Have you ever felt like there’s something stopping you from being the fittest version of yourself? You make the time to work out, you try to eat well, you listen to all the good advice from trainers, but there’s still something getting in the way of you, and the ideal version of you. It seems like there’s some secret that the elite 1% of athletes seem to know, but what is it?
Chances are, that one little thing stopping you from being your best you is… you. More specifically, your mind. The mind is the strongest ‘muscle’ in your body, and it can either propel you forward or hold you back. You may think you have complete control over your mind, most of us do, but let’s take a look at how making a subtle shift could completely change the way you work out.
Myth: I don’t Care How I Look
Somewhere along the line, we have all realized that there are almost always people watching us, and then fallen prey to trying to look a certain way for those people. But the next common step that we take is to set up a false belief that we really don’t care how we look, that way other people can look at us, and judge us, but we can retain our self-confidence.
Are you practicing that false belief right now? Let’s look deeper into it.
Humans are animals, and our nature requires us to look, or act a certain way to be a part of society. Exercise culture is no different. When you walk into the gym, yoga studio, or anywhere that people are actively working on getting fit, most people have a certain look about them.
It could be the look of confidence you get when you know your body is in good shape. It could be an approachable look, when you’re surrounded by other people that have similar interests. It could also be the basic look of someone who takes care of their hygiene, and wears clothes that support their body’s natural beauty.
Myth: I don’t Care How Other People Look
Prejudice is hardwired into the human brain as a survival necessity. If a plant didn’t look the way you were expecting it, then it might be rotten, or even a similar looking but a poisonous plant that could kill you. At first glance, you want to know if an animal or other human is going to greet you, or attack you. If your brain weren’t able to deduce this in milliseconds, it could mean you make the wrong decision and end up dead.
That same primal instinct is still hard at work. If you walk into a room, what’s the first thing you notice? When you meet your new boss, or the new girl in your yoga class, how do you feel about them? Within the first few seconds of meeting someone, you instantly have a ‘gut reaction’ about that person, and your mind can fill in an entire backstory about them. But that doesn’t mean you’re right, it’s just something you unconsciously do.
In every interaction you have, other people are doing the same thing to you: they make a snap decision about who you are, and what your backstory is, based entirely on your look, and actions.
Are you wearing clothes that allow you to present the best version of yourself? Put on something that makes you feel really vibrant, and alive, so that you can harness the untapped potential of your own mind!
Myth: My Mind Is A Muscle I Can’t Exercise
Your mind is a muscle just like any other in your body. While it may not be a physical thing that needs to be constantly worked out, stretched, and fed the right foods, it works in the same way.
If you feed your mind doubt, ignore the things it’s telling you, or let it get lazy, then you will have a weak mind. You will skip workouts, and constantly make excuses and justifications for why you’re not in good shape.
But if you feed your mind excitement, and positivity, listen to and affirm what your mind is telling you
Professional athletes like Mr. Olympia’s Phil Heath might wear clothes that help to boost performance by 1%, because to him, that small gain may give him an edge over the competition.
Even if you’re not competing, the benefits you gain from looking your best will impact your mind so powerfully that it will make the difference between making your goals, and making excuses. And making it to class, making it to the studio, and making it to the gym is 100% better than making up a reason why you can’t be fit.
I’ve been wondering how cheaper short sleeves e.g. Nike compares to a luxury brand: Strongbody apparel.
There are several factors including durability, lightness, color, fabric etc that impact our performance at the gym.
The fabric of Strongbody apparel is made of Chitosante: It’s a biopolymer which is derived from crab and shrimp shells. It naturally fights odor. As a professional every now and then I end up going straight from the gym to business meetings. I’ve fantasized about a way to still look great and don’t have my sweat bother people around me. The fabric inhibits the growth of bacteria on my clothing and also pulls moisture away from my skin. As biohackers, we are of course excited for it’s non-toxic and environmentally friendly nature too.
Compression in Strongbody clothing can help you go longer and harder in workouts because of effective circulation.
Need some inspiration for workout clothes that will make you look and feel great? Check out an entire line of Strongbody apparel that will add that 1% for professional athletes, and net you that 100% if you’re having any challenges sticking to your workout schedule, or being as fit as you would like to be.