What are you thinking while you lift?

[Sociogirl]

I was at the gym yesterday and excited to get there but as soon as I started I thought, you know...this isn't fun! Do you all actually enjoy the process of lifting weights? I know when I was doing each set or anticipating each set I was thinking, "Ugh, this is going to be heavy!!" And it was. Once I finished my last set I was happy with myself for doing it and excited about increasing my weights but when I'm right in the middle of lifting, all I want is to be finished! When I lifted lighter weights and did a lot of cardio I think I enjoyed the actual time spent in the gym more but I wasn't getting any results. I know this is better for me. I was wondering if everyone else actually enjoyed their sets or if maybe you started off feeling like me but eventually grew to like it.

[BostonBoy22]

I was at the gym yesterday and excited to get there but as soon as I started I thought, you know...this isn't fun! Do you all actually enjoy the process of lifting weights? I know when I was doing each set or anticipating each set I was thinking, "Ugh, this is going to be heavy!!" And it was. Once I finished my last set I was happy with myself for doing it and excited about increasing my weights but when I'm right in the middle of lifting, all I want is to be finished! When I lifted lighter weights and did a lot of cardio I think I enjoyed the actual time spent in the gym more but I wasn't getting any results. I know this is better for me. I was wondering if everyone else actually enjoyed their sets or if maybe you started off feeling like me but eventually grew to like it.

Alot of times I look forward to getting to the gym, its my place where no one can bother me, don't have to worry about work and bills or anything, just focus on a good workout and thats it. But some days, like on chest days, I'll be half way threw a set of 10reps, and I'll think to myself, "**** this isn't getting any lighter and why the hell is 4 so far away from 10" haha. But once I finish the set, get that little rush, I start getting focus for the next set...But I can def relate, some days I'll finish a set and go throw some hoops or get water on the other side of the gym to get my mind back into gear!

[orangechic]

I cheer myself on, I love how I feel after and I think about that. I find something good to listen to on my ipod and charge forward. I struggle with getting up at 5:15 in the morning to get to the gym.

[Mindi912]

I started doing what Ronnie Coleman yells - only I think it and don't yell it

I say to myself this is light weight, we can move this baby!

LOL

[ChicagoChef]

I tend to think "strong thoughts", lol.

Usually listening to my MP3 player... something hard and heavy to go along with the lifting (for cardio I listen to the more fast-paced dancey stuff). I love going to lift; I find it very meditative. I guess most of the time I just get myself focused on a rhythm and "zone out", thinking only in my breathing and the muscle contractions.

Everything else... disappears.

[do1more]

I try not to "think" about anything except focus on the weight and the task at hand........... done right it almost becomes like meditation for me. Same deal with cardio.



kinda same as Chef K-Lo...............

[K-T]

Usually I watch my muscles moving in the mirrors, and it looks kind of fascinating, so that keeps me entertained! And if I am mad about anything, I direct all my anger to my lifting. I also use my ipod to push through my heaviest sets. When I'm feeling strong that day I focus on going harder than the week before, and remind myself that I'm getting stronger and am more than capable of pushing myself further.
I love lifting, so I never really think negative thoughts, or think that I don't feel like liftinng at that moment.

[Aeris]

I only ever focus on the specific muscles working in whatever exercise I'm doing, in addition to staying balanced, and keeping good form.

If I don't, I'll lose count way too easily.

A lot of times I also think about how good I'll feel when I'm done. Getting it over with, while not the best motivation, certainly keeps me going.

[TeresaMalia]

I usually think about the stresses in my life at the current time....This might not be such a good idea. sometimes I stare a hot guys too

[Dan0_123]

I focus on the target number of reps I have to hit and make sure I at least 1 more than the prior workout or get the extra weight i've added. If the time comes when I'm getting psyched out and wanting to leave for fear of the next set I usually take a step back and try to take it easy or I'll never want to go back.

[SexyChic]

I was at the gym yesterday and excited to get there but as soon as I started I thought, you know...this isn't fun! Do you all actually enjoy the process of lifting weights? I know when I was doing each set or anticipating each set I was thinking, "Ugh, this is going to be heavy!!" And it was. Once I finished my last set I was happy with myself for doing it and excited about increasing my weights but when I'm right in the middle of lifting, all I want is to be finished! When I lifted lighter weights and did a lot of cardio I think I enjoyed the actual time spent in the gym more but I wasn't getting any results. I know this is better for me. I was wondering if everyone else actually enjoyed their sets or if maybe you started off feeling like me but eventually grew to like it.

Ya I love every aspect of it.....

On my leg day.... I'm actually a bit nervous because my body remembers how bad I kicked its butt last leg day....

But when I start lifting, that all goes away and I thoroughly enjoy it. Trick is to have good music, a bottle of water (reusable (yes true hugger)) and enough fuel in your body to get you through it.

When I first started, I had no clue what I was doing and I wouldn't say I disliked it but I definitely didn't enjoy it.....It felt more like a chore.
They say it takes 30 days to form a habit....Get through that first 30 days and your brain should be on autopilot after that.

[Brielerose]

I honestly love lifting, but getting in to do it takes more motivation then I can give myself sometimes. Everyday my schedule changes, so finding a good time is hard and an excuse I use way too much, especially on pure cardio days. I normally rock out while I lift, and like Chef-K it tends to become meditative for me. But I do understand the thought of why am I doing this to myself.

[SophieM]

Like others have said, I love lifting. I try to focus on "feeling it" in the target muscle as well as getting in my reps for the day. If I'm struggling, I'll yell at myself inside my head.

There are days when it's a chore to be there but not because of the lifting but because I have other things on my mind and I'm stressed. After leaving the gym I normally feel better, but those workouts are normally subpar though occasionally I'll surprise myself.

[sandy131]

I think of how much I hate my ex -boyfriend for crushing my self-esteem!! and its help me to get soooooo much agression out!

[Tiffany_P]

Wow, I'm so the opposite of you. When I was lifting lighter weights for 12 reps, it was exhausting and I didn't enjoy it at all. Now that I'm lifting heavier, it's more fun, because each set is like a test of how strong I am.

[itllhappen]

I think about the muscle I'm using. I focus on what I am doing and what muscle I am working on. I zone out and stare at my reflection while I'm working out.

[macloveskingtut]

he he, when I run on a track or outside, I think of a creeper I know chasing after me... Or that an ex-lover is chasing after me to kidnap me... that keeps me going! I like to lift because I can think that it really makes me an individual, that I'm a strong female that can handle herself and isn't a girlie-girl... BA girls unite! A guy I know also inspires me, he's worked so hard to lose weight and I know that if he can do it, so can I (though he is way more intense then me... =P)

Good Luck with finding your motivation!

[Tishalicious]

I keep track of my reps, etc...

but in the back of my mind I'm thinking-
"I'm getting stronger and this is gonna feel sooooo good"

Iron... its my new high.

[catheitz]

i love it; when you can't go anymore and your pain is unbearable it actually pushes me; i laugh at it and smile and push myself farther and that way when i'm done i feel almost like a new person.

[Mikael78]

Focusing mostly on technique and hitting the right part of the body. That combined with high intensity is mostly enough to keep focused.

[NotTooLate]

I put my heavy metal music on and psych myself up by thinking........... I'm going to kill these fuc*ing pieces of sh*t iron and show them who is boss around here! They will not defeat me! I am going to overcome any attempt on their part to win! I can and will move them and I will move more weight than I did last time we met!!!!!!!!!!! I CAN do it and MUST do it!!!!!!! The whole fate of my being is dependent upon it!! I will not fail!! I am coming you iron toys, be ready for this!!



Seriously I am crazy but it works and I LOVE it hehe I can't wait to see what I'm going to kill each time

[K-T]

he he, when I run on a track or outside, I think of a creeper I know chasing after me...

Haha I do this too sometimes!!! There is this one park in the middle of downtown where I live, and I love going really early in the morning before traffic gets bad and before it gets to hot out, but there are a lot of homeless people who hang out/sleep there, and not many other runners out there that early. So when I run on that path, I go as fast as I can and never stop, because I'm scared! I had one follow me on a bike one time, that was pretty scary/creepy. I'm not defenseless, but being a tiny woman all alone is an easy target!

[Mercedez]

I think about how much my body has changed over the months!!!!

[BFIT]

I think about what I'm going to have for breakfast!!! LOL.

[femcuffs]

I let my mind relax and just get into what i am doing. When i can just focus on my time in the gym, i feel better, like i had a mini vacation for my brain!

[stronguy91]

i love the feeling of driving the the gym...its a place where i dont deal with anybody, and just myself and where i can test my strenght...leg days are my favorite..i love being able to squat 3 plates and people looking in aww...lol...nobody ever squats there so i feel higher in status..lol

[MattP343]

I think to myself 'You better get this **** up or you can't go back and write in the journal how badass you are...and all the hot ladies will stop staring!'


Just kidding. But seriously-- Except for the fact that I don't have a journal. And their is virtually Negative Twelve hot girls in and around a 10 mile viscinity of the gym at any given time.

[NOVA888]

I'm thinking about how I can make these reps really hurt so that I can get the most out of them. And when I start wimping out, I always think of Arnold and his great tolerance for pain, and those badass faces he would make when working out! :P

[absolutexpinoy]

how do you NOT enjoy it? i look forward to everyday i get to chug my NO and take that cracked out drive to the gym while blasting loud music that gets my hyped. once i get there, i feel completely different. i get numb in a sense to where i dont realize how much weight or how heavy it is until i feel my muscles just fail. i love the pumps. (ITS LIKE IM CUMMING) and i love being sore that night and the next few days.

if anything, im depressed on my off days... but it just gives me a chance to analyze what i need to work on, and the next days workout.

"UR 16"
"STFU"

[littleblkninja]

I concentrate on putting my mind into the muscle. If I don't, it would all be a big waist, literally.