Mind over matter

Flex, Sept, 2008 by Arnold Schwarzenegger

The human mind and body are so closely connected that you will never be able to achieve your desired fitness goals without harnessing the power of your mental energies. We've all heard the story of the mother who was able to lift a car off of her injured child in a moment of dire emergency. Once the mind has been sufficiently stimulated, there is no telling what feats the body is capable of. But just as you train your body to be bigger and stronger, it's equally necessary to train your mind to attain a bigger bench press, a leaner midsection or a better functioning cardiovascular system. Here are a few ideas on how to do just that.

VISION "Where the mind goes, the body will follow," is a saying I've always believed in. You must have a clear idea of what you're doing and what you're trying to achieve in order to generate the degree of willpower it takes to overcome difficult obstacles. Vision gives you purpose, and purpose generates faith and confidence. Think clearly to yourself about what you want to achieve and how you want to go about it.

IMAGINATION Imagination can move mountains. When training arms, I used to feel as if my pumped-up biceps were huge mountains. Some bodybuilders walk around the gym imagining that they're Genghis Khan or Conan the Barbarian. Focusing on such images creates increased levels of mental and emotional energy to help power you through difficult workouts at a greater intensity.

ROLE MODELS It's not enough to simply imagine what kind of physique you are trying to develop. To form a powerful mental picture of your goal, it helps to pick individuals who have already achieved the level that you are trying to emulate. In my case, I admired the Hercu lean physique of Mr. Universe Reg Park, who had the kind of size and strength that I wanted to develop in my own physique. A bodybuilder of shorter stature might choose champions like Franco Columbu or Lee Priest as personal role models.

TRAINING PARTNERS These days, a lot of bodybuildsers hire personal trainers, but I always preferred finding a training partner who would inspire me to do my best in my workouts. In my early years, when building superior calves was one of my major goals, I went to South Africa and trained for a time with Reg-he was capable of doing calf raises with weights close to 1,000 pounds. For the 1980 Mr. Olympia, my training partner was a big, young bodybuilder whose youthful energy constantly forced me to my limit. When it comes to training partners, there is nothing as valuable as someone who fills you with energy and purpose.

MOTIVATION Developing the maximum amount of motivation involves a range of lifestyle choices. You won't be highly motivated if you hang out with friends who aren't into working out and who have no respect for your ambitions to develop your physique. Many bodybuilders will pin up photos of champion bodybuilders for constant visual motivation. Trying to get ripped for a contest? A photo of a lean, defined torso taped to the refrigerator door can work wonders in terms of helping you to stay on a diet. Keep your motivation as intense as possible by looking at photos of great physiques in magazines or onstage in contests. If the gym you train in feels too much like a "health spa" and drains you of energy, find one that inspires you.