2024 Author: Malcolm Clapton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:44
If there is an intense workout on schedule that should squeeze all the strength out of your body, then it is not the body that needs to be prepared for it in the first place.
Of course, we cannot do without body preparation. To do this, we need good rest from previous workouts, as well as a diet rich in carbohydrates and magnesium, which helps to convert glucose into energy. But the most important thing that we should know both before and during training, when the strength is running out: it is not the body that gets tired, but the brain.
Kelly McGonigal, Ph. D., psychologist and Stanford professor, in her book Willpower. How to Develop and Strengthen”talks about interesting research by Timothy Noakes, professor of sports science at the University of Cape Town. Their results proved that sports fatigue can not be caused by muscle fatigue, but by the protective function of the brain, which wants to prevent wasting.
Of course, this does not negate physiological processes, limited glucose stores and similar conditions, but Noakes argues:
Fatigue can no longer be considered a physical event, but rather a sensation or emotion.
Therefore, it is imperative that preparation for a workout involves not only the body, but also the brain. There are three simple tips for this.
1. Get rid of stress
Avoid or learn to control stress. Excessive uncontrolled stress in itself worsens physical condition and well-being. But it doesn't end there. In a state of stress, parts of the brain are reserved, including those responsible for the interaction of the brain and muscles.
2. Imagine overcoming
A growing body of research confirms that visualization helps the brain to tune in the right way. Many athletes have been using this technique for a long time, imagining in their heads how they perform complex exercises and improve their results in the process. Imagine lifting heavier weights, doing more reps, overcoming fatigue, or the bar where your results are stuck.
3. Thoughts positively
Nick Galli, a sports psychologist at the University of California, claims that, in addition to physical fitness, faith in it brings victory closer. Remember how you have overcome problems in the past, fatigue and "I can not." Don't get tired of repeating to yourself that you can handle it this time too.
In addition, it has long been known that a general positive attitude, like all positive emotions, has a beneficial effect on our body.
Use whatever helps you to improve your mood. Play motivational workout music in general, or, for example, select running music. May your workouts be a joy not only for the muscles, but also for the brain.
Sports achievements!
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