Welcome to the first installment of the new “Epic Intensity” This blog is designed to bring some mental aspects to the table of training that no one ever likes to talk about. It’s designed to be “Intense”…period. So nothing in this blog is designed to “draw anyone out in the open” or “Throw anyone under the bus”. It is not my personal assault to anyone in specific. It is simply designed to make you look at yourself in the mirror and really look for what you need. For some it will solidify that you are on your way to self actualization. For others it may bring you to realize that you’ve never really scratched the surface on what you really want from yourself. Either way, it is all about the personal journey that we all have to take in our lives and how we approach ourselves. This is mostly going to be based around the ideas of fitness. I’m sure other things will cross over. There is a lot of “life” in working out and vice versa. I’m just going to try and make things as light and as heavy as the situation calls for and I’ll try to not be insulting with some of my rants…
NOW….I am not a certified professional psychologist or even certified to help anyone deal with their personal issues. I am not a social worker or even pretending that I have all the answers in this wonderful world. Again, it is all a personal journey. I am just doing my best to impart my experience to try and help others along their way.
Let’s dip our toes in…shall we?
Intensity. This will be a repeated theme, I’m sure (hence the name of the blog!!!). Intensity can be a wonderful thing and a detrimental thing. It can drive you to great new heights! It can also drown you in psychological (or physical) turmoil. It can be seen in times that seem positive (i.e. not stopping during a difficult workout) . On the flip side, it can also be seen in a negative (i.e. lying on the floor after pulling your shoulder out of socket from an incorrectly executed Snatch).
The idea here is to push that limit without falling into the abyss that is injury. Is it beneficial to you to put the barbell down once it becomes uncomfortable? Is it beneficial to repeat the same workout program week in and week out without seeing any considerable benefits over months and months? Is it beneficial to continue to repeat the same treadmill track month after month to just “burn a few calories”? Is it beneficial To continue to eat your ritual bon bon after your workout because you earned a few extra calories? The answer to all of these is…
HELL NO!!!
Remaining on task to something that is beyond your comfort zone is INTENSITY! Lay off the bon bons and eat some broccoli…that’s INTENSITY! Bench press? Try doing pushups until you’re crying in a pool of your own sweat and pride…INTENSITY! Treadmill? Try doing 20 meter sprint intervals in the parking lot…INTENSITY!
I know, to some this seems extreme…but no one has ever achieved great things without dedication. Without stepping outside of your comfort zone. No races could be won. No one could lose 100 pounds. No mountains could be ascended. Are your goals important to you? Do you have a goal? Maybe you think that your goal isn’t that extreme. Then imagine what you could achieve with a certain amount of INTENSITY….losing 10 pounds becomes 20. Lifting 100 pounds becomes 200. Running a mile turns into a marathon.
How important is your goal?
Epic Intensity!! 