Try, there is no try
Not every workout is going to be amazing. Sometimes you hit the gym and the weights just feel heavy, your body is sluggish, and you pretty much just want to go home.
These days are going to happen, but when they do the key is to get what you can out of your workout, DO NOT WIMP OUT AND GO HOME.
Instead, just practice.
That's right, just practice your lifts. Warm-up slowly, taking your time to wake up your nervous system. Gradually increase the weight, focusing on execution instead of how heavy the weight feels.
Often after your first or second working set you will forget how crappy you felt and start kicking some ass.
Today was one of those days for me.
The kettlebell swings were tiring instead of invigorating. Then the front squats felt real heavy at 315lbs, which usually still feels pretty snappy. Even worse, I missed 365lbs which I normally grind through without risk of failing.
I wanted to call it a day, I had tried and failed.
Instead I called myself a few names I won't mention on this blog, literally slapped myself in the face, and then smoked 365lbs nicely. 385lbs was next and just too heavy, but at least I gave it everything I had.
The key was to stop feeling sorry for myself and committ everything to lifting the weight.
Do you try to lift a personal record, or do you committ to breaking it?
Trying rarely works out when the going gets tough.
Here is the training session we did today:
Nathan@kettlebellplanet.com http://www.kettlebellplanet.com/
These days are going to happen, but when they do the key is to get what you can out of your workout, DO NOT WIMP OUT AND GO HOME.
Instead, just practice.
That's right, just practice your lifts. Warm-up slowly, taking your time to wake up your nervous system. Gradually increase the weight, focusing on execution instead of how heavy the weight feels.
Often after your first or second working set you will forget how crappy you felt and start kicking some ass.
Today was one of those days for me.
The kettlebell swings were tiring instead of invigorating. Then the front squats felt real heavy at 315lbs, which usually still feels pretty snappy. Even worse, I missed 365lbs which I normally grind through without risk of failing.
I wanted to call it a day, I had tried and failed.
Instead I called myself a few names I won't mention on this blog, literally slapped myself in the face, and then smoked 365lbs nicely. 385lbs was next and just too heavy, but at least I gave it everything I had.
The key was to stop feeling sorry for myself and committ everything to lifting the weight.
Do you try to lift a personal record, or do you committ to breaking it?
Trying rarely works out when the going gets tough.
Here is the training session we did today:
- Mobility Work
- joint circles, foam roller, bar hanging
- Dynamic Warm-Up
- 32kg kettlebell swings x 200 reps in 10 minutes
- Front Squat
- 95 x 5, 135 x 5, 185 x 5, 225 x 3, 275 x 2, 315 x 1, 365 x miss, 1, 385 x miss out of the hole
- Strongman Log Press
- 95 x 5, 135 x 5, 185 x 5, 215 x 3, 245 x 1, 270 x miss, miss, miss (ok, time to lower the weight)
- 235 x 5 x 1
Nathan@kettlebellplanet.com http://www.kettlebellplanet.com/
Posts
Great idea! I'm a personal trainer and lots of days, my clients come in and can't quite give enough energy to the workout. They are tired, sick, in pain, or just emotionally spent. From now on, instead of just making the workout easier, I will have them practice form and work on technique.
Exactly. But once they get going you will see a lot of them start pushing themselves. The hardest part is getting moving.
Nathan