tough workouts

We've all been there. That moment when all the weights feel heavy, even the warm up set. When your whole body is stiff and aching. When the failure of it all just makes you want to break down and cry. When you just want to quit. But guess what? You Can't!

So then, how do you get through these tough training sessions? I was able to ask a few powerlifting ladies, and this is what they said.

Megan Shea: "A lot of the times when I'm having a rough workout is when I get too in my head. I try to take a step back and give myself a mental pep talk. Tell myself either I've done this weight before, pain is only temporary, and (most importantly) you can do it! If I'm failing on a lot of my lifts, I try not to focus on the negative aspect of my workout but that it's a progress and sometimes you can't succeed every time."

April Harper: "I treat it like a job. I think about my goals and I power through knowing it's the only way. Sometimes music helps, sometimes I will have more caffeine for a little boost of energy."

Charity Witt: "It's mostly mindset for me. Like especially when wrapping my knees and the pain is so bad that I want to cry, I talk out loud to myself. "My name is charity and I can do the impossible". I don't know why, but saying that over and over again gets me so hyped up to lift and I usually succeed."

Amy Traps: "I remind myself of why I started, and how much I want it."

Bec Chambers: "I get myself in the zone. I tell myself that I can't fail and I force myself to prove it."

Stephanie Aromando: "When I started this journey a year ago, I weighed 335 lbs. I was fighting for my life. That was my biggest motivator to get through hard workouts... wanting to live. Today I'm down nearly 110 lbs, and when I'm fighting through the final reps of a difficult set, there is nothing that motivates me more than locking eyes in the mirror with my own reflection. I can see where I've been, I can see where I am now, and I can see where I'm going, and it reminds me what I'm fighting for: health, fitness, and total badassery."

Mommy_N_RY_Lifts: "Pretty much every single workout I do is tough. What pushes me is knowing I finished every rep and every set with maximum effort. I won't quit because i want to do what others won't do. If it sucks and most people skip it, that's where you will come out ahead in this sport.

Having a team is a big help. My training partners and coaches are a HUGE motivator because we all want the same thing. Our team of females is unlike anything I've ever experienced in my life. They are my sisters. They want me to succeed sometimes more than myself! I def had to add that in there. I drive two hours to and from just to train with them."

It's an inevitable feeling, but we hope that this is able to inspire you to just keep going. Comment below on how you get through your tough workouts. 

6 comments

  • Evie: April 11, 2017

    I struggle every day with my mental health, so anytime I can’t deal with a tough workout, I remind myself how low I can feel without exercise, and that even though I may not be doing as well as I wanted to that day, it’s a constant work in progress. I’m a work in progress.

  • Raye Bonham Carter: March 31, 2016

    I am in a constant state of recovery from my eating disorder. I have put 30 healthy pounds back on my 5’10’’ frame. When I’m lifting and feel my body begin to shake and my brain scream for me to drop the bar, I look at myself in the mirror and mouth over and over, “You are worthy. You are worthy. You are worthy.”

  • Paige miller : March 31, 2016

    I needed this, yesterday was that day for me and I keep beating myself up over it. Thank you <3

  • Jen: March 31, 2016

    I talk myself through it and focus on my basics. I trust my body, trust my fundamentals, make sure my technique is on point for each rep. I will repeat “core tight, chin tucked, hold the arch, breathe, you got it” That takes me out of my head or my distraction or from psyching myself out.

  • Lucie: March 31, 2016

    Just had one like that today, 1st really bad one in the last 2-3 months.Hardly walked to the gym, legs felt heavy and body exhausted-totally beyond my control (lack of sleep,stress,coming down with something ? or mix of all of those).The weight I could do 9-10 reps with a week ago, I hardly lifted 4 times.Very frustrating,you all know that feeling.But I just kept going and did my best on the day.I did not hit the numbers I had planned,it was hard and I did not enjoy it. But I did get through the workout and I think that doing SOMETHING is better than nothing at all. Next time it is going to be better :-)

  • Lis: February 01, 2016

    I live with a chronic illness and lifting is my way of dealing with it. On the tough days what goes through my head is that I am not giving into this – so on go the headphones, deep breath, focus and just push through it. I learn far more from my tough sessions than I ever do from a good one. This is where I define myself. Xx

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