Psych Yourself Up (Not Out) for Working Out

[pinterest-pro type="pinit" pin_url="http://www.appforhealth.com/2012/02/psych-yourself…or-working-out/" pin_image_url="" pin_counter="horizontal" pin_desc=""]Like Julie, one of the co-founders of this blog, I’m a CrossFit enthusiast-evangelist. We’re both starting the Reebok CrossFit Open this week, so are nervous as @#$! about what the WODs will be each week, and if we’re even going to be able to lift the prescribed weights. But that brings me back to what CrossFit is all about and how you can find your inner strength to rally for your workouts every day.

According to CrossFit principles, routine is the enemy, so you never really know what you’re going to be doing at any workout.  And, since CrossFit workouts include any number of gynmastics, aerobic and weightlifting exercises, there’s really an endless number of potential workouts.  Not having the same routine helps keeps muscles constantly stimulated and forcing them to adapt to get stronger. Plus, it beats the boredom of other types of exercise.

Another CrossFit advantage is that I never know what’s in store for me before any given workout. Another core CF principle, training for the unknown and unknoweable means there should be an element of surprise to our workouts so that we’re prepared for whatever, whenever.  That means, if you’re 85 years old and have fallen, you’ll be able to push yourself back up or if you have to plan a quick escape for safety’s sake, you’ll be prepared for that too. At my gym, the Workout of the Day (WOD) is posted online the day before for those that want to preview—but I avoid looking before my workouts at all cost.

If I look, I’ll  psych myself out and will probably not make it to the gym.

April "Killing" It!

However my best friend and fellow CFer, April, likes to know the workout in advance so she can psych herself up for it. She religiously checks the site..then would proceed to email them to me.

I’d panic.

I can’t get my toes to the pull up bar. Surely my body will fail me on the power cleans.

By mid-morning my stomach was in knots and by the afternoon…

I feel a “headache” come on. I have four loads of laundry that had to be done–tonight! There’s no way I can make it to the gym.

Then, I realized I was psyching myself out.

Sam Martin post-workout: I hope he didn't throw up in the bucket...

Team Psycho

“Was I normal or having an CF-induced panic attack?” As soon as I saw my coach, Sam Martin of CFLA, I asked him if my reaction was normal? “Some people like the surprise and ‘unknown’ aspect of their workouts while others like to be surprised because they fear if they see something they don’t like, they won’t come,” he explained.

But on the flip-side, aome people are need-to-know-types. They might have injuries or schedules that they need to work around, so knowing the workout helps them.” Others, like April, just use knowing the workout to psych themselves up all day before it.

I’m convinced she spends the day visualizing how she’s going to “kill” me at CF…

Psych Up NOT Out

In the end, it comes down to different strokes for different folks. There are those who psych themselves up and those who psych themselves out. It’s important to know which type you are so that you can structure your exercise and motivation around what works for you.

For me, I decided that I had committed myself to becoming “shredded,” and knew this wasn’t going to transpire from folding laundry. I was also jazzed that I was narrowing in on jumping that 24-inch box and inching closer and closer to an unassisted pull up. I got my butt to the gym.

Bottom line

What motivates you? Find the exercise that you love (and fear). A hard workout won’t kill you, will probably make you stronger (in more ways than one) and you’ll always feel that amazing post-workout sense of accomplishment and euphoria once you’re done.

For more about CrossFit, see these posts:

CrosFit Love

Strong is the New Skinny

This post is from guest contributor, Kelly Plowe, MS, RD, (aka Julie’s niece).