The body and mind are a very interesting pair. If you think positive thoughts, it can put you in a good mood. If you stand or sit tall it can make you feel powerful. But can you use your mind to improve your fitness? It might not be as crazy as it sounds.
Our thoughts can dictate the way we feel, that’s a pretty well known fact as we have all experience it. Thoughts have also been proven to affect physiological responses in the body; from altering the heart rate to increasing strength. Athletes of all levels including Olympic athletes use visualization to increase their performance during training and competition.
So how can we use this for fitness? Can we think our fat away? Probably not. Can we visualize our muscles getting bigger? Maybe. Can picturing ourselves eating that ice cream and NOT gaining weight help? I wish! I don’t think that’s how it works unfortunately. Here’s what we can do though, we can use visualization to help motivate us and increase our strength (Yes, there have been studies that show “imaginary” training sessions increase strength).
*Results may vary, there’s no guarantee this will work for everyone*
Here’s what I recommend doing:
- At the start of your day take 5 minutes to visualize the healthy meals you’re going to eat and imagine yourself making your workout for the day your bitch. Every exercise! If you plan to set a personal record, imagine lifting that weight with excellent form or how effortless your stride will be while beating that old 5k time.
- Throughout the day, before your workout if you find time visualize when you can. See yourself blazing through it with no problem, feel how amazing it will feel when you have that workout conquered!
- During your workout focus and visualize on the current exercise you are doing. You’re going to see yourself perform it flawlessly. Remember, you’re a beast!
- After you’re done, reflect on what you have done and how you feel…amazing. Just think, you’re going to feel this great after every workout.
- Use visualization for everything else throughout the day, even work.
- Be careful about using this before bed though, visualization of your next workout may prevent you from getting some much needed sleep. You can however visualize yourself tired and sleepy.
Here are a couple educational references for visualization:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/14998709
I hope you find this post useful, if you did, like my Facebook page (on the sidebar to the right) for continued blog updates and discussion.
Go get it!
-Shawn A