Power of the mind and supplements

[Robin Strand]

I was just laying in bed last night and I was thinking about the power of the mind and then I started thinking about how supplements make you have that feeling of POWER and give you that self efficacy.

Supplements - increase self efficacy. Self efficacy is the ability to believe you are capable of achieving something. And because the body goes with the mind (and not the other way around) supplements can lead to faster growth and building of muscle.

The mind - tells the body what to do. You have to be able to imagine your physique as you want it to be, if your body is going to go there. Without imagining where you want to be, then the mind is unable to reproduce those images into something physical.

Supplements can help us create these images by telling us what a certain supplement can "do" for us. Being told you will be able to gain a certain amount of muscle in a certain amount of time is a measurable goal. When a goal is measurable, it helps you believe it is attainable, and therefore your self efficacy improves - along with your ability to imagine it.

I'm not saying that scientifically proven supplements (creatine, amino acids, caffeine, etc) don't help in athletic performance, I'm just expressing my thoughts on the positive mental effects of supplementation.

Just my thoughts.
Robin

[sg8976]

I totally agree with your thoughts.

Had some sessions with a mental trainer and it was unbelievable how the training can change with the use of mental techniques.

[Robin Strand]

Absolutely. It really can make the difference!!
How was your experience with a mental trainer?

[sg8976]

it was very strange how he could get me in one hour to lift weights I never lifted before just by using simple techniques that enables you to concentrate on your own power and strength - sometimes it looks similar to hypnosis but it's different - for sure

but anyway: let's say your max. chest press is 80 kg and after 5 minutes of concentration exercise you can lift 120 kg, it sounds unreal, but I personally had this experience

[Robin Strand]

That's awesome man.

I definitely believe in meditating before you train.

It doesn't have to be sitting on the ground with your eyes closed, but I like to play my workout in my head like a DVD while I do 10 minutes of cardio to warm up. Then, when it's time to train - you won't be stuck saying "hmm what shall I do today?"

This technique is extremely effective for increasing intensity in your workout.

[sg8976]

I do not think that sitting on the ground with closed eyes is really the point, either. In my impression my metal trainer used techniques to focus my mind to solve an issue. And in fact - back in the library of my university - I found evidence, that the body does not use all muscle fibers during a workout. But during a concentration exercise - let's say you have nail hanging down from a yawn in your fingers and you try first to swing the nail in a way you want to - you learn to control your micro contractions of your muscles and by doing this in a next step of concentration you concentrate on the weight you want to lift and your body will activate more muscle fibers, which brings up this "unreal" result.

But anyway I am glad you think in the way you are doing and I wish you all the best for the upcoming show in summer and I hope we will have more interesting talks together here.

[davidg92]

I only use supplements when prescribed by a doctor, because I once hurt myself with vitamins. But so does my mindset. I agree that a lot depends on it. How much awareness of the importance of thinking has advanced over the years, I never cease to be amazed.