What do you think about?

[Pseudonym]

In his journal, IDeclareWar asked the question, "What do you think about to get that extra rep or make you do another set?"

I thought it was a brilliant question which deserved a bigger audience, so I'm going to ask it here.

Tell us how you change your mindset from "Oh, that'll do", to "One more rep, dammit!"

[Grover]

To be as big as "Soundsgood"

:nod:

[Pseudonym]

The responses from IDW's journal...

I just do it, I think about why I am training, what I am trying to achieve and just do it! I am pretty self motivated and when that's waning I have some decent people around me that can push me along.

During pre-comp which is when I seem to make the most gains I seriously think to myself "a fellow competitor is going to do more". And that gets me motivated enough to do another rep or set. That srs'ly goes through my mind every workout in the last 12 weeks or whenever I start "comp prep" mode.

As I write that it hits me...It would be useful if i thought like that every day of the year :doh:

That's it... I always think I won't get beat cos someone worked harder than me... if they beat me cos they're better such is life but it sure won't be cos they worked harder.

[Shutupandsquat]

I generally try and push for one more rep. But it depends.

Sometimes if I'm doing heavy normal range squats I'll do a set of 5 at 140 before I do a set of 8 at 150. This is because if I don't a set of 18, 10 or even 12 at 140 I'll probably only get about 4 or 5 out at 150 and I think higher reps at a heavier weight is probably more beneficial, considering it's a compound movement.

If it's my last set, I'll ALWAYS go 'til I can't anymore. And 3 quarters of the time on my second to last set, I'll go to the last rep.

But I'm generally going heavy enough from the start to be in the 8-12 range, but if I'm aiming for that and the weight is too light, I'll hit 15 or 20. My muscle is always completely done by the last set of each exercise anyway!

Actually a really interesting topic 'cause I think about it EVERY workout.

[soundsgood]

Lol @ grover. That's not hard bro

I definitely have the same mindset as Harry and Android. I know it's cheesy but that quote Harry once said goes through my mind - "if I lost to someone who was better than me, I could live with that, but if I lost to someone because they worked harder than me, I couldn't live with that".

I also think about how I've got the rest of myself to not do that rep. I have the opportunity to do it right now. I'm at failure point and most people would quit right now, I'm not a quitter. I'm going to beat it.

In B4 cheesy bro. But I am the same guy who listens to 'I am a champion' on my iPod before a big lift :shifty:

[drizzt]

Long story short, what goes through my mind is panic

Long story long! On that last rep, it's usually always "please don't fail!" :pfft: Sad, but true!

Usually makes me quite self conscious about what needs to be done, but has a negative effect of awakening me to my surroundings a bit too much i.e. noticing mats are out of alignment on the floor, smelling spotter's BO etc :shifty:

Using Squats as an example if I'm heading for 10 reps, and 7-9 are rough, I'll be thinking "Holy crap how is 10 gonna come out?". Just before beginning/during the 10th, this is what goes through my mind:

I wish the spotter would stop calling out the reps, I know how many goddamn reps I've done!* Ok lets descend.... get those hips back, activate those glutes and hammies, there you go... shit forgot to squeeze the bar tight! That's an odd spot on the wall, wonder how that got there... dammit concentrate! So many people watching though... breathe! No, don't breathe hold it in! Oops too late. Ah well whether or not that is depth you'd better shoot up or you'll staple, now up you go... why is that flag waving in front of me, it isn't draughty in here?... shit! Leaning forward, bar is gonna roll over my neck! Correct it, CORRECT IT! Beginning to.. lose.. conscio... Oh cool I'm standing up. Crap that was heavy. Two more sets to go.

All of which happens in the 2 seconds it takes me to complete a rep, true story :nod:

*P.S. anyone who has spotted me or will do in the future I don't mind reps being called out, in fact I appreciate it most times, I'm just easily agitated when it appears I'm gonna fail :shifty: :pfft:

[liquid_101]

Megan Fox's come to bed eyes.. .

[HarryB]

In B4 cheesy bro. But I am the same guy who listens to 'I am a champion' on my iPod before a big lift :shifty:

Lol my favourite song when I was training legs had lyrics that go "when the race gets hard to run, you know you just can't take the pace".. I am never going to be that guy who can't hack it.

[Phedder]

Megan Fox's come to bed eyes.. .

Wouldn't that make you think "Ah f*ck it, who needs that last rep when I can just drop it now and go to bed with her..." :pfft:

I generally just tell myself to stop being a pussy and push harder.

[liquid_101]

Ah but you can only get in there if you max it out like a champ. Drop it and she rolls her eyes and gives it the 'not tonight luv' look.. .

[nate225]

Lol @ grover. That's not hard bro

I definitely have the same mindset as Harry and Android. I know it's cheesy but that quote Harry once said goes through my mind - "if I lost to someone who was better than me, I could live with that, but if I lost to someone because they worked harder than me, I couldn't live with that".

I also think about how I've got the rest of myself to not do that rep. I have the opportunity to do it right now. I'm at failure point and most people would quit right now, I'm not a quitter. I'm going to beat it.

In B4 cheesy bro. But I am the same guy who listens to 'I am a champion' on my iPod before a big lift :shifty:

THIS! :nod:

[Riccardo]

I like that Quote Harry, gona be thinking bout this while doing legs today.

I'm sure I'm not the only one but I usually think about something that makes me really angry, someone that has wronged me or a bad situation that has affected me in someway, I find getting angry really helps lol. Weights have always been a bit of an outlet for me so It helps in two ways. Pushing more weight and letting off steam.

Inb4 Umad?

[karm015]

way i see it, if im spending 7am-7pm either working or getting ready for work, 7.30pm-9.30pm at the gym, and then get home around 10 with no time for anything other than dinner and sleep, 5 days a week...

... better not f*ck around

[Gym rat]

When it comes down for the last to reps I think time to dig deep and I dont care what happens also that would include when I doing FST-7.I might have to start listening to I am champion on my Ipod as well :shifty: :shifty: Which artest sings that song?

[lemon]

Either of these:

All the previous reps were for this rep to get the results. This is where it counts.

Ill get paid $1000 if I finish the rep

[morattigirl]

This is where it counts.

Me too. I was told once or maybe even read somewhere - probably on here... That it's the last 2 reps that are gonna make the difference, these are the ones that count!

So that's what goes through my mind when I don't think i've got anything left...

[Viking Power]

For me personally It must come up I will put 100% into it when it actually matters and if it doesnt f*ck you, I will own you do or die if you really want it

[red machine]

"stop been such a pussy"

"speed speed"

the 2 things that run though my mind

[teamfatboy]

This is where it counts.

That's it... I always think I won't get beat cos someone worked harder than me... if they beat me cos they're better such is life but it sure won't be cos they worked harder.

These... oh, and I also like a great quote from The Replacements:

Pain heals. Chicks dig scars. Glory... lasts forever.

[Gasp]

I use the same lines that I've used for thirty years.

"If I stuff it up I`m going to be pissed off for the next week"

Keeping a journal always helps because you just keep reminding yourself during the set "its going in the book...its going in the book!!!"

[Pseudonym]

I definitely have the same mindset as Harry and Android. I know it's cheesy but that quote Harry once said goes through my mind - "if I lost to someone who was better than me, I could live with that, but if I lost to someone because they worked harder than me, I couldn't live with that".

See, I'm the complete opposite. I'm quite happy to lose to someone who's worked harder than me. I figure they must have just wanted it more. It's the bastards who've simply been lucky with their genetics that get me mad. :pfft:

Right now, I've got a bet with a mate to see who can get the leanest before Christmas. The thought of him doing one more rep can spur me on to get two more.

The other technique I use is visualisation. It sounds a bit new-age put like that, when basically it's just the power of jealousy. I'll find someone (either in the gym, or a photo online) with the physique I want, and then tell myself, "Two more reps for shoulders like that!" Works for me.

[southernsamurai]

It depends, sometimes I get too amped up on my warm up sets and end up smashing it out on those before my big set :doh: Like suas said I'm on squats it makes sense to go heavy high rep by saving energy before hand.

Now though I've learned to channel all my energy and anger on my main sets, if I start to fail myself or tp will say 2 more no matter what!

"if you think you're training hard he might be training twice as hard"

Inb4 hughmadborough

[Dubble_D]

someone who's worked harder than me. I figure they must have just wanted it more. It's the bastards who've simply been lucky with their genetics that get me mad. :pfft:

Right now, I've got a bet with a mate to see who can get the leanest before Christmas. The thought of him doing one more rep can spur me on to get two more.

The other technique I use is visualisation. It sounds a bit new-age put like that, when basically it's just the power of jealousy. I'll find someone (either in the gym, or a photo online) with the physique I want, and then tell myself, "Two more reps for shoulders like that!" Works for me.

Who says he does one more rep?.... He could be doing four more! 8)

[r.norvegicus]

Lately I’ve been using several techniques; cranking up a hardcore tune on my ipod is one of my favourites, giving myself a stare down in the mirror and telling myself shit like “don’t be a little pussy” and “harden the f*$K up bro” etc (inside voice of course :pfft: ) and my newest latest is waiting until my final working set and spending the rest period telling myself “THIS is it man…THIS is the money set……THIS is what we’ve come here to do today” :twisted:

As we all know this sort of stuff doesn’t always work but when it does WOOHOO. I’ve also been completing my desired rep range too so if that means I fail early then drop weight and straight back into it (with my angry eyes on).

The other technique I use is visualisation. It sounds a bit new-age put like that, when basically it's just the power of jealousy. I'll find someone (either in the gym, or a photo online) with the physique I want, and then tell myself, "Two more reps for shoulders like that!" Works for me.

I'm going to try some of this :nod:

[FellowshipOfTheRon]

i always think about what arnold says in pumping iron while casually sitting on that couch... no, not about da pump but rather:

Arnold Schwarzenegger

“The only way to be a champion is by going through these forced reps and the torture and pain. That’s why I call it the torture routine. Because it’s like forced torture. Torturing my body. What helps me is to think of this pain as pleasure. Pain make me grow. Growing is what I want. Therefore, for me pain is pleasure. And so when I am experiencing pain I’m in heaven. It’s great. People suggest this is masochistic. But they’re wrong. I like pain for a particular reason. I don’t like needle’s stuck in my arm. But I do like the pain that is necessary to be a champion.”

“A beginner does eight repetitions of a certain exercise with his maximum weight on the barbell. As soon as it hurts, he thinks about stopping. I work beyond this point, which means I tell my mind that as soon as it starts aching it is growing. Growing is something unusual for the body when you are over eighteen. The body isn’t used to ten, eleven, or twelve reps with a maximum weight. Then I do ten or fifteen sets of this in a row. No human body was ever prepared for this and suddenly it is making itself grow to handle this new challenge, growing through this pain area. Experiencing this pain in my muscles and aching and going on is my challenge. The last three or four reps is what makes the muscles grow. This area of pain divides a champion from someone who is not a champion. That’s what most people lack, having the guts to go on and just say they’ll go through the pain no matter what happens. I have no fear of fainting. I do squats until I fall over and pass out. So what? It’s not going to kill me. I wake up five minutes later and I’m OK. A lot of other athletes are afraid of this. So they don’t pass out. They don’t go on.”