I have another Guest Blog post for you all today! This topic is something that has been on my mind a lot lately so I am happy that Marc will be sharing his thoughts with you about it

This post is written by Marc:

So it has been a couple weeks since I posted. Between shoveling out from snow storms, work, working out and just trying to relax, I haven’t had the time to sit down and write down some of my thoughts about the working out.

I have to admit, the last 2 weeks have not been all that easy for me to make time to work out. I have, just not as much as I would have liked, or as much as I had in the previous 3 weeks. One of the biggest take aways I had from my decreased gym time, was my slight decrease in muscle endurance and strength. To explain what I mean, let me give an example…

2 weeks ago while doing tricep extensions, I did 3 sets of 10/8/8 and increased the weight by 10 lbs each set. This week while doing the same exercise I did 3 sets of 10/6/6 and could not increase the weight for my last set at all.

While I know I was still getting in a good workout, I got slightly upset with my inability to lift the same as I had just 2 weeks before. Which lead me to this thought…I know I’m getting a good workout in, I DO NOT NEED TO WORRY ABOUT HOW MUCH WEIGHT I’M LIFTING…. In other words, Trainer Tip #12: Check your ego at the door.

It may sound stupid, but I’m about 95% certain most guys (and certainly some women) in the gym are worrying about what people (women and other men) are thinking about them while they are working out. A word of advice; worry about yourself only, and don’t try and impress other people.

No one knows your end goals, why you are lifting, or if you may be dealing with past or current injuries. Therefore, don’t let them change how you are working out.

Do you ever take a time off from lifting and see a noticeable difference in either reps or weight used? Maybe an increase in difficulty level to perform your usual reps?

Do you ever find yourself trying to lift more than you normally would because of outside influences around you?