Mental Training

holdfast · 27-10-2014 11:18PM #1

I am looking to see what peoples ideas on it or if they use mental training. I know athletes use it. I guess I want to try it out to see if it will help me. My questions are

do you use ?
how often and how long
do you use for certain events or routinely ?
do you have different mental training routines, say for example a mantra during lifting v pre workout routine or both?
do you visualize

can you recommend any books on the subject.

cheers

Hanley · 28-10-2014 09:37AM

The inner game of tennis is an excellent read.

LuckyLloyd · 28-10-2014 10:13AM

Wouldn't say its mental training so much as common sense but I always make sure to have what I'm going to do in the gym planned out before I get there - i.e. what weight I'll put on the bar for each set; what mobility / warmup drills I'm going to do and when; how I'm going to approach a conditioning piece and what times I intend to hit, etc. And I'll make sure as part of that that I look back over my training log and am basing these plans off what I've achieved the last time I did similar sessions. In that way the plans aren't pie in the sky or unachievable.

This helps me to not waste energy while I'm in the gym worrying about what I'm going to do next. Moreover, it means the 'psyche up' process begins hours before I step into the gym. I'm already thinking about a hard strength or conditioning piece hours before I have to do it and visualising how it is going to go down and convincing myself that I'm going to finish it.

I remember years of training in the likes of Ben Dunne, turning up with a half baked idea of what I might do dependent on equipment being free when I was ready to use it; and worse, barely remembering what I did on similar exercises last time out. Never again!

Alf Veedersane · 28-10-2014 10:26AM

Like Lloyd said, having a clearly laid out plan for each session is critical.

After that, it's things like relaxing or energising, where required.

But I have found that the Henry Ford quote applies - whether you think you can or you can't, you're probably right. Go under or stand over a bar thinking it's very heavy anbd wondering if you can complete the lift, and you're hampering your chances of making it. In my experience, inanywayaz.

Mellor · 28-10-2014 10:54AM

LuckyLloyd wrote: »

Wouldn't say its mental training so much as common sense but I always make sure to have what I'm going to do in the gym planned out before I get there - i.e. what weight I'll put on the bar for each set; what mobility / warmup drills I'm going to do and when; how I'm going to approach a conditioning piece and what times I intend to hit, etc. And I'll make sure as part of that that I look back over my training log and am basing these plans off what I've achieved the last time I did similar sessions. In that way the plans aren't pie in the sky or unachievable.

I'm very much an advocate of this approach also. I've every session fully planned before I step foot in the gym. Warm ups, work sets etc.

I find a log hugely helpful. And I also keep a spreadsheet tracking various details. Programming, 1RMs, training volume. Today I added the conditioning work that I'll get and get through for the next few weeks.

holdfast · 28-10-2014 05:15PM

Thanks for the replies. I guess the more I think about it I feel I could use two different mental training programs. One would be the overarching plan of how I see myself strength, body comp etc and the other cascading down to a routine pre and during the workout. The pre and during the workout would focus on what I am going/doing to psych myself up with positive self talk.

I have used visualization in the past for one event and go my best result, its something I keep promising to do but don't. I think it something I could gain from, but I am confused if the two models I have are linear or not. I guess it something I will read up on, to see if an average Joe could gain from such approaches.

Alf Veedersane · 28-10-2014 05:24PM

As far as I know - based on what I had read up on it before after a lot of discussion on the increasing use of sports psychologists - there are something like 5/6 broad elements.

Having a well-laid-out program covers one anyway, i.e. setting goals.

There are others like visualisation and winding up/down as needs be. I can't say I remember them all but I think they were part of it anyway

Any time I hhave tried to implement any of them, it did seem to help. Whether as a direct result of it or not, I can't say. It hasn't had a negative impact anyway.

Remmy · 29-10-2014 10:44AM

I have found zen meditation/breathing exercises great for calming myself down and improving focus on stuff outside the gym. I haven't used it much yet when training but I can only imagine it would also help there also for improving focus before going for a pr or a rep record. The below explains at 5:40 the breathing technique.

Mental Training

Comments