My mind, weakest part of my body

[needsleep]

If I could shut off my mind when lifting and just let my body lift till it failled it would be $$

All too often I don't think I can make another rep and either I don't try or I try but lack the force of will to complete it. It becomes more apparent when on the occasion I'm lifting and I am my mind tells me i'm done and I tell it to fuck off and I get 3 more reps, this happened to me today on forearm curls, I left the gym immediately after having to carry my water bottle under my arm as I couldn't actually hold it by gripping it

I don't think I am alone, I'm pretty sure most other people get limited by their minds. What are the tactics some of you employ to shut off your mind and let your body do what it needs to do?

 

[Thaibox]

I would mention learning how to control your subconscious mind, but most people think its a joke. Ever consider meditation?

 

[collegiateLifter]

I would recomend The Complete Keys To Progress. Inspiring book that deals with all aspects of weightlifting (although i would generally halve the volume). It has even has a few chapters on auto suggestion and fractional relaxation, something i need to get back to and work on more.

 

[Tony104104]

I would mention learning how to control your subconscious mind, but most people think its a joke. Ever consider meditation?

Any suggestions on how to go about this?

 

[Mytch]

I suggest you go get advice from an intense cross country runner. I used to be in cross, but I just run for kicks and giggles now. Not the sport.

At any rate, although cross and lifting are completely different, the same principles can be applied in your situation.

"Mind over body", was what my coach always preached to me. Ignore your physical drawbacks, and keep chanting "Mind over body" inside your head. This is easier said than done, I found at first. Because when I'm lifting, or running, my mind is instinctively distracted by the pain. So I actually have to TRY and keep that in my head.

If not a that though, I think about something that's really important to me. Motivation. It's amazing how much it works.

That's my advice. For more, I simply suggest to get some endurance advice from a cross country runner, because one thing they focus on is mind over body.

 

[michaelcoutts]

Whenever your mind wants to give up just think of the body you want to have and how good it would feel to be huge (not to mention the chicks you get) and then tell yourself u have to work through this set and i almost guarantee you will go to failure.

I also work out in my bedroom and i have some posters on the wall and a chart of what my goals are and that also motivates the hell out of me. Since you work out in a gym that doesnt apply to when you are working out but you should consider having some posters on your wall and have your goals in a place where you can see them frequently anyways.

 

[monitor]

I listen some heavy thrash metal on my walkman. I don't really like the music to listen too that much, but I find it really winds me up and gets me going.

I also concentrate on the thought of busting up anyone who has cut me up in the car that day. That makes me angry and I'm sure it helps me squeeze out at least another rep.

 

[CollegeKid]

I listen some heavy thrash metal on my walkman. I don't really like the music to listen too that much, but I find it really winds me up and gets me going.

hah.. i'm the same, i never liked heavy thrash metal, but i read on elite how ppl like to work out to it and asked one of my friends who's into it to hook me up with the angriest, hardest music he had. REALLY pumps you up in the gym. only drawback is i'm gonna be deaf by the age of 30.. i really blast that shit =).

 

[erickthegreat11]

OK OK, Ive given this a lot of thought. I was watching NBA basketball the other day, 76ers against the Kings.... Allen Iverson was playing with bursitis in his knee (his knee was pretty swollen and periodically has to be drained). He kept going for shot after shot and just jammin and be boppin between the king's most formitable players. He missed a lot of his shots and I wondered, whats with this Iverson? His secret is he's completely unphased by failure. He misses shot after shot, but he almost doesnt care and just keeps going, and eventually makes a bunch of shots, assists, rebounds... I tried this recently, just completely shook off failure. Give an example: Fuel pump went out on my truck, so, I spent several days taking the tank down and replacing the pump and putting the tank back in. I reinstalled the battery and tried to start it..nothing. I looked down at the tank switch and thought what the hell so I flipped it back and forth and heard the pump work and it started right up! I wasted hours and hours when all I had to do is flip a switch. I cant explain how to turn off disappointment and frustration, I just did it. Last night I was benching and didnt get the reps I wanted, no sweat, Ill get them next session. Call me crazy, but I think at times we're all a little too hard on ourselves.

 

[Thaibox]

Any suggestions on how to go about this?

There's many good books about meditation and mental training. Its a process that takes time and obviously patience, so many people aren't willing to do what it takes. I meditated for many years and eventually learned how to manipulate my subconscious. I can't begin to tell you how much this has effected my training in the gym and the dojo. Most people disregard meditation and such as a waste of time, but if I could project its effectiveness on my training and what its allowed me to do, I guarantee serious trainers would be meditating with me instead of using juice.