I work in a Gym.
Im not particularly a gym addict. I do love weight training a lot, but I'm much more interested in what is does for my brain and mobility. I want to be able to think clearly, have enough energy in the day without stimulants and move like a Lion!
Some days though, as we all experience, I just hate the idea of working out...
These days are the hardest. Im low in energy, irritable and generally not in the mood for extroversion.
THESE ARE THE DAYS YOU MUST WORKOUT.
On these days I do one of three things (generally);
#1 - Endurance (Run, Cycle, Cardio)
#2 - Weight training (light and high reps if im feeling low, heavy if im angry or frustrated)
# 3 - Circuit training (best overall I think.
So lets get into these briefly. #1 - So by going for a run you will instantly get rid of the shi**y thought you have been thinking of throughout the day and replace them with new thoughts (THIS IS WHERE YOU HAVE TO BE RESPONSIBLE), purposefully replace them with good, positive thoughts that serve you. Find out what music makes you happy, successful and sociable. What kind of media makes you depressed? Don't consume it! Who puts you down? Don't talk to them, or better yet, confront them. Cardio can be a god-sent for replacing old thoughts with new ones.
#2 - Weight training is great, it builds your body inside and out. I almost always feel 10x more confident after weight training. If I feel particularly low in energy I generally go for a high rep/low weight workout. Maybe 12x40kg of squats. The trick is to not fail. Your not doing great that day anyway, don't give yourself another excuse to feel worse. You want to work hard but WIN! If I need to get frustration and anger out then absolutely high weight/low reps. Heavy sets of deadlifts and bench press is perfect for this. Gets you pumped and you can shout out your frustration if you need. Its great!
#3 - Circuit training, probably the best of both worlds. I usually spend 10 mins on a cardio machine to warm up, stretch for 10/15 minutes (don't skip these if you want your body to work in 20 years) and then plan my session. I go hard on circuit training sessions, for example my Friday one was; 3x muscle ups, into 10x push ups, into 360 lunges with 10 kg both legs, into 15-30 second wall sit, into 10x bicycle kicks. All this with no rest between, after the set was complete I would rest for 30-60 seconds and repeat, I completed 6 sets in total and was DEAD. I did feel much happier after, and FULL of energy (compared to absolutely 0 energy from 5 hours sleep the previous night).
Exercise has a way of giving you energy. Don't think of it as using energy because it does the opposite, just feed your body with good, real food and drink tons of water. If you do these things on an off day and then WORKOUT you will definitely have 10x more energy then you did an hour ago.
Thanks,
James.