Change the way you think, to change the way you look!

Change the Way You Think to Change the Way You Look!

You are hell-bent on finishing your final set of lunges. But your body is rebelling: Lunch is threatening to leap out of your stomach, and your legs are on fire. Just a few years ago, scientists would have blamed your sick stomach and screaming legs on energy depletion and lactic acid building up.

But more recent studies show that lactic acid actually feeds your muscles during a hard effort. In other words, it's trying to help you, not slow you down. "It's a good thing". What's really standing between your will and your workouts is your brain. In 2007, researchers at the University of Wisconsin measured electrical
activity in the muscles of exercisers while they peddled stationary bikes. As their performance declined, so did electrical activity, which is doled out directly from - you guessed it- your mind. Turns out your brain can give out on your muscles whenever it wants to - even if your body has enough energy left for 5 more sets. Of course, everyone has a true limit (don't try to bang out an Ironman tomorrow), but your brain often puts on the brakes sooner than necessary.

So why does your brain act like an overprotective parent? When you work harder than you are used to, your brain thinks, "We have no data on whether another set will damage her body. I better make her pretty damn uncomfortable by reducing electrical output to the muscles so she'll quit this nonsense", that's when you start to poop out and head for the showers.

But you can recalibrate your brain to chill - whether you're strength training or increasing your cardio endurance. The key is to train it to think "been there, done that" (Rob's voice saying...just say yes!). Exposing your muscles to fatigue in a systematic and progressive manner sensitizes your brain to the extra effort in a way that keeps it from freaking out about sudden changes.

One way to get this done is isometric exercises that work your body without actually moving the muscle. Instead, you hold specific contractions for a set amount of time (those times that I make you hold and I am screaming in your ear that this will make you stronger tomorrow). Dive into this heady isometric workout and within 5 weeks, you'll have your melon completely brainwashed. It is about changing the way you think to make it to the next level.

Stay Strong,
~Rob
www.yourtrainercalling.com