Do you shut your brain off when you exercise?

[Anonymous]

Your brain can be your own worst enemy when you're exercising sometimes. It'll tell you you're tired when you're not really, tell you you're too hot, etc.

Basically half of it will try to get you to stop while the other half tries to get you to go, go, go.

Thats how my brain works, at least.

So I try to shut it down and zone out on the music I'm listening to and the way my feet are moving when I'm running.

IF THIS ISN'T A PROBLEM FOR YOU CURRENTLY, can you recall when it WAS? And what you did THEN?

'Cause I know some y'all are dedicated fitness buffs so you're probably pretty pro at not letting your brain ruin a workout for you.

[meatballs21]

It depends on what I'm doing.

If I am out on my bike: No, I am paying attention to where I'm going and what's happening around me.
If I am hiking: Yes, to an extent, I will be talking to whoever I'm hiking with.
If I am doing weights: No, I am paying attention to my form and what I'm doing.
If I am on a stationary cardio machine (elliptical, bike, crossramp): Yes, to an extent. I have gotten caught up in watching a movie or TV show. I once tried bringing my 3DS. An hour on the bike just flew by, but it was not that enjoyable because you sweat when you work out, and it was hard to keep a grip on the system and not drip sweat on it!

[Azgeda]

I just REALLY get into my music when I exercise. Like literally living every single lyric. Just let the adrenaline take you.
\m/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ig-79E6VD1c

[justbanANNAz]

nah, mine keeps me going.

the reason why, is because i think to myself a lot. so while I'm working out, yeah ill listen to music, but ill think of everything. what i ate, what i need to do, what my next goal will be, how i want to look in a few months, things that make me happy, things that stress me out, etc.

if i feel tired, i know it's just a body thing. I'm usually pushing myself by saying things like "come on" when i feel like giving up. some guy at the gym heard me once and said 'good spirit' lol.

[karahiri]

i try to shut my brain off... my trainer is super chatty so sometimes listening to him helps me forget all the pain i'm feeling. when i'm running, thinking about a problem i have generally helps me just run without focusing on the distance. of course paired with some badass music :)

[BertMacklinFBI]

nope my brain is always on. its cray.

[Xfitchick]

Use options that override your brain. Train with a companion (s) so you don't want to quit. Make it hard for both of you. If you go running, take a loop that forces you to end it because there are no shortcuts or returns. If you train alone: music helps too for me.

[Smmyskittles]

Only when I do cardio outside. I shut down and completely focused on keeping my body moving.

Strength days, it's about my form and speed; getting maximum effort out of my muscles. Completely focus on what I'm doing while I'm doing it.

Cardio days inside the gym are when I take the time to contemplate things and think them over.

[brewersfan01]

I can't listen to music anymore. I used to zone out and focas on the songs and it would ruin my workout. Id be dancin in between sets, takin too long of rest. etc. Even during the lifts, I would focas on the beat drop or somin, and not be focasing on my squeeze and I felt it was negativly affecting my workouts.

[chintita]

i just focus on my body and atmostphere, what muscles are tensing and my form. for running, i focus on pushing myself to prolong the good feeling of exhausting myself.

[Anonymous]

Not anymore.. When that happens to me, usually because I'm not enjoying it. I'm tired and just want the time to hurry it up.. I got over that by listening to music I really enjoy and focus on breathing. When I get tired, just take a rest and drink lots of water. Let it all recover. Then the time goes by just fine.

[Fathoms77]

Oh yeah, brain's off. I'm only focusing on what I'm doing. This is especially important when training; if you let your mind wander, you'll inevitably fall off the pace. :)

[akadatank44]

Im at mh best creatively when i workout. I actually don't listen to music when I workout. I know what I gotta do and just do it. I know I have to push myself. I've run into the problem when I'm injuried and just recovered. I second guess myself.

[Katie2244]

I don't have that option! I fence to keep fit and it's very demanding both physically and mentally. You have to have mind and body working together to win :)

[AhGojira]

I just listen to fast paced music and push myself when running. If I'm lifting weights I can be doing pretty much anything and be thinking about anything...

[Mustachekitteh]

Most of the time I try to make sure I don't think about other things. That ends up distracting me and I start to mess up and get confused.

[Yumix]

yeah I try to distract myself by thinking at other stuff and let my imagination go wild. If I don't think all the time about how exhausting and tiring it is then it feels less bad and the time passes more quickly

[rgb008]

No. I do the best thinking when I'm running tbh lol
Come up with a lot of creative ideas for movies and projects too while running

[Miezko]

No, that's dangerous. You could hurt yourself if you aren't focusing on what you're doing. And how do you expect to do it well if you aren't concentrating?

[alor1an]

Yes, because it keeps me moving. Focusing on music always helps.

[ConsultantIsBack]

I like to feel my muscles, feel the tension, get my form right for that sweet spot to rape my muscle fibers

[CelticElven]

I like to go outside for my walk and listen to warrior celtic music when I am exercising. Makes me feel like a bad ass. I use it as motivation. 😂

[Decentguy]

it happens to me sometimes, not very often but it happened to me sometimes. when that happens to me i can't lift heavy weights and i can't concentrate

[Zanecyber]

I can't think when I'm working out, sometimes I can't hear my music when I'm in my zone.

[SweetHomicidalQueen]

I shut myself off when I exercise.