Psyching Up

[God's_Warrior]

What helps you guys get pumped up when you workout? I don't usually do anything to get me ready, but I always have to have my music during my workout.

You?

BTW W00t 1st topic lol.

[gymforlord]

[ QUOTE ]
What helps you guys get pumped up when you workout? I don't usually do anything to get me ready, but I always have to have my music during my workout.

You?

BTW W00t 1st topic lol.

[/ QUOTE ]
Music-but I also pray before I work out. I remind myself I am working out to be a better, stronger man for the Lord. Maybe sounds corny, but helps get me pumped!

[Zee-German]

http://elliot.youaremighty.com/

Always gets me pumped.

[Bahir]

I sometimes watch some bodybuilding videos - usually Ronnie, but also Lee Haney, Arnold and others.

[maverickBU]

I have certain superstitions I use only on sets whre I'm not sure I'll get my target reps, usually only 1 rep maxes. Not a "psyche up" perse like ronnie screaming "LIGHTWEIGHT BABY!" or anything.

When I work out, I tie my wedding ring to my shorts drawstring. Whenever I need that extra mental boost, I'll rub my wedding ring just before I start the set. I know, its goofy, but its personal and frankly, a lot better than those who need to let everyone in the gym know they are psyching up.

[Adam Knowlden]

I get myself excited about the first exercise in my routine. Like Bahir I also like to watch some bbing videos.

[gymforlord]

Also being inspired by the physiques of folk I admire like Eddie Robinson, Gaspari & Lee Labrada really helps me, too.
http://s3.excoboard.com/forums/798/user/9219/21959.jpg
http://s3.excoboard.com/forums/798/user/9219/7229.jpg

[Down 2 Die]

I think bout getting real strong or imagine myself as Flex

[Dzoni]

I personally need that energy that is created when I yell something out, something like "UP" or "C'MON" something, it's a hard explanation, but it feels like I can lift anything, without that sort of psyche up I don't tend to hit my target.

Anyways, I am not the type who does it for attention, I have found out the times that my gym is pretty much empty and go in to lift then. Because I hate the attention people give you if they hear you psyching up. So I go when it's dead. This gives me the opportunity to do my own thing without disturbing anyone or get disturbed by someone giving me the eye cause I need to get ready mentally.

I try to block everything out of my head, even how much weight I am about to move, simply because anything will distract me and I cannot afford that.

Good to see some other techniques of getting psyched up, maybe some of these will help me too!

[Venom]

Right before my set, I do a couple of things for really hard-core lifts like squats:

1. I play a motivating song on my Ipod. Typically metallic (i.e. harvest of sorrow)
2. I use imagery. Results are clear on the efficacy of this technique. I image myself performing the lift successful, and realistically just like I have done before. And I often image myself doing 1-2 extra reps than I have done before. I image myself lifting fluently, and confidently. Then I do my lift. It is important that your images are realistic and similar to the environment and tempo that you lift.
3. Before and a little after my imagery, I'll either jump up and down, or move around a bit to get my nervous system ready to go.
4. I use positive self talk before, sometimes during the lift. Ronnie does this (i.e. nothing but a peanut, light weight, etc.).
5. When I perform the lift, I focus on the process. I don't worry too much about getting a certain amount of reps, just getting the most reps that I can, and focusing on each lift one at a time. Results show a process oriented mentality during activities can improve performance, decrease anxiety, and increase self confidence. Discussed more here, http://www.abcbodybuilding.com/goalsindex.php

I think routine is vital. When I perform my lift, I notice nothing else around me. I am completely focused on the task at hand.

Another piece of advice I have is choosing realistic goals. If you choose something unrealistic, like lift 25 pounds more than you have ever done, the anxiety is so high, that it is hard to be confident or focus on your task as much. So try and pick realistic weights more so than not.

A spotter can also be gold if you have one. They can motivate you to get an extra rep or two, and do the shouting for / with you. /forum/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[Venom]

[ QUOTE ]
http://elliot.youaremighty.com/

Always gets me pumped.

[/ QUOTE ]

I absolutely love this /forum/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[Dzoni]

[ QUOTE ]
A spotter can also be gold if you have one.

[/ QUOTE ]

That is one thing that I need right about now.

[rickck48]

ZEE that is awesome I never heard that! I thought I was walkin down the hall a foot taller and I was sittin here at my desk actually! Very good!, My compliments! /forum/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forum/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[richnewton]

My best work outs are always when I do a kind of meditation between sets. What I do is imagine the Earth below me and imagine it as a tremendous ball of energy and then I imagine a bunch of that energy going through my body from the ground up out into space in kind of a beam of light/energy through my Chakras (basically your Endocrine glands). This gets me extremely pumped up and it feels like I can lift forever because I'm not lifting with "my" strength I'm using this channeled power. I wind up completely exhausting myself though if I go too hard doing this.

This might sound weird to some but I used to be very into meditation, out of body experiences, and that sort of thing so its sort of taking from that and applying it to weightlifting.

[Boddhisatva]

[ QUOTE ]
My best work outs are always when I do a kind of meditation between sets. What I do is imagine the Earth below me and imagine it as a tremendous ball of energy and then I imagine a bunch of that energy going through my body from the ground up out into space in kind of a beam of light/energy through my Chakras (basically your Endocrine glands). This gets me extremely pumped up and it feels like I can lift forever because I'm not lifting with "my" strength I'm using this channeled power. I wind up completely exhausting myself though if I go too hard doing this.

This might sound weird to some but I used to be very into meditation, out of body experiences, and that sort of thing so its sort of taking from that and applying it to weightlifting.

[/ QUOTE ]

Awesome! I thought I was alone with the meditation during a workout. I don't do any active visualizations. I like to shut out everything around me, but the weight. I do use an awareness of my body to sort of channel energy where it needs to go. I always found music, or getting "psyched up" to just distract me.

[zerobounds]

I crush empty soda cans against my forehead, does wonders.

[Layne Norton]

I typically do something like this

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0KVLMUVyB20

Hey Gabe, finally made it over here. See you on friday, have a safe trip.

[Bahir]

****, Layne Norton is here!

[Venom]

Thanks for visiting our site, Layne! I am extremely excited to see you guys. I'll talk to you soon.

p.s. I saw that video when I went to your site last week. It is very inspirational!

[Layne Norton]

[ QUOTE ]
Thanks for visiting our site, Layne! I am extremely excited to see you guys. I'll talk to you soon.

p.s. I saw that video when I went to your site last week. It is very inspirational!


[/ QUOTE ]

no problem, however now that I have posted on your site... I expect you to match me post per post on my site /forum/images/graemlins/grin.gif LOL /forum/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

[skinnyman2]

Hey Layne,
I just watched some of your vids.
Is it possible that you're very strong for your muscle mass?
I mean when you do bench pressing with 150lbs dumbells then the pros like Cutler or Coleman should be using 280+ lbs dumbells but somehow their strength doesn't seem to be proportional to their mass.

[Venom]

Yes, Layne is incredibly strong. But using weight as a determinant for how much someone should lift can be flawed.

Strength and performance gains in general are asymptotic. So it is not always valid—particularly in very elite performances such as the example you gave off benching 280 pound dumbbells—to say that someone is “relatively” as strong as someone else, in relation to bodyweight. No matter how much someone weighs, they will only be able to lift so much weight. So benching 280 dumbbells, for instance, is not likely to happen for pretty much anyone, no matter how much they weigh.

The other factor is that strength is task specific. Bodybuilders practice many tasks to increase their size. But those tasks - such as dumbbell flys - generaly will contribute little to other skills - such as dumbbell bench. So in general bodybuilders muscularity is not completely proportional to their strength in given lift. I would read this article for the mechanisms behind strength and hypertrophy , http://www.abcbodybuilding.com/neuraladaptations.pdf http://www.abcbodybuilding.com/aprilquestionsandanswers.php

And I'll definitely take a look at your forums, Layne!

[klosey]

our gym has a big picture of marius pudz up and the old york brothers that is big inspiration

[amino]

[ QUOTE ]
I crush empty soda cans against my forehead, does wonders.

[/ QUOTE ]
lmao

[amino]

[ QUOTE ]
What helps you guys get pumped up when you workout? I don't usually do anything to get me ready, but I always have to have my music during my workout.


[/ QUOTE ]

I really need to get an ipod... =/
My gym absolutely kills my motivation sometimes with their Sirius radio.
I was just pinned under the barbell a few weeks ago because of a ****ed Bruce Hornsby or Billy Joel piano song.

It's amazing what music can do to alter your psyche.

[airborneninja]

I like to do a short run before a workout -- I dissapear into the mental void when I run.

[joneser3eb]

I always have to have music on. Just helps me get in the right mind. then if I am going to do a heavy weight set, I try and visualize doing more reps then I need so my mind is set beyond what I can do.If I need 8 reps I make myself think I need 10 so I can get to the 8. seems to help me

[Mr.Jack]

My mp3 player is currently effed and i really don't feel like soldering , music really helps! (and whatever's on the radio just mellows me down , the things they're playing...not music)
Generally , having friends that lift is a huge benefit.
You know , hearing that "come on , pull harder" at the very last rep.
I wouldn't do any Bench presses without a spotting partner anyway, one false move and you're going to be in a lot of pain :P.

[rootb33r]

Well I just joined a really nice World Gym that is really close to my home/work so that's got me pumped at the moment lol. Also about to buy a new car which is exciting so I'm kind of on a natural high these days.

Anyway, as for psyching up before a big lift, right before I start I'll make sure I take three big breaths. I don't really know how to explain it, but the three breaths have to be "clean" and full and they have to feel good. I have slight OCD and I know it comes in to play here. I also try to time the first rep (or if it's dumbells, the 'throwback/liedown') to a really jamming part of a song that I know gets me psyched.

Sometimes I'll turn on a really rocking hardcore psych-up song and imagine myself in a little home-made video with that song playing in the background, like in movies where the climax of the movie is preceded/incorporated with some pump-up song. This is also hard to explain, but I pretend like I'm filming myself and the camera is rotating around as I stand there psyching myself up and the song is playing in the background and the climax of the video is coming up. I have a kind of director-artsy mind so I have some really cool "camera shots" I envision along with the song and that "imaginary movie" gets me pumped.

[Wei]

fast, brutal metal always helps
positive affirmations, telling myself i can do it
and uh... watching dragonball z :P seriously, goku and vegeta yelling for 5 minutes straight while they turn supersaiyan, that's some intense stuff.

[klosey]

MOtorhead THE GAME is a good choice

[Birthright1]

Coming

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8sHvWYAzIRo

And Pantera

[Chiron]

I try not to psyche up before entering the gym. I just tell myself that this is the schedule for tonight and no matter what I am not leaving without completing every set and rep with full intensity.

I personally thrive on accomplishment during my workout. Typical example would be that after my first couple warm-up sets I aim straight for my max because I am still "fresh," this is when I push myself to muscle failure. Once I am done I know that nothing can stop me from having a hardcore workout and every other set just falls into place.

However, if I do not accomplish that utopia effect during my first exercise, I put the weight back on the rack, head of to the treadmill for 2mins and start over again at the weight room.

Sounds abit crazy but due this thinking frame of mind I have broken alot of my personal records.

[ashnicholls]

If you are truly focused it does not matter what is goin on arond you, what ever usic is playin.

But if your not that focused definatley metal.

Nothing is better than someone spotting for you though, shouting at you and helping you squeeze out that last rep.

[ashnicholls]

Also the video in my sig gets me pumped.

[spad87]

I need to be listening to hardcore rock music to get pumped up. It clears my mind of all distraction and allows me to just pump. I also implement imagery into my pre-set preparation. I imagine what a flawless form should be, and see myself lifting in that manner, achieving my repetition goals. Music is definitely key for me.

[Dzoni]

****, you guys imagine a lot. LOL, I just take as many deep breaths as I can and get under that "heaby a$s weight" and what ever the outcome is I'll be happy (sort of, if I beat the book, I'll be happy).

Yelling/grunting works wonders!!!!!!