Train Your Brain - Real Time Results!
- By James Villepigue CSCS
- Published 05/3/2009
In this section you basically are training your brain to prepare for the exercise so you can fully enjoy your results. I am going to show you some practices you can utilize that will help prepare your brain for what you are about to face. Your beliefs and confidence is the most important thing that can either cause failure or success in your workouts.
First you must realize that by moving the body itself, you are moving not just air, food, and blood but even thought through the body. If you let things sit still, you will get cobwebs. Movement gives you so much more energy.
Because your mind will be fully functional during a workout, you must realize that you need the correct thoughts running through it. Thoughts are energy and energy follows thoughts!
One easy thing to do to train your brain and get you alert will be to add cinnamon or peppermint scents to your car before you go to workout. Cinnamon and peppermint will cause you to immediately be alert and will allow your brain to be focused and ready for the different exercises you will be placing on it.
Another exercise you can perform with your mind in order to train it more effectively is to start each workout with the same pre and post routine. By starting with the same pre-routine you will re-wire your brain’s thought patterns into making working out a routine. Put your workout bag in the same position, or set your workout clothes the night before, or listen to a specific song on the way to the gym, or even have a superstition type ritual before you start your regimen.
This helps because even if you have a bad day, your brain will think that you did the same things you did during good days and great workouts. If you happen to have a bad training day, so what! It is what it is, a bad day, and nothing more. You will not agonize on whether or not you are achieving results or simply getting weaker and regressing. You are learning and teaching your brain to create associations with the positive, whether you consciously or un-consciously realize it. When you have a bad day, get over it and get back on a positive track!
Another way to train your brain will be to provide yourself with a support group. Either workout with a partner or have some friends at the gym with whom to converse. Just make sure to keep the talking before and after training and NOT DURING. During training, you should have all made a pact to stay strict and hold each other accountable to making sure that you are all training, all out with no distractions!
Also, you could hire a personal trainer at the gym, it will be a positive influence for your mind and ensure that you’re doing what’s needed to get and keep you focused.
By allowing a support group, it will actually allow you to rely on your support team to motivate you. When you train solo, you often must rely on yourself. With a support team, you are actually compounding your results by allowing others to champion you on. You can stop thinking so much and allow your support group to voice the different things you need to hear in order to get an awesome workout.
There will be plateaus and ups and downs while you are training your body, and it is up to you to train your mind to make it not seem as bad as you may think. Just remember that any ups and downs you experience will more than likely be on a certain predictable schedule. If you realize this then you will be greater prepared to accept it and to do something about so that it doesn’t depress your results.
Your brain should only think that “this was to be expected, and I can get through this.” Do not think to yourself that you have dropped in endurance, have a lack of energy or suddenly became weaker. Just accept it and remember that this plateau or regression will only be temporary and soon you will come out more powerful than ever.
Keep Going!
James Villepigue CSCS
James Villepigue, CSCS is an International Best Selling Author of over 22 books. Over the last 8 years, he has built one of the most successful fitness book franchises in history.
He has been involved in the health and fitness industries for over 17 years. With over one million copies of James’ books sold, he has helped many hundreds of thousands of people throughout the world—of all ages and from all walks of life—achieve extraordinary results to their body’s & their lives.
James is most passionate about sharing his mastery of getting people in their absolute best shape.
James has appeared on and is the Featured Fitness Trainer of “The Regis & Kelly Show" , The Maury Show and many other TV and radio shows. In addition to his books, he has written for national magazines like Fitness, Women's World, Muscle-Mag, Oxygen, Cosmopolitan, Self and Marie Claire.
James earned degrees from the New York College of Health Professions and Hofstra University, and is a graduate of the highly acclaimed Institute for Professional Empowerment Life/Business Coaching. He is Nationally Certified as a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS©), under The NSCA (National Strength and Conditioning Association), a certified personal trainer with ACE (American Council on Exercise), ISSA (The International Sports Science Association) and the NBFE (National Board of Fitness Examiners).
