I had a client this week ask me “Why does everything have to be pushed?

I responded that in order to get better at whatever you do, you must push past your normal limitations. We must not allow our minds to limit our possibilities. When I ran the Argus 5K race yesterday, I struggled on a hill; however once a friend came by and said “Go Betty”, all of a sudden I had the mental and physical ability to sprint to the finish.

I stopped thinking of how tired I was, and replaced those thoughts with a challenge of getting to the finish line before my friend.

With that in mind, let’s look at some ways to get past our workout challenges.

Mentally break it down

It’s easy to dread a workout long before you even begin.

Try breaking down a crazy workout into smaller chunks. When running long distances, sometimes I’ll try and think about one topic per mile. Or if I have to do 100 burpees, I’ll add something different to each set of 20.

Suddenly, I’ve breezed through what I thought was going to be never ending.

Stop looking at the clock

Constantly watching the clock will only make the time pass more slowly, and will keep you from ever getting “in the zone”.

When I used to run on the treadmill, I’d put my towel over the display to see how long I could go without checking it. You’ll be pleasantly surprised by how much faster time seems to go when you stop checking your watch.

Find positive reasons to work out

Of course having a “hot body” is a great side-effect of intense exercise, but for most people, “looking hot” isn’t something that they’re actually emotionally connected to.

We have all struggled at some point with body image issues and I’ve found that sometimes thinking about how good you’re trying to look can bring up negative thoughts that actually stop you from trying to push harder. Try focusing on reasons for exercising that genuinely make you feel positive about yourself, like wanting to get stronger or build your endurance.

Think of a mantra

I don’t ride a motorbike, so when I’m riding a pedal bike on the road it’s challenging when the traffic is buzzing past me. So, I recite in my head “I am the King of the Road”.

It helps my confidence and keeps me focused when I’m slowly going up Barker’s Hill. A mantra will also help keep your mind occupied from thoughts that will slow you down, such as “When is this over?” “I’m tired”, or “I want cake”.

Find something you enjoy

This may be shocking, but no one is actually making you work out.

In some way you actually enjoy it. Remember that. Think about what you “like” about a tough workout. Maybe being away from your desk, or taking a break from the children.

Eventually, maybe you’ll just enjoy building muscle rather than just thinking of it as pain.

Be grateful

It’s easy to forget, when you’re exhausted, that working out is a privilege. Some people have physical limitations that keep them from being able to work out at all. Don’t forget that you are lucky you get to do 75 jump squats today!

Set a goal, stick to it and B-Active For Life.