Training When You Don’t Feel Like It?

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grifkbready

What do you do when your body and mind don't meet at the half way point and agree on training?

Deep down, it's likely a planned training day.

You coincidentally came across a handful of articles, warning you against the dangers of over training, adrenal burn out, listening to your body and the importance of rest.

You are now armed with ammo for a good excuse to skip that workout.

But, deep down in your gut, in your heart and soul, you KNOW you should train.

You KNOW your mind is pussing out and tricking you into taking that day off.

There are certainly times you need to rest and take a day off. Legitimate reasons for rest....

But, there is a flip side....

Life is tough. You work a lot. You have responsibilities. Perhaps family time, work to catch up on, deadlines to meet, bills to pay and "life" stuff.

I've been here before and more often than not, all that's needed a good warm up.

Arnold-Quote-Success

I still remember the story Arnold spoke about in his Encyclopedia of Modern Bodybuilding, where he showed up to train at the gym and he stood outside on the deck of the gym.

The sun broke through the clouds and he lost motivation to train. All he wanted to do was go to the beach. Then, he turned around and took a look at who was in the gym.

He saw his competition in the gym, blasting away with heavy weights, sweating, pushing themselves and training like mad men. His attitude and thoughts for taking the day off and going to the beach were quickly erased.

His body didn't change. His MIND and ATTITUDE changed.

The mind makes ALL the difference.

A good warm up gets your mind and body connected as ONE, working together.

Arnold-Zane-Draper

I am a BIG believer through decades of experience to match the training to the mindset, unless of course you're lazy from the get go.

For example, a year ago after getting my blood work, I was told to slow down, rest more, train less intense, etc.

I followed that protocol for about 6 weeks and it started to mess with my mind which in turn actually made me feel weaker.

I adjusted my nutrition and went back to my intense ways of training and felt BETTER. I DO listen to my body but at the core, training hard is what makes me feel best.

When you deny what you are truly about your body and mind will conflict against one another, in turn, hampering your ability to make gains.

For example, yesterday I was planning on taking the day off, but, a part of me wanted to train and I knew that a good warm up and a good workout in the sun would make me feel 100 X better.

After a good warm up, I used my 53 lb Kettlebell and followed this workout Kettlebell Bodyweight Hybird Workout:

1A) Swings 3 x 33 reps

1B) Push Ups 3 x 33 reps

2) Snatches x 5, 10, 10 ea. arm

3) 1 arm row x 25 ea. arm

The above workout was simple yet intense.

I got my Vitamin D by training in the sun and breathing in fresh air always makes me feel more powerful and energized.

This workout literally changed my attitude for the rest of the day. I was in a better mood and you would feel the same after you accomplish a goal which was challenging you at first.

The intrinsic benefit that comes from a tough workout (even a short workout) carries over beyond strong and bigger muscles.

The next time you feel like you need an easy workout or plan to skip a session, simply get moving, nice and easy.

Focus on each movement and breathe deeply.

Connect your mind and body and take that next step to kick ass and take names when the "normal" people would instead come up with an excuse.

Be different.

Be a RARE breed.

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In Strength,

--Z--

Inspire Others, Follow Your Passion & Change the World Through STRENGTH.

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7 Responses

  1. Kevin Salisbury says:

    Love it, the best way to train is straight to the point and a bit of sun included. I leave my kettle bell in my car so even at work I have no excuse to get something in.

  2. 100% truth. Sometimes we just have to do that one thing to get the motor running. When I don’t feel like training, I will go out and skip rope for a bit, or go through a short bodyweight circuit. More often than not, I then decide to add to it and crush a workout. It’s all in the mind.

    “The good Lord gave you a body that can withstand most anything, it’s your mind you have to convince.” -Vince Lombardi-

  3. Love this. When I don’t feel like training, I just cheat my mind. I tell myself that “today, I’ll just do a simple warm-up. Maybe just one exercise” to get my ass in the gym. Of course, after that ‘simple warm-up’ I’m always more hyped to get some training done.

  4. Zach I appreciate your candor showing you are indeed human!
    Agreed, I had a similar recommendation to take it slow, take it easy, you don’t need to train that much”.. after being hospitalized in the service for several months, anemic and depressed when I got out,
    Getting back into MY training and my level of intensity literally saved me…My body adapted and showed me more progress then the medical staff ever expected.
    Keep strong!

    1. Brandon, yes, thnx brotha!

      Sometimes we MUST step back, go easier and chill a bit….

      It’s all part of the art of coaching… whether you coach yourself or others.

  5. Example, up all night on shifts, (ems)
    Did not feel like working out!,
    Got outside did 45min of biking around for errands,
    got home
    100 burpees
    Waterbury’s pushups every day 100-150 total
    planks , 3sets pullups, 3sets back bends
    took a minute then
    100 burpees
    1min jumprope
    KB OA cleans 3×12 each arm
    with 20 burpees in between and 10 pylo jumps
    then
    KB swings 2×15 each arm w/ 20 burpees in between & 2x 10 thrusters

    DONE!

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