Trainer
Tuesdays
Welcome back to the weekly edition on Trainer Tuesdays. Make sure to check in at our blog every Tuesday evening to learn the expertise of our great staff. Aside from being fantastic exercise coaches, they are also extremely knowledgeable in many aspects of health and fitness; so, it's time that you get to know them a little better! Each week, we will post a frequently asked, or sometimes just a fun fitness related question followed by the answers of each of the trainers at Fitness Together Brecksville.
What motivates YOU during your
personal workouts when you feel like giving up on the last set?
Jessica Regula: Despite what some people believe, we personal
trainers can have a hard time with motivation too (we're still humans!) One of
the biggest motivators for me, is my playlist. If I feel like I'm losing
steam in my workout, I need to find a darn good song ASAP to finish off that
set! Another thing that I like to do is visualize. Visualization is
a powerful thing. If I find that I'm lacking the will to finish my
workout, I think about all the good that I am doing my body and, the more
superficial thoughts too of course. Then, as I'm doing my last set, I
really focus on contracting that muscle and thinking about what it is going to
look like more toned and defined. It sounds kind of weird, but it works
every time. And, lastly, if I have an event coming up (like my best
friend's wedding!) I find that I'm able to push myself through that last
set rather well when I think about that particular event (or in this case, my
bridesmaid dress!) Find what works for you--you can do it!!
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| Brecksville Personal Trainer Justin Traft doing the chest fly |
Justin Traft:
Great question I get from a lot of my clients… What motivates me when
sometimes I feel like I can't go on and finish? My burning motivation is I never
want to go back to being overweight like I was before. How I felt about myself
was enough to keep me going all the time. I always remember how people would
make fun of me when I was younger or how I got passed up playing sports because
I was overweight. Every time I get to that point of can't finish I just think about that and it fuels me to work hard
and push more. Not only do I take that concept during my workouts but in life
too. I am a go getter and I work for everything I have. An I wouldn’t change it.
Adam Teplitz: Training your mind is just
as important as training your muscles. Having that positive mindset can be the
difference between another average workout and taking it to the next level.
It's that same mindset that motivates me to get those extra reps and sets in.
I'm constantly pushing my body's limits during my workouts and the only way to
do that is to grind out that last set.
Monika Cotter: It is
so hard sometimes to get thorough that last set. I am tired, I am usually
running late and sometimes I just don't want to. But then I remember my goal
for that month. Every month I make myself a few goals. It can vary
from losing 1/4 of an inch, fitting into a certain bathing suit to curling a
20lb for so many reps, but remembering that goal gets me to push past my limits
and get that last set/rep in. So if you are working out without one of Fitness
Togethers fablous trainers giving you encouragement just remember your goals
and why you started and that will help you push through!
Joshua Teplitz: When
I'm struggling on my last set, it's usually music that gives me the extra edge.
Finding a good rhythm is extremely important during a workout, so the
pace of the music you listen to is more important than you think. Try to
choose something that is upbeat and positive, as certain songs can naturally
help to release endorphins that can supply your body with that extra boost.
Kelly Bailey:
Maybe it's my tendency toward perfectionism, but I have always been
intrinsically motivated to exercise and complete even the hardest of
workouts. The psychological strain of NOT completing the last set is far
worse for me than the discomfort I feel during that last set! The
last time I gave up during a workout was only because I felt that continuing
would leave me injured. A great motivator for me is telling myself this: I
would make my client finish this set....so I'm going to finish this set!
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| Terry Crews says the gym is his Spa Therapy. Steven Madden agrees |
StevenMadden: What
helps motivate me when experiencing those last couple of hard sets and/or reps
is actually my mental health. We all
know exercise releases endorphins that can make you feel better, but that isn't
quite what I mean. In an interview once
Terry Crews explained that he goes to the gym every day because that is his
"spa therapy." I really feel
the same way. I'm not just working out
my body, I'm relaxing. Obviously, not in
the moment where I have to put up the weight, but the workout in general. I
always feel better after a workout, even more so when I didn't give up on a set
or a few reps when I know I still have it in me to finish.
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| Lisa Clark working with her personal trainer |
Lisa Clark: Even though I am a trainer, I am not any different than anyone else. I need motivation to even start a workout some days. And I know what exercises I like and which ones I would be hard pressed to force myself. Therefore I am proof that even a trainer needs a trainer! I love having someone else watching my form, making sure I am going deep enough with my squats, and to make sure I finish all my reps even when I am tired and would probably quit if I was on my own! I find that it really helps to have someone else there to hold me accountable for my reps and to give me encouragement and a push to finish the entire workout even when I am exhausted.
Sean Sullivan: As the saying goes, “The only
person you should try to be better than is yourself from
yesterday”. I believe
that my best days are still ahead of me, and I try to keep my focus on that
approach when I’m exercising--- striving for progress. That being said, there
are days when I get through a couple sets of my exercise circuit when I’m
sweating, out of breath, and my muscles are burning. At that point, even as a
fitness professional, it is easy to tell myself “okay that’s good enough for today” however
another saying says “Don’t stop when you’re tired, stop when you’re done!” One
of my big motivators at that point of my workout is my clients and my staff. I
start to feel a little funny when I see a client or someone on my staff doing a
workout that I’m not too sure I could handle; or when I see a client lifting as
much weight as I can lift. That keeps me on my toes and keeps me motivated to
stay at least one step ahead of the game. Who knows, when one of our clients becomes
stronger than me, maybe they will start training me instead?! Which brings me
to another great motivator---a workout buddy! Whether I put myself on the
schedule with a personal trainer at Fitness Together, or I have a friend or
family member to workout with me; having another person involved always helps
me to press on. I wouldn’t want to look like a quitter in front of my friend or
family member. There are many motivators in life; just make sure you find what
works for you and never give up on your dreams!
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| Fitness Together owner Sean Sullivan getting his reps in |
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