In part 1 I talked about the importance of the environment and how it can affect what/ how much you eat. From a lifting standpoint, here a few random thoughts about making your environment conducive to efficient/effective training:
1- Remove distractions. Do your best to stay off your phone when you lift.
2-Add posters of lifters you admire, or quotes that have a specific meaning. It might be a little cliche, but when I’m squatting with Dimas in front of me I tent to push a little harder (Note: Ironmind sells some great posters to hang on your wall).
3-Plan ahead. When setting up a home gym, visualize and map out the specifications of your equipment. How will it fit in the space? Account for variables like the width of a barbell (about 7 feet) or the need for space in addition to “comfortably” put weights on the bar. Lifting in overly cramped quarters is a recipe for failure as you’ll dread being there.
4-Good lighting. Get some LED Daylight bulbs to make the space brighter. I lifted for a while with soft light and it always had the feel of lifting at 5am.
5-In a commercial gym, choose based on goals. If you plan on performing the barbell lifts, what kind of bars do they have? How many? How many platforms, racks, etc… to do the lifts in the event you’re there during rush hour? Will you need bumper plates? Chalk?
6- How close is it to home? If you can find a gym that supports your training style and is near your house you’ll be much more likely to go. Driving across town in rush hour to train after working all day is miserable.
7- Change gyms. If you always train in your garage, get out occasionally and go to a local commercial gym (preferably one with decent equipment). Simply being around other lifters can be a fun way to push yourself.
8-Get outside. If you can, bring your barbell outside and get a workout in. Bask in the sun. If you live somewhere cold like me, you need to take advantage of it every chance you get!
