“Well, I guess I have to go work out…”
“Aww… do we have to do strict pull ups?”
“Coach, why do we have to run 400 meters? 200 is good, isn’t it?”
Is this you at the gym? I know that sometimes it’s me… and while it’s easy to slip into this frame of mind, it’s important to remember how your thoughts and words are going to affect what you get out of your workouts.
The reality is that your coaches put in a lot of time and work into writing all the workouts, keeping members safe, and learning how to best teach and motivate each individual as an athlete. At the end of the day, you are the one responsible for whether or not you got the most out of each and every workout and you are responsible for the energy and attitude you put out at the gym. But, you knew that already, which returns the biggest question of all: “How do I go from dismissing myself from going to the gym, to being ready and looking forward to investing in my own body?”
If we preface this with: What if we aligned our thoughts (and words) to reflect the opportunity each workout represents?
“I get to work out today.” Not everyone has the privilege to work out every day, whether it is a matter of not having enough income or function, or they don’t know the power and freedom of working out consistently, they aren’t here. You are. Embrace that. You are lucky in so many ways because you are.
“I get to do pull-ups.” How are we going to get better at our weaknesses if we never do them? If the coaches write a workout that contains pull-ups, or some other movement that really challenges you, it’s a huge opportunity to get better both mentally and physically. If they program something you’re good at, embrace that opportunity and have fun with it. We are all going to have strengths and weaknesses. It’s always fun to do things we are good at, and keep in mind that the people who work weaknesses are the people make progress. Before you know it, movements that appeared impossible at some point, become second nature once you practiced them – remember riding a bicycle, first golf swing, driving a car, swimming….? Yes, just like that. Practice and repetition = second nature.
“Coach, thanks for the push.” Your coaches have high expectations of your for two reasons: 1) That’s their job, and 2) They can see your potential. Along with the community, your coaches hold you accountable. Appreciate the work they do and live up to it so you can be better. Your mind will tell you to stop long before your body needs to. Coaches know that your brain will get in the way, holding you back, while your body is physically capable of a lot more. If any coach should feel concerned about your safety, it’s job #3 – to stop you from going beyond your abilities.
Lastly, think about it this way; Your efforts at the gym and with your nutrition show how invested you are in yourself. If you follow your coaches guidance, positive results are inevitable.
“A well-built physique is a status symbol. It reflects you worked hard for it, no money can buy it. You cannot borrow it, you cannot inherit it, you cannot steal it. You cannot hold onto it without constant work. It shows discipline, it shows self-respect, it shows patience, work ethic, and passion. That is why I do what I do.”-Arnold Schwarzenegger
With just a little tweak in the way we look at the challenges of our workouts and the way we verbalize those ideas can make a world of difference in our attitude, the effect we have on others in the gym, and on our own progress. Until then, keep it positive and I’ll see you in the gym, ready to work on our weaknesses.
If you have any questions about fitness or nutrition, please contact us. We are always happy to help!
We’ll see you at TAL!