Show Me Someone Who Regretted A Workout: Power of Visualization

Show me someone who regretted a workout...And I'll show you a liar.

Pinterest recently had a popular fitness poster floating around with the quote that went something like this:

"Wow, I really regretted that workout." -No One Ever

And it's so true.

Sure there are going to be days where you don't want to put your fitness clothes on or you just aren't feeling the urge to sweat. You've had them in the past (we all have) and you'll have them in the future.

But on those days where you pushed through and got it done anyways, have you ever finished up and thought to yourself "oh man, I wish I hadn't done that?"

Most likely not. But on the flip side on those occasions where you gave in to the lazy feeling and skipped out of your workout, I bet you felt pretty guilty for it, with a twinge of regret.

Of course that regret passes, but for just a split second it was there, and you felt it.

So how can you push through and just get it done?

Breaking Down The Brick Wall

Remind yourself of this quote every day! Or better yet, write it on a sticky note and have it someplace where you can see it every day!

One of the best things you can do is to visualize success. Even something as small as doing a little 20-minute interval workout. Picture yourself doing it... stepping on the treadmill, bringing the incline up to a 3 and pushing the speed up and down as your heart rate screams "Seriously... were running again?"

Then imagine that feeling of relieve when it hits the 20 minute mark and you get to press stop and step down. That feeling you get when your feet hit the ground, and yet it still feels like the treadmill belt is moving below your feet (I hate this feeling!). But most of all, think of how freaking great you feel for doing it!

There was a power of visualization study conducted at Clevelend Clinic Foundation where 1/2 of gym goers where asked to visualize their weight training workout before they started, while the other half where just free to workout.

The visualizers increased their results by half as much as the non-visualizers!

Need more? There is no denying that Michael Phelps is one of the best athletes of our time... his metal collect reflects that. So how does he do it? He contributes a lot of success to the fact that he visualizes every single meet before it happens. Every small detail of what he wants to happen goes on in his mind before he steps up onto the starting block!

Just picturing yourself having a good workout can lead to the best workout of your life and the most efficient one at that!

Sources: http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/flourish/200912/seeing-is-believing-the-power-visualization

Sources: The Power Of Habits