A well-known fitness personality stated in an interview, “I never denied that this can hurt and kill you. I just said it’s the best way.” Perhaps he was telling the truth: perhaps his attitude is the best way to hurt and kill yourself.
But we don’t have to be suckered into believing that:
- Either you will face grave bodily pain and injury;
- Or you won’t ever tap your true physical potential.
This thinking defies basic neuroscience: that PAIN COMPETES WITH PRECISION PERFORMANCE. Pain gets to jump to the front of the line when you’re practicing any skill or exercise (which is a useful survival mechanism). But as a result, if you’re in significant pain, you don’t get positive results. You adapt to the pain not to the progress.
I couldn’t afford any more injuries. My body already had a propensity for them. I couldn’t defeat anyone with my “inferior genetics” so I sought to use my mind to find the smartest way to train, so I could prevent injuries and yet still lead the life of a competitive athlete.
What I discovered through my obsession with tracking and measuring data was that you can eliminate injuries and improve results in all tested metrics: weight loss, lean body composition changes, strength, endurance, speed and flexibility.
ELIMINATING INJURIES = GREATER RESULTS.
I have proven that at a government agency level with verifiable statistics.
You CAN enjoy kicking your own ass, but if you do so by training smart with an intelligently designed system of self-monitoring, you can do so without injuries. From a coaching psychology perspective, the body and mind CRAVE a good ass whooping IF you have the self-coaching skills to do it in a positive way.
It’s the basis of all operant conditioning: punishment is the least effective form of behavioral modification; positive reinforcement – the most effective. Since the mind perceives bodily pain as punishment, you CANNOT push yourself sufficiently to dig into the depths of your true potential.
That is what it means to train smart!
Very Respectfully,
Scott B. Sonnon