What do you think about when you workout?

Depends ...if I am lifting ...I ensure my form is correct and focus on the muscle being worked ...for cardio / HIIT workouts it varies from pushing through to that very last second to being happy it's over. Lol

if im lifting then im in front of a huge mirror and try to imagine how much bigger my muscles are going to get. if im on the treadmill then im looking at the wall and basically staring at the time counting down. i really need a tv in my basement

While lifting I'm either chatting with my lifting partner or concentrating on what I'm doing. While running I usually listen to Zombies, Run! but while my music is playing my mind wanders. Since I'm attending school online while working full time my mind often wanders around my school subject. This past Sunday I was composing the opening paragraph for my 20 page final paper.

When I'm walking, I try not to think. I try and be present in the moment, take deep breaths and focus on the nature around me. When I'm in the gym, I focus on the task at hand, and my thoughts are usually "come on girl, you've got this" or "5 more minutes and you're done, keep pushing". I work out alone, so I have to be my own motivator lol

I've got my playlists on my .mp3 player to keep me going while running. Swimming, it's often a song that gets stuck in my head that plays on an endless loop.

Group fitness, it's either the music playing or paying attention to the instructor and making sure I'm doing the exercise correctly or so I won't cause injury to myself.

I keep thinking ... soon it won't be torture anymore and then I'll have to crank it up to make it torturous again. Lol

Music, novel ideas, things for my blog, wanderings of things that could happen, sleep, food (especially when ending up using the cardio machines cause yay food network), random noticing of others in the gym, what I'm doing, novels, and maybe food some more. It varies.

I focus on form, muscle contraction, stable midsection and breathing. Unless I'm kickboxing. Then I think of Congress.

A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

Strength training thoughts are on form, focusing on muscles targeted and safety.

My brain never shuts up, so one of the reasons I workout is to concentrate only on physical sensations of my body, not mental challenges or problems. It helps quiet my mind.

I try and block everything out and workout my frustrations ,..

When I'm lifting it's form, breathing and muscles.

Cardio I'm usually trying not to sing whatever I'm listening to out loud and trying not to fall off the treadmill or bike.

Beer.

I think of people I don't like and resolve to be in better shape than them. Is that awful?

chicasmommy wrote: »

I think of people I don't like and resolve to be in better shape than them. Is that awful?

I don't think so. I think of all the people that used to make fun of me or make me jealous when they'd have a hot body and flirt with my boyfriend and all I want is to show off in a bikini next summer and be hotter than they are. (Most of them don't workout so I know it's at least possible if I keep pushing)

My response to original question: during strength training I usually focus on getting through my set effectively and w/ as few pauses as possible. And during cardio I think "omg is this over yet" probably every 2 seconds as I look at the clock. I plug my headphones into the jack and listen to the news but it usually doesn't help too much. Watching people helps sometimes, I'll watch the trainers or people that I know compete and I envision getting to their level 1-3years from now (obviously depending on how fit they are)