I was reminded in physical therapy that if your muscles don’t get tired, they won’t get stronger. But there is a difference between working out until you are tired and then crying “uncle,” and pushing through that tired and getting stronger.
I workout at home, so I don’t have a fitness instructor or personal trainer to motivate me to keep going. With all my physical therapy exercises, I haven’t even been able to use my Bob Harper Pure Burn Super Strength DVD, and have him yell at me through my television. I have to find it in myself to feel the burn and not back away from it.
When the going gets tough, I often think of Josie (@YumYucky.com). She is the epitome of badass. She approaches her workouts with a take no prisoners attitude. (20 minutes of burpees? My legs won’t even let me think about that!) I know that Josie doesn’t back down from a tough workout, so I think of her smiling face and her strong muscles and keep going.
Recently, I’ve been using this mantra to talk myself through those last few reps:
It came to mind again as I was watching the Olympic women’s marathon. For the last few miles, the lead women were running steadily along. They looked focused, but somehow relaxed–they were still pacing themselves. But when Tiki Galana made her break, the effort showed in her face.
(source)
She was working hard, and she made it happen.
How do you push yourself through a tough workout?
Do you have a mantra that keeps you going?
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