last lap in the track or adding this one final rep, then yes, it is mental and it helps trying to push yourself. If it means ignoring something that starts to ache, then it rarely is a good idea. Listen to your body's complaints, there is a huge difference between pain or a joint feeling stressed and just muscle soreness.0
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It depends on what and how you exercise as well as your goals. If your goat is fat loss for example, pushing as hard as you can by running wind sprints is not as beneficial as a slow jog for a longer time.0
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rachsoderberg wrote: »If I'm not 100% sure that I'm about to die, then I'm not going hard enough.
And you responded to my post, so obviously you haven't died to it yet lol
I like that though, you put it well. Might just have to try dying next time I work out, as strange as that sounds. I can't say I've ever pushed so hard that I thought I may die, we'll see how this goes.
To be fair, my workouts center around weights 99% of the time these days. So while I haven't died, going to failure now and again has been a good benchmark to ensure that I'm giving it everything I've got. I've surprised myself a few times doing that.
Cardio-based goals may not mesh as well with this philosophy.
no, thats the same for running...
as Jillian Michaels says 'if you dont faint, puke or die, keep going!'0 -
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It's time to stop when I can't bench press the lid off my casket.
I know I'm supposed to 'listen to your body' but my brain yells 'stop being a *kitten* and lift the weight!' so I do that instead.
More seriously, experience will tell you the difference between having one more rep (or one more mile) in you and not having it. I've run until I fall down. I've dropped a bench press (which is why you NEVER EVER bench without a spotter!). I've gotten stapled by a failed squat. You learn where the limits are over time.0 -
On those mornings when I feel like the DOM-Fairy has stapled me to the bed overnight and I just can't get out of bed, is when I literally have to peel my body off the mattress just to get my feet on the floor, it is for that moment -- and only just a moment -- that I have to "push past my body's complaints."rachsoderberg wrote: »I am here to ask you to describe in your own words what it means to you when you hear the phrase "It's all mental." I am hoping someone can explain it in such a way that I can use it to teach myself to push past my body's complaints and reach the level where I want to be.
Once I do that, the rest falls into place, and it's Gainzville here I come.0 -
While I am all for working hard an effective workout does not have to leave you on the ground feeling like you are about to die all of the time...its some you should build up to. For "newbies" simply being there and moving is brilliant...0
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I believe the mental aspects are hugely important in terms of everyday adherence and just doing the details. I write about that from time to time in my blog.
But since your post is about the mental aspects of exercise - I'll tell you a story with respect to that.
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There is a bike ride in the Alps south of Munich called the Karwendelrunde - it is 75km and 2050m of climbing. It is crushing work.
The first time I rode it I was not at a fitness level to do it with ease. The first part is a 21km climb on gravel paths and switchbacks, about a third of it was just too much and I had to get off my bike and push it, pull it and just wrangle it up the side of the hill. I could have stopped and turned around and had a great day, because there is a lot to ride in the area.
But, my mental state was - I can do this, it isn't much further any way. I lied to myself. Because I didn't know what was in store for me.
And as I kept going, my friend that had brought me along, saw my struggle and had some look of concern on his face. I used that - I can do this, I'm not going to lose face here. I'll make it at least to the top and then decide. My mental game was to get through the moment, knowing I gave myself the possibility of an out later.
I got going and then a few hours into this, my legs cramped up. I couldn't stand, I couldn't walk. My friend had moved forward and was around a bend. I was stuck. I let that pass. I still had to get up or get down. I gave myself a chance to do it a little slower. I can do this, if I'm smart about it - go slow, go steady, pause if you need to, because you are going to the top.
Eventually I made it to a place where I could see the mountain haus - and my friend had a beer for me. This powered me more - there is a reward for me. I will have achieved something. And the last 200 meters of climb were easy.
The view from there was magnificent.
And I knew I had achieved something, even if I stopped there - but I still had 50 kms to go. I had a story to share, I knew that whatever I achieved I could tell later. But if I went further, I could tell even a better story
A little further of a climb, then 9km of some very fast and scary downhill work. This required a different mental game - I knew I was in the flow, this was me and time, and a place for bringing it together. Awareness of the moment, the thing that needs to be done. Loose and ready and moving.
There is a spot. The track passed on a cliff and the falls away and you need to carefully manage it, on foot, with a 300 meter drop straight down. I was afraid and my legs were rubber. Am I going to die here? breath, one step. focus on this. Sometimes, it is all you can do to just move forward. I slowly pulled my bike over that drop. I got that done and took a pause and looked around.
It's a beautiful ride. enjoy the moment, too. Don't just get lost in the effort. It taught me a lot and some of that, well, I love to take groups out there. But that time I was really exhausted towards the end - there is a passage were we need to cross a river - on foot. It's cold and I had little energy - even taking off my shoes and socks was a struggle - I began to worry but I was with a good rider and I had my emergency kit. My thought was I am prepared. I'll manage the worst. I have a, b and c with me and this will work. I will not die here. And sure enough, I got across and I got back on my bike.
More cramps, darkness and exhaustion. We had gotten lost and has actually done an extra 30 km loop.
But finally, the last hut. The most fantastic last beer. An experience I carry with me.
The mental voice: I have done this, I can do more or I can do it again.
I love that place. It's a ride I've led a few times since with groups of all levels. No one has died. No one has been left behind. Tears, cramps and pain. But laughter and good food at the hut - group camaraderie is also a powerful mental tool. You belong to those that do. Those that will be.
Ride hard. It's all mental.
(I think I'll post this in my blog, too)0 -
^ great photos0
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I have proven I will push until I quite literally drop.
I am in this at least in part for health.
Because of that, I'm not going to be into the macho baloney of pushing myself until I feel like I'm going to throw up or pass out unless I am specifically competing in an endurance event.0 -
For some reason my ability to push really varies from work out to work out. Some days i feel i've pushed to near max and others I feel I wimped out (last night was one of those. Did a cycling class and just couldn't push myself). I try to be nice to myself and realize I've done okay just by being there and not on the couch. I go into every work out intending to give my best tho.0
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Seems like a personal thing to hone in the things that can and will push you to go beyond whatever you thought your limits were.
For me, I work with a trainer 3x per week and keep reminding myself that I've made an investment and need to make the most of it. I'm also willing to destroy myself because I know that my trainer is there to keep me from getting hurt. I relish in the DOMs that follow, feeling like I've really done something.
I jog on the treadmill the other 4 days as week. To keep me going, I watch motivational work out videos on YouTube (oddly, though, I find the body building ones the most inspiring). When I want to quit, I ask myself to do just one more mile. Many times I end up just doing the one more mile and then call it quits, which is quite fine. But sometimes..... I'll push through that barrier and do four more miles and it's one of the most gratifying experiences I've had.
Remember that success would not be as satisfying if it came easily without work or sacrifice. The struggle you go through, is the struggle that will build inner strength.0 -
It depends on what you mean by "push past my body's complaints". If it means push past feeling tired and add the one last lap in the track or adding this one final rep, then yes, it is mental and it helps trying to push yourself. If it means ignoring something that starts to ache, then it rarely is a good idea. Listen to your body's complaints, there is a huge difference between pain or a joint feeling stressed and just muscle soreness.
Yep. Especially for running. Push past actual pain and you're decently likely to be sitting on the sidelines for a while (unless you know why you hurt and that pushing it is not going to cause injury).
Pushing past tiredness, muscle soreness is fine. I'll usually make a bargain with myself. If I can just get through this set of reps/this mile, then if I really feel terrible I can stop. If not, I go for the next set/mile.
It's worked every time except when I thought I had recovered from the flu. And I relapsed, so obviously I had already pushed myself too far as it was
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There is a significant difference in pushing through a cardio goal and a lifting goal.
Cardio failure means- I gave up. Cardio is pure mental "you can do 5 more minutes" and I tell myself that anywhere from 5-15 times. Or just one more- with sprints.
Weight- all mental- its' different- you are literally willing your body to do something that it is scared to do- and failure means you're on the floor- or your rails caught your lift. And either you pushed through- or you didn't. There may or may not be severe cramping and bodily fluids involved with this.0 -
First, I'll say this... It's hard to really understand until you've done it.
Ultimately, it's about willing yourself to continue. 1 more rep. 1 more mile. whatever it is. You have to want progress/results MORE than you want to rest/quit. And the more you do it, the more you understand it, the easier it is becomes keep pushing yourself. Once you accept, or even embrace, the suffering... only then do you get a sense of what you're really capable of.
When you've been training long enough, you start to realize that it's amazing what your body is capable of when you get your brain out of the way.0 -
I regularly have discussions with myself. If its just fatigue, I talk my way through it or just mentally feeling like going short (running), resting early (swimming). But you really have to listen to your body. It will prevent injury. No reason to feel like you are about to die during every workout.0
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"The difference between successful people and unsuccessful people is that successful people do the things they don't want to do." - Adam Carolla0
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Great quote!!0
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NoelFigart1 wrote: »I have proven I will push until I quite literally drop.
I am in this at least in part for health.
Because of that, I'm not going to be into the macho baloney of pushing myself until I feel like I'm going to throw up or pass out unless I am specifically competing in an endurance event.
QFT. I have no problem pushing myself further than my body can take. I've had to learn to listen to my body instead.0 -
omelet2000 wrote: »It depends on what and how you exercise as well as your goals. If your goat is fat loss for example, pushing as hard as you can by running wind sprints is not as beneficial as a slow jog for a longer time.
Haven't the experts reversed course on this one?
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It is all mental. We can endure way more than we think we can. I only take a breather when 1) it's becoming increasing difficult to breathe or 2) my arches or my knees begin to bother me.
Pushing yourself, it's a mental game you play against yourself. It takes a lot of psyching myself out to push through my planned inclined walking workouts.
Sometimes I am counting in my head, saying a left right left cadence, or focusing on my breathing. Sometimes I look for music with certain BPM and I focus on that. Sometimes I say one more minute, one more minute... Even though I have like 40 left.
Its you against yourself. If you want to stop, then you will stop. Same with the opposite.
Just today I pushed through walking 8 miles, burned 2000ish calories, so I will document half of that. It was tough. I can psych myself out when it comes to exercise. Now... Eating on the other hand... Still a work in progress.
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"It's all mental" depends on what you're doing. I have a much easier time pushing past mental/physical boundaries while running because I've been running for so long. Now I can make it through that last mile (or two or three...) because I've done it time and time again. I know I can make it through sprints and speed work because I've made myself do it before.
However, when you tell me to mentally tough it out when I'm doing a 30 second straight-arm plank? Nu-uh. My mental toughness hasn't made it that far yet, and my arms just cannot do it.
I think "It's all mental" has so much to do with how comfortable you are with something and therefore how comfortable you are with pushing your limits and showing yourself what you're made of. Once you believe you do something well, you can prove to yourself that you can do it even better.0 -
There is a significant difference in pushing through a cardio goal and a lifting goal.
Cardio failure means- I gave up. Cardio is pure mental "you can do 5 more minutes" and I tell myself that anywhere from 5-15 times. Or just one more- with sprints.
Weight- all mental- its' different- you are literally willing your body to do something that it is scared to do- and failure means you're on the floor- or your rails caught your lift. And either you pushed through- or you didn't. There may or may not be severe cramping and bodily fluids involved with this.
This. I have zero issue being able to push through wanting to quit doing cardio. I might whine and complain, but I get it done.
I thought I was good at pushing through while lifting. Until the day it became clear to my coach that I was mentally quitting on bench. That earned me the threat of the bar being allowed to drop down on me. Tough love and a hard lesson to learn, but it worked.
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I just wimped out on the eliptical after 15 minutes.
I did a les mills body pump class this afternoon, and my legs were rubbery before I ever even got on. It wasn't the cardio stress that got me, my legs just had enough for today.
I'm gonna be sore as hell tomorrow.0 -
When I pushed myself through pain I strained my hip flexors and was out for the whole winter. These days I try and follow a progressive plan and not go too over the top.
For example I don't believe you need to be nearly puking or unable to walk the next day. Fitness grows slower than that.0 -
Fitness does come with time.0
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