I have been using a radical (to me) approach to strength training & running that I have not found/heard in any posts.  Is everyone tired of new approaches or would it be worthwhile for me to expand upon it?

With encouragement on this topic, I may have to state this in stages, partly to clear my own thoughts on this.

First, I will start with my quest (challenges) then share the benefits that I have obtained, although not conclusive yet.  I am still in the process of gaining the full measure of strength and health benefits that I want.

I will then mention the process that it requires to get there.

My challenge, somewhat for strength training and more so for running, has been to fully enjoy the process.  There are many factors that play in to that, such as: motivation, solitary activity, getting desired results, and even fighting boredom, among countless others.

Like many of you, I have read articles, books, started/stopped strategies, changed health clubs, used Soloflex/Rockit, other devices that have departed, and have had numerous discussions with people on health.

I now have a set of strategies that fits me, which can be categorized easily into 3 areas: (1) what I put into my system (eat), (2) what I do to stay in motion (train), and (3) what goes into my mind (mental attitude/preparation).

Of the above 3 areas, which would you say is most difficult for you?

If you answered your mind or mental attitude, I suspect that its probably true for most of us.

So why is there very little information on training the mind for daily/weekly workouts WHILE doing the workout?

Oh you say, there is my ipod with all my favorite music or motivational speeches or I can catch the news on TV or self talk or (have I exhausted all the possibilities?)

And do they work?  Yes and maybe.

I have stopped listening to random music while in training.  I thought that I would stick with one group that has a high energy level of music (Santana).   I listened to all their albums, or as much as I could for completing a half marathon (2 hrs plus) last October.  I am burnt out on that music.   What’s left?  More music? 

Many of you would suggest other performers.  Many of them are excellent performers.

Being highly auditory, I needed something to listen to while I went through my strengthening strategy (static contraction).

Before I get to how I approached this.  I will share my benefits achieved so far.

I am still enjoying the workouts (3 times/week) and I am maintaining or slightly gaining more strength.  I value strength training more than body building, although it is ok for me to have my muscle tone increasing and feeling stronger.  While running, I have also found a new type of joy, interest and excitement that I wonder if anyone else could easily reach this level using this approach.

My attitude has improved, even with some tough challenges that I have gone through in relationships and business recently.

So far so good.  So what is it that I’m doing?

This applies to those of you who train with an ipod or mp3 player or something that you stick in your ears to listen.   Everyone else, stop reading.  This is not for you and would not benefit you, I think.  Don’t go further.  OK.

I have always enjoyed getting into a state of hypnosis to accomplish tasks.   Visualization has always been and continues to be a daily practice for me.   I have always done mental preparation before tasks and not during the tasks.   Strength training and running are two skills that can be done in a state of hypnosis, or altered state.  There may be other sports/skills to be tried, and they probably have to have a solitary component to it.

So how to induce hypnosis on oneself?   Yes, read books, attend seminars, hire a hypnotist and on and on.   I have done all that, which has given me a foundation of belief in hypnosis.

Enter paraliminal recordings.   (Note disclaimer:  I don’t sell them)

I have used paraliminals (as they are called) for years.  They are effective.  They work.  They should be a requirement for living.  They should be given out at birth along with the manual on life.  Find them at Learning Strategies.

That part of me that is skeptical resisted using them at first (a few weeks ago).  The other part of me that was bored, with music and the loud trash played over speakers at the health club, persisted.

Now I feel that I am going through a subtle mental, emotional and physical transformation.  Probably a spiritual transformation also, however, that may be a stretch.

Since I have most of the paraliminals, I have a range of choice of mental and emotional blocks that I can simultaneously overcome while strengthening my body.  Yes, double “wow” is right (my words).

On the circuit training, I am on autopilot for each exercise.  I have noticed that switching to the next machine or exercise requires some conscious behavior which momentarily snaps me back to the real world.

Here is the surprising (for me) discovery.  I can stay in a complete trance while running because there are no momentary interruptions.   I have only done runs on a treadmill for 20 to 30 minutes at a time with the paraliminals.   Interruptions (mental) while running outdoors would be more frequent, I imagine since I have yet to run outdoors in this manner.   I do intend to test this out on my next marathon and gauge performance results from it.  Imagine trancing out for 4 to 5 hours and resolving any and all my emotional blocks!   Now, I’m juiced! 

Conclusion.  There is none yet, however, I am open to discussion or visit SoloflexVideo.com

 Rocky Romero 

SoloflexVideo.com

MindGyms.com