Secrets

[Keith Wassung]

I believe that your attitude, enthusiasm and expectations towards your workouts pretty much dictate the results you achieve. Henry Ford summed it up when he said, "If you think you can, or if you think you can't, either way you will be right." This has pretty much been demonstrated and reinforced by just about every great human achievement in history. The good news is that you can control your attitude and expectations to a large degree. The mental preparation and expectation begins shortly after a workout is completed. Take a few minutes to evaluate the training session and then jot down some specific goals you wish to accomplish in the next session. I continue to be amazed by how few people will take the time to use written goals in their training program. Write the goals on an index card or a post-it note and stick it on your bathroom mirror, your refrigerator or some other place where you will frequently see it. The human mind cannot distinguish between what is real and what is imagined so it's important to spend some time mentally rehearsing your workout. When you enter the gym, you must expect and literally demand a good workout, rather than in just hoping and wishing for one. You have to develop and maintain the proper mental toughness and discipline which is necessary for you to reach your own potential. This toughness is largely the ability to deal with pain, fatigue and discomfort associated with hard and progressive training. There are tens of thousands of people who want better strength, development and conditioning and they are totally committed to spending two or more hours a day, six days a week in training, they are willing to buy supplements, equipment, they are willing to do just about anything

 

[takeahnase]

The human mind cannot distinguish between what is real and what is imagined.

*Imagines himself squatting 800lbs.*

*Posts in PR thread.*

Good read. Thanks.

 

[Lusst]

Good read.

 

[Donut62]

Good article, Keith. I've got my current goals on a post-it note on my monitor right now. Staring at them 8-10 hours a day is a great motivator. I also think it's important to have time frames for goals. The stress of a deadline can allow you to push yourself harder than you otherwise could.

 

[graedy]

I have dreamed of doing one arm pullups so often that the last time I dreamed doing them I thought in the dream "Yehaw! It is not a dream this time."
When I woke up I first had to realize that it was a dream again.
I really have a tendency to get obsessed with things
When people ask me how I make such fast progress I tell them: "You have to live, breath and eat your goals."

 

[BJJ in Chicago]

having a log on here has changed my life so much.. i believe that giving myself goals that physically exist outside the computer will be excellent motivation.

thanks again keith.

 

[Barut]

*Imagines himself squatting 800lbs.*

*Posts in PR thread.*

No kidding. I'm not sure that I believe that my mind can't tell the difference between reality and dreams, but what difference does it make? If I really believe that I'm getting stronger will that actually make me stronger?

 

[Lorenz]

Nice article Keith - I guess I have to go pick up some post-it notes now. And then explain to my clean freak of a wife why they are stickied all around the house.

 

[graedy]

Nice article Keith - I guess I have to go pick up some post-it notes now. And then explain to my clean freak of a wife why they are stickied all around the house.

Tell her:



"Cause Keith Wassung said so!"








She will understand.

 

[zop]

That is so true about jotting down goals. Once I started writing down my workouts before hand I've become much more productive in the gym. I've got a long way to go, but I think I've definitely made a lot of strides from yours and others great advice.

 

[stylesbjj**]

Great advice. When I know I'm going to be mentally challenged, I do everything I can in my mind to simulate the situation. For example, if I'm doing 20-reps, I would visualize each rep and simulate how mentally challenging each rep is. That way when I'm actually doing the 20-reps, I feel that I am better prepared because I 'practiced' getting through the most mentally challenging part.

 

[zop]

^^ lol I do the same thing with reps. I'm just sitting down in class thinking about my reps. Like for squats I'll be like yeah, oh yeah, getting a bit harder now, oh shit this is tough, AHHHHH ONE MORE...... *looks up to see everyone staring at me*

 

[B3rserk3R]

That is so true about jotting down goals. Once I started writing down my workouts before hand I've become much more productive in the gym. I've got a long way to go, but I think I've definitely made a lot of strides from yours and others great advice.

Right now I'm doing ladders and before my last set I write in the reps I'm going to have completed so all I have to do is be true to my word. It almost always works.

 

[joe broadway]

nice read, its perfect for me since i am now lifting again

 

[Ascendant]

^^ lol I do the same thing with reps. I'm just sitting down in class thinking about my reps. Like for squats I'll be like yeah, oh yeah, getting a bit harder now, oh shit this is tough, AHHHHH ONE MORE...... *looks up to see everyone staring at me*

Hahaha...that's funny zop.

 

[dfoster]

This toughness is largely the ability to deal with pain, fatigue and discomfort associated with hard and progressive training. There are tens of thousands of people who want better strength, development and conditioning and they are totally committed to spending two or more hours a day, six days a week in training, they are willing to buy supplements, equipment, they are willing to do just about anything

 

[graedy]

Maybe the boy benching 450 at 14 years old just didn't know that this is a lot of weight.
MAybe this is the secret that lies behind retard strength

 

[Lug's Spear]

Truly inspiring, thank you.

 

[JinKazama]

all in or all out is all what i always say

 

[SmashiusClay]

I used to use the bottom line of each day of my work diary to record workout goals for that day and then whether or not I achieved them. Made a real diffwerence to see my plans for that day in black and white five or six times before I hit the gym.

I have dreamed of doing one arm pullups so often that the last time I dreamed doing them I thought in the dream "Yehaw! It is not a dream this time."
When I woke up I first had to realize that it was a dream again.
I really have a tendency to get obsessed with things
When people ask me how I make such fast progress I tell them: "You have to live, breath and eat your goals."

Haha, I thought I was the only one to do this, I've got a recurring dream where I can do the splits again, the last time I even remember slapping myself to make sure I was awake and still being convinced it wasn't a dream. Damn you ZMA.