|
The most cunning enemy in your workout can be your brain - make it your ally.
You never know how huge the reserves of strength in your body are. For many years kinesiology scientists maintained that physically active people begin to feel tired when the muscles lack oxygen. However, the latest research shows that it is not muscles but brain that decides when you feel tired. The researchers examined a group of cyclists who were put to the test.
After having covered a distance of about 100 km they stopped the race because of tiredness. The amount of oxygen discovered in their muscles turned out to be sufficient to allow the muscles to continue race without any problems. The feeling of exhaustion had appeared much earlier before the energy in their muscles was used. Does it mean we should pay no attention to the fatigue of our body as the level of oxygen in our muscles is still quite satisfactory to continue the effort? NO!!! On no account should you ignore the signal. This is a warning signal sent from the brain to the muscles to protect the body from possible injury. However, you have a chance to work out this problem to some extend. Physical fitness may impose some limits, which we need to be aware of, but, on the other hand, the biggest restriction on our achievements lies in our brains. You can try to overcome them….
If you do not have enough strength to go on, use your imagination.
If you want to accomplish a lot of your goal, you ought to believe in it; then you will achieve success. Scientists believe that our brain does not recognize the difference between desires and reality An experiment with electrodes may serve as a proof : several people with electrodes fastened to their muscles are asked to imagine that they are running. It turns out that their muscles contract in the similar way as those of the runners during the race. This feeling is often experienced by people during the sleep, where the sleeping dream that they are being chased by someone. The question is: how to exploit this phenomenon in a race? Try to imagine the situation which makes it easy for you to run, for example, you have springs attached to your feet or imagine that a runner before you has a magnet on his back which attracts you to him. Then, when you overtake him, put the magnet on the back of the next runner. After that, when all competitors are left behind you, place the magnet on the finish line.
I do not have time!!!
Plan everything exactly in writing. Even if you have a lot of duties and responsibilities, you can find time for physical exercise, A lot depends on how you organize the day- it is you who is in charge here. A good way to do it is to write down what goals you would like and plan to achieve by training. Setting targets gives best effects because it strengthens motivation and perseverance. Enumerate precisely your long- distance goals ( I want to finish a marathon) and current ones ( I am to run today as far as 8 km), but remember that the goals must be realistic. Every evening make a plan for the next day and try to adhere to the curriculum.
Good luck !
Physical activity is good for your brain!!!
Swedish and Finnish researchers have found that there is every likelihood that physical activity such as walking or dancing at least twice a week can reduce the risk of Alzheimer disease by 60 percent. Having analyzed the results of research into the brain conducted with 1449 patients, they came to the conclusion that physical exercise favours the cognitive abilities of mind thanks to unleashing of substances which protect brain. It also prevents nerve cells from withering away.
I cannot concentrate!!!
Turn on the music ! Listening to your favorite music turns off the analytical part of your brain. When you are listening to music, a signal coming from your brain, indicating that you are tired or hurt is disturbed. A 24-week treatment program for overweight women conducted by scientists showed that women listening to their favorite music burn fat faster than women who train without music. Music makes the exercise easier and more pleasant.
I lost motivation!!!
Look at your reflection in the mirror! Your good looks and image with tense muscles means : it works . Mirror can also motivate you to do physical exercises because you can see what you need to improve and what you have done so far to look better.
Training is boring!!!
Find a partner for training- invite a colleague or partner. Do not take exercises as an unpleasant duty- think of them as a social meeting. Sharing exercises with others can be a lot of fun. Compete if you like - it may be an additional motivation to show that you are better than your partner.
Read also:

When you lift loads

What to look for... |