April Thrive Challenge

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Comment by HC on April 10, 2012 at 9:58am

I remind myself of all the achievements I have made in the past and how good it feels to meet my goals, reminding myself I'm no quitter and I can do it. A focus point also helps (example: image of a slimmer, healthier body of myself) and concentrate on that till I'm done.

Comment by Laura on April 10, 2012 at 9:23am

I would LOVE to say that I wax philosophical- put up motivational phrases and pictures in my room and recite mantras to motivate myself. This doesn't happen. I need challenge and if I'm not getting it on a certain day, I pretend I'm in a video game, say perhaps, Mortal Kombat, and it just so happens that when I put my sneakers on, I'm already winning! And to keep winning, I need to punch my way through a lot of bad guys.

Comment by Donald Kutzner on April 10, 2012 at 9:11am

I get one of the treadmills that is facing a mirror.  When it gets tough, I look myself in the eyes and tell myself that I can do it and give myself all the intensity that is needed to get to the end of my workout.

Comment by S. Maz on April 10, 2012 at 8:17am

I am a solo worker outer so self motivation is critical to improvement.  I use several techniques to get that extra push. Spirit yells- hearing your own voice like that wakes you up and gives you extra energy to really push.  Time limits with goals- I usually do my sets within a time limit and am always trying to get in one or two more reps to beat my old goal, I'm always careful of form though. Get lower or go deeper into the movement, sometimes you think you're doing all you can but if you push just a tinch harder you'll find out how much more you are capable of. Adding extra weight (heavier dumbbells or a weighted vest), lets me go that extra step to better fitness. I mark my calendar daily so I and everyone else can see what I've done for myself, it is very motivating to see a calendar month fill up with daily workouts, and it lets others know that this lifestyle is something that CAN be done, it isn't a perfect fairytale that you just read about.  I live fitness and health and I applaud all of those that are right here with me, all those who are just thinking about it, and everyone in between.  SALUTE'!!

Comment by Evelyn C on April 10, 2012 at 8:12am

When I'm struggling to finish a hard workout, I tell my self what's the point of working so hard, to give it all up in those last 30seconds. If you're not willing to do something at 100% then why would you waste your time at all. Those last 30's seconds proves that you have the drive, and determination to succeed in life. You are unstoppable!! Never set a limits on what you are capable of.

Comment by Miroki on April 10, 2012 at 7:02am

I do a really loud KIYA (basically yelling). Not only does it physically releases some of the pent up energy/frustration/strain that I'm holding in during the last reps, but mentally it makes me feel like a warrior, and warriors never give up! I remember doing an African dance once, which makes us stamp our feet really hard and raise our knees really high, and in the last few moments of the song, I heard our guide yelling stuff like, "Dance like you're fighting for your freedom!" In the situation of do or die...it's always do.

Comment by Cathy Robinson on April 10, 2012 at 6:49am

Yes, Laura. I loved that book - Born to Run. When I can't do another mile, I remind myself that as humans were born to run. There are indigenous people who can run an animal to death, not that I encourage that sort of behavior,(long time veggie) I tell myself that I'm returning to the state I was meant to be in. I'm doing what I am supposed to do. It is stopping too soon that is wrong.

Comment by Jennifer Dunn on April 10, 2012 at 5:44am

I imagine my competitors and what they are doing in training that day, and then, I do more. That 45 second swiss ball plank is a mere fraction of how badly I want to beat them!

Comment by Julia Silka on April 10, 2012 at 5:42am

I pretend I'm a Navy Seal. I tell myself I have to knock out every rep or else our troops will be in danger and the mission will be compromised. I must finish or people will die!

Comment by Heather J on April 10, 2012 at 5:20am

I just remind myself that it wont last forever. Most things are time or distance limited so I know an end is coming at some point.

Comment by Andrea Giles on April 10, 2012 at 2:54am

I tell myself I can do, then I visualize doing it.

If it's running, I tell myself I can always run 5km when I'm tired, so even if I've just run 25km and have 5km more to go, I know I can get through it.

Then there's the tattoo I have on my forearm in Latin that translates to "by endurance we conquer." When nothing else works, I look down at my arm and find strength to keep going.

Comment by Maya on April 9, 2012 at 9:08pm

Say i'm holding that last 30 sec plank, I go into a bit of a dreamland mode. I breath more calmly. A bit of a contradiction - but i almost numb out while i embrace the pain. Kind of hard to explain unless you've been there lol. What's the fun in just giving up, right?

Comment by Chuck S. on April 9, 2012 at 7:20pm

I'm dont have any mind-tricks but I'm extremely competitive. If I fatigue earlier than expected, I remind myself of the possibility that the meat-gulping steroid monkies I see every weekday may have just done more reps than me. That'll get an extra plant-fueled pushup out every time ;)

Comment by Philip Brougham on April 9, 2012 at 7:09pm

I have two methods I like to use when seeking that extra push. The first of which is just getting pumped up whether it's yelling, grunting, or turning up the music. The other one is to put pressure on myself. I like to do this by pretending there are thousands of people watching me and if I can do (say squat 315lbs 8 times) then I win a $1 000 000. It sounds a little ridiculous but if you believe hard enough you can let your mind convince that it will happen. When you complete your goal (8x315) it's a feeling $1 000 000 couldn't buy.

Comment by Cheryl on April 9, 2012 at 5:06pm

When I really need to push hard, I make sure I'm either working with other people or other people are around. Nothing like some peer pressure to keep the intensity up!

Comment by Anthony Zacchino on April 9, 2012 at 4:15pm

Working full time, going to grad school full time and maintaining a healthy lifestyle can be difficult. Often the hardest part is simply getting up extra early to go for a run/ride or to work out. I always tell myself two things; when working out is difficult I tell myself "santa doesn't give breaks" and when I'm feeling lazy about cooking/preparing food (always vegan) I tell myself "abs are made in the kitchen not in the gym."  

Comment by Krystle Charlton on April 9, 2012 at 4:02pm

Honestly, when I need an extra push what I say to myself is not so PG13 but I'll sugarcoat it for yah. lol I tell myself to "man up", "suck it up princess", "stop being a mary" etc etc. Not sure why, but that kind of motivational phrases work best for me rather than "you can do it!" because i know i can, i just need a kick in the butt to finish up. :)

Comment by Laura on April 9, 2012 at 1:16pm

A line from Chhris MacDougall's book Born to Run   resonates with me lately: "Make friends with pain, and you will never be alone." When it hurts, I try to embrace it. Mental focus can go a long way.

Comment by kcooper820 on April 4, 2012 at 4:36pm

Two strategies:

1. Before I go for a workout, I have a collection of inspirational photos of what I want to achieve so that when I'm wanting to give up, I picture that in front of me and push out a few more reps

2. If I'm really needing a push, as an oncology nurse I see people fight harder than anyone could believe every minute for their lives. Once I remind myself of that, it isn't too hard to fight for that last push up. 

Comment by Edie Marshall on April 4, 2012 at 3:00pm

I don't have one specific technique or mantra for pushing through the pain.  Sometimes the promise of future rest is enough to make me push harder at the very end of a work-out (that was definitely working for me today!)  Sometimes, I yell at myself (in my head, of course, I think I'd get kicked out of the gym if I yelled at myself out loud) with reminders about how I am not dying and I am capable of pushing harder and I owe it to myself to keep going.  Sometimes, I think about goals I've set for myself and how good it will feel to reach them, such as losing weight or running a 5K, and I know that if I want to reach those goals I have to push through the pain and challenge myself.  So, I guess it just depends on the situation, I probably cycle through all those things when I'm struggling, and whichever one speaks to me the loudest is the one I focus on.  

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