Unrealistic Expectations

• Articles,
• Personal,
• Psychology of Exercise and Nutrition,
• Uncategorized
• No Comments

It’s a common trap people fall into. We go to the movies or watch television and see the beautiful celebrities on the screen and strive to have that same look. Who wouldn’t want to look like Tyler Durden (Brad Pitt) from Fight Club or a Victoria Secret model?

Tyler Durden

Miranda Kerr

But it’s important to remember the circumstances of these people’s lives. Your job may be an accountant, a programmer, a mother, or anything else. You probably dedicate 40-60 hours per week on your job alone, not to mention finding time to exercise, cook, clean your house, do laundry, pay the bills, etc. During your two weeks off (maybe) per year you’re probably busy trying to rest and relax.

Their job is to look good.

Brad Pitt has made 21 movies since Fight Club came out in 1999. That’s just over two movies per year, and assuming filming takes two months (max) he can dedicate the rest of his time to eating pristine foods, exercising as much as he needs, and sleeping. And don’t think I’m trying to take anything away from him. I believe these people are extremely disciplined and focused towards their goals. I once read that Christian Bale had to starve himself for over four months prior to filming a movie. His eating consisted of a cup of coffee and either one apple or one can of tuna each day. Now that’s dedication.

But think of how he must have felt during that period. The point is that these people are putting themselves through extreme circumstances in order to obtain a certain look for the camera. It’s their job.

Christian Bale

Paul Piracci, BS CSCS

Paul brings a background of athletics and education to the Empower team. He believes that wellness should be viewed as a blended lifestyle that balances nutrition, a healthy mind, and fitness which incorporates fun recreational activities. For more information about Empower Personal Training please call (919) 401-8024.

What Makes You Tick

• Psychology of Exercise and Nutrition
• No Comments

Do you hear the voices inside your head saying, “This is too hard” or “I can’t do this?” Do you look around and see someone else doing something and think “I’ll never be that good?”

Mental games we play with ourselves in our heads when we exercise are often more difficult to overcome then the physical aspect of the workout. Working on your ‘head’ game can take you leaps and bounds beyond what you’ve already accomplished and take you to a new level of fitness and athleticism.

Challenge: The next workout with your trainer, pay attention to the comments or thoughts you have during the workout. Do this for about five minutes and I think you’ll be surprised how many there are. After you figure that out, start again for another five minutes and each time you think something negative (“this hurts too much” is negative, “this hurts” is not) catch yourself and tell yourself you can or you will, whatever works. Explore it, find what works.

Then, keep practicing. Just like we need to work our bodies our minds need the same sort of attention. It takes practice. It won’t happen over night but it will happen. Dropping pounds takes time, dropping negative thoughts also takes time.

In the long run (pun intended) you will find that, while it is still a challenge, and always should be, your workouts will go places you never thought they could.

Mike Babbitt, M.F.A, M.A., CSCS, ACSM-HFI
USA Triathlon Level 1 Coach, Master Trainer
Mike is a Master Level trainer at Empower Personal Training. He has a unique approach to fitness that combines his scientific foundation of research and applied exercise physiology with his artistic experience as a professional stage actor. For more information about Empower Personal Training please call (919) 401-8024