Tbh, I only hear Dr. Mike and all his cues: "slow, slow as if another", "we're here for the pain - embrace it" & "hold me, I'm scared", the last one is for something different when I'm thinking of Dr. Mike.
all i hear is my own voice beckoning me to rip the tendons off my bones, followed by Dr. Mike saying something like "you fucking idiot"... so i dont...
aww poor thing.. i didn't history daddy struggled with that beta dysmporphia bull crap!! just learn to believe the lies you tell yourself. then start saying 'im sexy as fu**!!' now that's psyching up
Been moving a lot of heavy steel beams at work the past couple of days and we've been psyching up in the most effective way; Ronnie Coleman impressions
@@Just0wnedEsporthell yeah! Ain't nobody been smokin' crack though! Honestly, it really helps, but the mental fatigue after even a couple of days is real
Doesn’t apply to everyone, but I got diagnosed with MS last year. The medication is going great, and I have a pretty healthy relationship with it at this point. Still, the feeling of defiance to the disease is a powerful motivator at the end of a set. Showing myself that I’m still strong in spite of it is both a powerful motivator and immensely therapeutic for me.
Same. I will do myoreps on a belt squat or pendulum squat and my form won't visually breakdown, but the next day one leg might be more sore than the other. I don't do myoreps anymore, unless it's unilateral stuff.
Samee, now i take only half my sets to failure and the other half is 1RIR, but i absolutely love going to failure and beyond. Unfortunate that you gotta think about the fatigue as well that comes with training, not just the stimulus,
Watching the RP team coach and train has changed my own training. All the cues, "big chest", "control", especially "as if another" and so on has revolutionised my workouts. I've also started spotting and helping more people in my gym and I pretty much always get positive reactions to screaming "SLOW MOTHERFUCKER" at these strangers. Great stuff.
I love the conversation around reframing to embrace the pain. That is such a valuable skill to have in various areas of life especially whenever you want to learn a new skill. Being really bad at something usually pushes us away from it. But if you embrace the pain, internalizing that you need the failure and mistakes to get better at this thing, you will no longer be pushed but pulled in. But as Dr.mike says, this takes practice and is certainly not easy.
Yup. Pain tolerance is something you need to build up and its not a weakness to admit you need to work up to it. Its also not something you need to chase for the sake of it (aka brolifting) but a natural part of the process thats going to happen regardless. Its demotivating to a lot of people starting out to assume its a switch you can flip overnight when, inevitably, there are sessions where the pain wins.
Yeah but at the same time is the pain really that helpful? Because ive been able to push that far but all it does is make it so my body is broken for like 10-14 days. Is it really helpful at that point? Maybe its a difference between enhanced and natty training, because even with optimized recovery, thats not something that sounds useful unless i could at least hit the muscle twice a week, rather than once every 2 weeks.
Pain isn't what pushes you away, shame is. Harnessing shame as a fuel source is the far more valuable life skill, ask any first generation Asian college student.
@@MisterCynic18 I use pain as an umbrella term. Shame, embarrassment, anxiety, insecurity, those are all painful emotions. So I'd say pain as a whole is the right word.
@@taylorhillard4868 it's more pain in a metaphorical or mental sense then the physical pain. If an exercise hurts a ton, like in high rep range leg extensions, if you go to failure at let's say 15 reps, by rep 12 your brain will be begging you to stop because it's so painful. But it's those reps that count the most. But on some days it's just hard to push through that due to various factors (bad sleep, high stress, low mood etc.). If you learn the mentality that Dr. Mike has been talking about it will be easier to push through that pain because it's enjoyable in a weird way.
Used to listen heavy metal or hard rock to boost up my energy. However once I discovered on spoty "Viking workout music" it changed me in the gym. Instead of peaks and downs, now I'm 100% focused all the time, mind-muscle connection feels like never before. Don't know if it's low drums, slow pace or nordic chanting that I don't understand, but it really helped me. Perfect combination for gym music would be Dr. Mike chanting "control", "big stretch" ..... with addition of war drums.
I would say my motivation is “choice”, ever see in Matrix, when Agent Smith says, “why mister Anderson, why, why do you persist”, and Neo says “because I choose to”, I’ve reached that point where I just go to the gym and go hard, simply cuz I want to, my day is not complete without it, simple as that
Im prettymuch the same, but its not so much about feeling complete as much as just completely obsessed with getting a body i can stand to look at. I would filet my skin and flesh asunder with rusty tools and no analgesics, or crush my bones with a hammer if it meant i could grow into the body i need.
@taylorhillard4868 that is a supremely unhealthy way of looking at it, in my opinion. The journey really is the only reward, the goal posts for what you consider a good body is always moving. I wish you luck either way, bro.
This blew a hole in my mind, I’ve been seeing a therapist for 2 years and this has completely changed my mindset on using the gym for therapy. Sincerely thanks for this. Yes do more of this.
I’ve been training for over 35 years on and off , found your channel about 12 months ago, nearly 58 now & training the hypotrophy way now ( took a while to get used to the “lighter weights “) WOW … slow /controlled/ pause …I feel and have been told I look good . I’m a Nanna to two babies & loving training & your advise & comedy … top man 🥰
I'm already psyched up in the morning when I do my workout. Just knowing that my body is going to be awesome and my strength is going to be incredible motivates me.
I love the last segment of this video. Learning to embrace pain and discomfort as valuable sources of growth and improvement in life has been truly transformative for me. It’s awesome to just never have to flinch or wince when pain comes knocking. It’s awesome to be able to just shake its hand, pat it on the back, and go inside and have a beer together.
Genuinely one of the best videos ive seen in recent memory. theres so much corny stuff out there about meditating and all that, but you putting it into practical terms and relating it to training is fantastic. I think lots of people are looking for content like this, please keep making more videos like these!
I’m a big fan of listening to music that’s almost angelic. The second half of “infinite loop” by igorrr goes crazy. You stop fighting the weight and watch yourself lift them from the 3rd person
For me the last weeks it's been "The comet is coming" a techno band including a person abusing a saxophone .. Never knew how much I need that in my life ❤
Def needed this. Had a weird phenomenon occur when I actually did better on my last few sets listening to calming music instead of the usual phonk. Def gonna use these tips in regards to staying more relaxed on the way to the gym.
I love all this. However, as someone who's literally a 9 month beginner, I know psyching up isn't my path yet, and since I take meds for anxiety (which working out has greatly alleviated and I'm looking to quit the meds), I don't usually think that psyching up would be the best for me anyway. But, I can say that I've started down the path of desire... I'm still new, so I'm not super strong, but I lift on RP and scientific principle... I work hard to keep good form at decent weight, and make as many approaches to failure as I can. The pain can sear me to the bone, but it tells me I'm growing, not only in muscle, but ability. It's the dragon I chase now. Misery turns to joy when you know how to reframe it properly. I've been through a LOT of bad shit in my life, and it'd be easy to live in the negative frames of vengeance and doubt...I know, I'd done it most of my life, and it wasn't good for me. But I've got kids, and I don't want them seeing some raged out guy as their dad. I started lifting to get healthy enough to stick around for them, and to try and be a good example of how doing the hard shit in life can give you positive results. Framing it that way, the pain is my motivation, my reminder that I do what I do for them. Bettering myself helps to better them.
I've found that, despite me needing and wanting to get aggressive for lifts, it's entirely based on the individual. Just do what's best for you and your goals. Just working out at all puts you ahead of a loooot of people.
Great video. When I got into my later 30’s, I realized that steady is the way to go. I look almost the same before every single set of every single exercise these days. I still push very, very hard, and I still emphasize progressing, but I don’t use preworkout any more, and I only listen to my favorite music when I’m really tired from work or family stuff. It’s awesome.
I don’t psych up at all anymore. I just cannot recover from hype workouts now that I’m 30+ and natty. I just listen to podcasts while I lift. It helps keep things mellow.
Take this with a grain of salt, but it's true to my experience. I was your atypical, shy, nerdy, chubby, ugly kid. Afraid of people, afraid of myself, afraid of rejection, afraid of pain. 2 to 3 months ago or so, I ate an edible and it somehow tapped into this mental state as I was writing, journaling my experience. I understood that everything I did was to run away from being hurt from the people I talk to, the opportunities I take in life, how big I dream, even how I walk, run and move through space. It was really fucked up I even started crying hysterically and I felt my lungs subsiding, failing to breath in and out that I said NO MORE! I dropped down and did 14 push ups with the slowest tempo I could, my chest, shoulders, biceps, triceps started "shouting" in pain, everything in me was telling me to quit and right then and there I squeezed out one more rep and dropped so hard to the floor I even hurt myself and started laughing. Only one thing was going through my mind was "It's okay! It's okay! You've healed. You needed that!" It has transformed me. I've become more daring, more assertive, confident, masculine in a way. It's what motivated me to re-start training at the gym for about a month now. So I'm no longer afraid of pain, I push my sets pretty hard, I'm now trying kickboxing and it's been amazing. Now... Why's the warning at beginning of the comment? It's because it was on shrooms, not weed. I don't condone or condemn but Hey..! It exposed and healed a part of me. Perhaps there was another way to get me there but I'm grateful for the experience nonetheless.
Mushrooms can be a religious experience. Glad they helped you in a positive way, keep sharing your story! You may help someone else find their way too.
My experiences with psychedelics in the '90s had similar positive effects, but they are not for everyone and I have friends who went too deep. Be careful, and enjoy your new life my friend.
@@duncan6728do they actually give you breakthroughs, or do you just feel like that? From my experience with stoners, they are the only ones who think they have reached enlightenment, everyone else around them is just annoyed and nothing really changed in their lives, at least not for the better.
From now on, whenever Scott gets tired of the Doc's mad ramblings; the camera is about to die. Great video guys, very interesting topic. Seeyounexttimebyeeeeeeeee!
i love that ive been playing super relaxing music before the gym and then i usually dont put headphones in for my gym playlist until im halfway through the workout
The timing of this video is perfect, dr Mike you have been an enormous help for me,not just in my physical health but also my mental health. All your videos on recovery and all your videos in general have helped me grow better in the gym and in everyday life I feel more energetic and happier.
Sort of related. I've had trouble sticking to training for quite a few years, but watching your videos, regardless of the topic, always makes me hyped to train. At this point I just watch a RP video before my workout and it puts me in the correct place of mind to not skip and instead just do it. Finally starting to see progress.
I followed a lot of psych stuff you say in this video but its all intuitive. You've finally put it into words so it clicks and made a frame, shows you had years to let it sink in and settle properly. Props for opening my eyes Dr. Mike! but poor Scott 😂
As a relative noob to weight training ive only trained seriously this past 1 1/12 yrs this is something i never thought abt. Thank u for discussing this.
I'm the type eff shyt up from start to finish. I've always known the points you make here, your eloquent explanation is really encouraging for me to throw on my classical music on the way to the gym instead of my hype playlist. I'll do my best to save it for my hard sets for shoulders tomorrow but no promises 🤠
Here is a real challenge for you Doctor Mike. I had an aortic dissections in September last year resulting in emergency open heart surgery. I received a mechanical valve, and a triple bypass with a vein from my leg. In March this year it was discovered that I had an infection and had to have a redo surgery that was done in April, I had another dissection 3 days before that redo surgery but was able to be repaired via going through a vein in my groin, with no anesthesia due to the fact they didn't want it to effect my major surgery days away, so pain is no stranger for me. That said I love going to the gym and go 6 days a week for strictly weight lifting. I tend to use a lot of cable machines as I can't stand and workout easily. I have a lot of muscle loss on my right peck from the two open heart surgeries ( in the middle where my double zipper is too, but that's coming back so far so good). My question for you is what exercises can I do to build in the damaged\ lost muscle area on my right side. I do pec flys at various angles and I use a chest press machine where I can focus one side at a time and match weight and reps. It's hard for me to feel if it's working as I have a lot of nerve damage too and just can't feel it. But I feel there is more I can do to challenge my chest. I'm meticulous about my diet, I do take creatine at 5 grams a day, protein I'm around 250 a day, I weigh 190 at 6 foot 3. No sugar, low sodium, low fat intake. I suffer from a lot of overall fatigue as well and need to keep my heart rate under 125, but I can get good sets on without exceeding that probably due to the meds I take. I hit chest twice a week, arms twice a week, back twice a week, and legs twice a week. I mix in shoulders, abs and calves a few times a week as well. I'm getting good gains everywhere except my right pec.
That is truly amazing content! What Dr. Mike was referring to as "the great silence" is the so called "samadhi" in the buddist context. Huge respect for this deep discussion, and I really like how Dr. Mike has summarised the theraphy journey, and there is always some points to take home for everyone at various levels. I think this is one of the best video on youtube by far!
Before every set i imagine my son and nephews are in the gym watching me.Best motivation ever.no room for failure,if i fail they will laugh at me all day.
A couple thoughts from a fan of the channel and someone that’s messed with psychological arousal an inordinate amount in my 15yr training career: 1. 17:00 - Don’t misinterpret Mike as thinking you can’t listen to music. I recommend ramping your song choices into the workout. Try some pre-workout ballads, you can turn on some emotions outside of caveman/cavewoman effort. Celine Dion is great, or Movie Trailer music to start building some arousal bricks before you bust out the heavy metal coming into your top sets. 2. As far as psyching up mid-set, I think this is an advanced technique that Mike is suggesting, but if you want some help, use a song that will guide your arousal. If you know the set will take 45 seconds, you can queue up a song that hits its climax around 30 seconds, etc. I think in general, most people will have an easier time psyching up for their last set and not worrying about mid-set psyching, as well as avoiding anything above 20 sets. Even though 30 is effective, as Mike suggests it’s a big undertaking to push yourself on many many exercises to the same RIR as a set with less reps 3. As far as Mike arousal methods, a sub-category of his “Ability” method is BEING someone else. Method-act yourself as Jay Cutler or Dana Lyn Bailey, etc. do the reps as great as they would, because you are them. 100lb dumbbells will feel lighter than last session because you’re fucking THE Jay Cutler.
Amazing video. Would def want more of this. Just finished my year of training and feel like my mental game is holding me back on the big compounds. This was super helpful Dr. Mike.
Incredible coverage of a topic I've never seen covered. Experienced lifter and this made me realize I've been frying my nervous system by listening to hype music for the full gym sessions + ride over. Thank you, I'll use this to change my approach. ❤
I noticed that making an effort to get calm and collected right before a set helps me perform better. I noticed that psyching out just makes me fizzle out more often in the last few reps.
In my experience: Getting psyched for the gym, step 1: spend your entire life intensly hating yourself and your body. Step 2: give up on your life as it is. Step 3: go to the gym because you have no choice, it's the only way to change.
There's a third way to psych up. I imagine superhero savior moments... Hercules sacrificing himself and saving Meg from the underworld and then taking off on Pegasus to rescue Mt Olympus and Zues is shooting lighting bolts at monsters but misses and Hercules jerks the bolt from the stone like king Arthur and flicks it out and it becomes a sword, etc etc. Or The new power ranger lost their power, and one ranger stands defenseless against Lord Zed. The ranger vows good will never surrender to his kind. Zed says we will see about that and unleashes a bolt of lightning from his staff at the ranger. Just before it hits, we see the tiger Zord leap in front of the ranger and roar, swallowing the blast. Everyone looks on in confusion as lord Zed starts to panic in anger at the implication. Etc etc etc.
im 5 months in to lifting for first time ever in my life. im 35. went from 185 to 218, goal is 230. I do higher reps and go to failure almost every set except for squats for obvious reasons. I pretend im being punished and im breaking out of chains like the hulk. i think about how i have no choice and can only live to see another day if i go till the muscles cant do it any further. this is my penence for not working out earlier in my life. I want to become mamoa and the only way is through the pain. i am on a mission and i will not be stopped. wife is beside herself already, so much more sexytime lol.
First of all: Yes, I found this topic to be interesting and would enjoy more similar discussions. Secondly: I actually had most in common with the “Icarus Frame”, which I did not expect, but I typically workout alone and still for years and years the times when a big ass smile would break across my face was deep in the burn of any exercise (but especially quad burns!) However I do think a fairly major frame wasn’t addressed in this video (which is no surprise, Mike said himself that there is much much more to all this.) which is… kind of a “To The Rescue” frame. I don’t know if this fits into a negative or positive framework, but envisioning that someone that I care about was in trouble and their safety depended upon my effort was a HUMONGOUS well of arousal for me. I also had to stop using this type of arousal, not because it lost efficacy, but because I have now had some real life scenarios where people’s lives were endangered and the arousal is too high and too fatiguing to be used for something as inconsequential as a workout session. But I would be interested in hearing that frame discussed as well!
Definitely want more videos like this, deep diving into the psychology of pain and the acceptance of it, loving it, even. Reminds me of the philosophy of amor fati. Loving your fate. This set, these reps, are my fate. I GET to do this. I GET to feel this pain.
Honestly fantastic video. I've been going through a similar progression over the last few years and it's so interesting so seen in laid out so clearly.
I'm an anxious person and for me it's "my entire life has come down to this, this is akin to a life or death scenario and I must unify my entire being under this one effort forgetting everything else"
Love this content Dr. Mike! I have some knowledge of psychology and naturally I've progressed mentally from the revenge frame, to gaining confidence, to now working on embracing the pain in those last sets...watching Ronnie, Tom Platz and Dorian Yates a lot recently really started to give me a better understanding of how to do so. I'll admit, as a former athlete, in football they teach you to psyche up before the game or before the set. Not knowing it's detrimental to the mindset that would be effective for when fatigue sets in. It's something I've made my younger siblings and friends knowledgeable of and it's transformed their thinking when it comes to training. Big thumbs up on this content, more please! 🤞👏
Bless you my friend - thank you - I loved all of the versions and variations all for a similar goal and truly opening up the mind of pushing yourself in the gym - I would love more of this
I feel like we also have the empty mind motivational mindset: "There is no pain." "Pain is temporary, the PR lasts forever", "All life is pain, I choose this pain.", "All suffering shall pass."
You touched on it briefly, but the emotional catharsis can be the primary reason for psyching up. Especially if you've gone to the gym in a stressed state, it can be incredibly liberating to just lean into that and use it to push weight, even if it's maybe not technically the most efficient. Personally I have 2 fave ways to psyche up: First is to put on some intense music (trailer music is really good) and then pretend I'm in some scenario where the world is about to end unless I push this weight(usually I'll picture a meteor or something falling towards earth). Basically I convince myself on some level that if I don't push w/everything I've got then everyone is going to die and it's going to be my fault because I wasn't good enough. Second is just to dredge up some random childhoood trauma and REALLY lean into it hard. I mean push all the buttons and go WAY across the line with yourself. It sounds awful, but it really isn't if you do it correctly.
Tbh, I only hear Dr. Mike and all his cues: "slow, slow as if another", "we're here for the pain - embrace it" & "hold me, I'm scared", the last one is for something different when I'm thinking of Dr. Mike.
Same here with the first one, just about anything I'm doing all I ever hear slow slow as if another slow
"We're here to make it hard" always gets a pop from me 😂
@@marcpompette7431 tingles, bro. Tingles
all i hear is my own voice beckoning me to rip the tendons off my bones, followed by Dr. Mike saying something like "you fucking idiot"... so i dont...
"No one told you to rest motherfucker"
My go-to strategy for peak arousal is just to think of Dr. Mike. And oil. Lots of oil. Great stuff!
Plus, that arousal holds for longer than 20 seconds
@@myowndataNot for me, any tips?
@@sauceman2saucyboogaloo530 Think of Dr Mike's actual biological son, that should get you across the line as it were.
Yeah used motor oil.
Oil...you mean like synthol?
I do that in two simple steps:
Step 1: Look in the mirror
Step 2: Feel utterly disgusted
I usually go through the 5 stages of grief. It’s essential to time your workout during your anger phase and your sleep during the acceptance phase.
works every time
aww poor thing.. i didn't history daddy struggled with that beta dysmporphia bull crap!! just learn to believe the lies you tell yourself. then start saying 'im sexy as fu**!!' now that's psyching up
"Am I jacked enough to be worthy of love yet?" No? Instantly locked in.
@@Iron.Historian that's stupid i wrote a comment on how to conquer body dysmophia and RUclips deleted it... fuck being supportive ig
Been moving a lot of heavy steel beams at work the past couple of days and we've been psyching up in the most effective way; Ronnie Coleman impressions
Yeah buddy, light weight!
@@Just0wnedEsporthell yeah! Ain't nobody been smokin' crack though! Honestly, it really helps, but the mental fatigue after even a couple of days is real
YEAH BUDDY
WOOOOOOO
Doesn’t apply to everyone, but I got diagnosed with MS last year. The medication is going great, and I have a pretty healthy relationship with it at this point. Still, the feeling of defiance to the disease is a powerful motivator at the end of a set. Showing myself that I’m still strong in spite of it is both a powerful motivator and immensely therapeutic for me.
Glad to see your positivity Benjamin. I wish you success and longevity
My dad was diagnosed with MS 30 years ago, and still lifts 3x a week at 65. Keep up the work, and it'll keep you going much longer. You can do it.
Huh i feel ashamed.
I have had it for 3 years and feel tired for the gym all the time.
@@mahdikakoienejad5538 don't feel bad! Every situation is different.
Dr Mike "Arousatel" is how I get pumped for the gym
That head shape really gets me going
Fatigue is huge. I don't have a problem with working hard enough, I have a problem stopping just short of working harder than I can recover from.
Same. I will do myoreps on a belt squat or pendulum squat and my form won't visually breakdown, but the next day one leg might be more sore than the other. I don't do myoreps anymore, unless it's unilateral stuff.
Samee, now i take only half my sets to failure and the other half is 1RIR, but i absolutely love going to failure and beyond. Unfortunate that you gotta think about the fatigue as well that comes with training, not just the stimulus,
Watching the RP team coach and train has changed my own training. All the cues, "big chest", "control", especially "as if another" and so on has revolutionised my workouts.
I've also started spotting and helping more people in my gym and I pretty much always get positive reactions to screaming "SLOW MOTHERFUCKER" at these strangers. Great stuff.
Never clicked on something this quick. Maybe a Dr. mike Only fans announcement i would be quicker.... in more ways than one.
If you arent on Dr Mike's onlyfans already, you just aren't in the know. It is truly shocking and arousing content.
I love the conversation around reframing to embrace the pain. That is such a valuable skill to have in various areas of life especially whenever you want to learn a new skill. Being really bad at something usually pushes us away from it. But if you embrace the pain, internalizing that you need the failure and mistakes to get better at this thing, you will no longer be pushed but pulled in. But as Dr.mike says, this takes practice and is certainly not easy.
Yup. Pain tolerance is something you need to build up and its not a weakness to admit you need to work up to it. Its also not something you need to chase for the sake of it (aka brolifting) but a natural part of the process thats going to happen regardless. Its demotivating to a lot of people starting out to assume its a switch you can flip overnight when, inevitably, there are sessions where the pain wins.
Yeah but at the same time is the pain really that helpful? Because ive been able to push that far but all it does is make it so my body is broken for like 10-14 days. Is it really helpful at that point?
Maybe its a difference between enhanced and natty training, because even with optimized recovery, thats not something that sounds useful unless i could at least hit the muscle twice a week, rather than once every 2 weeks.
Pain isn't what pushes you away, shame is. Harnessing shame as a fuel source is the far more valuable life skill, ask any first generation Asian college student.
@@MisterCynic18 I use pain as an umbrella term. Shame, embarrassment, anxiety, insecurity, those are all painful emotions. So I'd say pain as a whole is the right word.
@@taylorhillard4868 it's more pain in a metaphorical or mental sense then the physical pain. If an exercise hurts a ton, like in high rep range leg extensions, if you go to failure at let's say 15 reps, by rep 12 your brain will be begging you to stop because it's so painful. But it's those reps that count the most. But on some days it's just hard to push through that due to various factors (bad sleep, high stress, low mood etc.). If you learn the mentality that Dr. Mike has been talking about it will be easier to push through that pain because it's enjoyable in a weird way.
Used to listen heavy metal or hard rock to boost up my energy. However once I discovered on spoty "Viking workout music" it changed me in the gym. Instead of peaks and downs, now I'm 100% focused all the time, mind-muscle connection feels like never before. Don't know if it's low drums, slow pace or nordic chanting that I don't understand, but it really helped me. Perfect combination for gym music would be Dr. Mike chanting "control", "big stretch" ..... with addition of war drums.
Drop the bands bro, ive been listening to valhalla calling trio and viking death march for far too long. I need my viking version of powerwolf
@@Delivrvs Danheim, Wardruna, Passarella Death Squad - Just like sleep, Heilung
I would say my motivation is “choice”, ever see in Matrix, when Agent Smith says, “why mister Anderson, why, why do you persist”, and Neo says “because I choose to”, I’ve reached that point where I just go to the gym and go hard, simply cuz I want to, my day is not complete without it, simple as that
Youll never succeed. Youre born and will die a LOOOSER
💯
Im prettymuch the same, but its not so much about feeling complete as much as just completely obsessed with getting a body i can stand to look at.
I would filet my skin and flesh asunder with rusty tools and no analgesics, or crush my bones with a hammer if it meant i could grow into the body i need.
@taylorhillard4868 that is a supremely unhealthy way of looking at it, in my opinion. The journey really is the only reward, the goal posts for what you consider a good body is always moving. I wish you luck either way, bro.
@@OzoneDepleter yeah but the journey sucks, lol
Keep cooking, Dr. Mike. Love these type of videos!
This really struck a chord with ne when dr was talking about pain and the ego. It is such a transformative experience. I nearly cried hearing his take
Easily the best video in recent years.
Would love to listen to you talk about "work meditation" whatever thet is
15:44 Based Scott IT'S JUST ONE OF THOSE DAYS
This blew a hole in my mind, I’ve been seeing a therapist for 2 years and this has completely changed my mindset on using the gym for therapy. Sincerely thanks for this. Yes do more of this.
I’ve been training for over 35 years on and off , found your channel about 12 months ago, nearly 58 now & training the hypotrophy way now ( took a while to get used to the “lighter weights “) WOW … slow /controlled/ pause …I feel and have been told I look good .
I’m a Nanna to two babies & loving training & your advise & comedy … top man 🥰
You always know what makes a great video!
I'm already psyched up in the morning when I do my workout. Just knowing that my body is going to be awesome and my strength is going to be incredible motivates me.
Same... Training is the highlight of my day, I look forward to it every time. 🤩
I love the last segment of this video. Learning to embrace pain and discomfort as valuable sources of growth and improvement in life has been truly transformative for me. It’s awesome to just never have to flinch or wince when pain comes knocking. It’s awesome to be able to just shake its hand, pat it on the back, and go inside and have a beer together.
Genuinely one of the best videos ive seen in recent memory. theres so much corny stuff out there about meditating and all that, but you putting it into practical terms and relating it to training is fantastic. I think lots of people are looking for content like this, please keep making more videos like these!
This might blow your mind, but there is an entire science dedicated to mental training
I just remember I love the gym and how I have nothing but the gym and boom easy hype.
I’m a big fan of listening to music that’s almost angelic. The second half of “infinite loop” by igorrr goes crazy. You stop fighting the weight and watch yourself lift them from the 3rd person
For me the last weeks it's been "The comet is coming" a techno band including a person abusing a saxophone .. Never knew how much I need that in my life ❤
A bit sax fires me up too
no way we gotta The Comet is Coming reference on a Dr Mike video before GTA 6
Def needed this. Had a weird phenomenon occur when I actually did better on my last few sets listening to calming music instead of the usual phonk.
Def gonna use these tips in regards to staying more relaxed on the way to the gym.
Listen to Meshuggah
LMAOOOOO..!!!!!! That Vegeta take was genius. 💥
I love all this. However, as someone who's literally a 9 month beginner, I know psyching up isn't my path yet, and since I take meds for anxiety (which working out has greatly alleviated and I'm looking to quit the meds), I don't usually think that psyching up would be the best for me anyway.
But, I can say that I've started down the path of desire... I'm still new, so I'm not super strong, but I lift on RP and scientific principle... I work hard to keep good form at decent weight, and make as many approaches to failure as I can. The pain can sear me to the bone, but it tells me I'm growing, not only in muscle, but ability. It's the dragon I chase now. Misery turns to joy when you know how to reframe it properly.
I've been through a LOT of bad shit in my life, and it'd be easy to live in the negative frames of vengeance and doubt...I know, I'd done it most of my life, and it wasn't good for me.
But I've got kids, and I don't want them seeing some raged out guy as their dad. I started lifting to get healthy enough to stick around for them, and to try and be a good example of how doing the hard shit in life can give you positive results. Framing it that way, the pain is my motivation, my reminder that I do what I do for them. Bettering myself helps to better them.
I've found that, despite me needing and wanting to get aggressive for lifts, it's entirely based on the individual. Just do what's best for you and your goals. Just working out at all puts you ahead of a loooot of people.
Didn’t he basically show that it’s not necessarily and even detrimental
You're a good dad. Proud of you!
Thank you for taking care of yourself for your kids.
@@ReizokoRyu thank you!
Dr.Mike is what gets my main muscle psyched up every day 😏😉
Not a bad Palp impression at 0:35 but I’m deducting a point for lack of hood.
Great video. When I got into my later 30’s, I realized that steady is the way to go. I look almost the same before every single set of every single exercise these days. I still push very, very hard, and I still emphasize progressing, but I don’t use preworkout any more, and I only listen to my favorite music when I’m really tired from work or family stuff. It’s awesome.
As a relative newbie in the gym, Dr. Mike, this was one of my favorite videos so far that I’ve listened to. Thank you for this!
The philosophy of embracing and loving pain is one of the main reasons I love leg day. Pain is readily available during those days
This is the coolest shit I've watched on this channel
More! This is great stuff as someone that has been trying to focus more on introspection.
Great video!
I don’t psych up at all anymore. I just cannot recover from hype workouts now that I’m 30+ and natty. I just listen to podcasts while I lift. It helps keep things mellow.
I do sometimes too - listen to podcasts 😂
OH NO HE'S 30+ FOLKS! After all That is the exact number of years after which your body is JUST NOT THE SAME ANYMORE KID 🤦
Generally as you age recovery becomes harder especially if you have went 101% for years
Just tren hard and eat clen bro
@@mandrillsass5687 I tried that but I’m just not cut out for that life my guy. lol juice ain’t worth the squeeze.
Take this with a grain of salt, but it's true to my experience.
I was your atypical, shy, nerdy, chubby, ugly kid. Afraid of people, afraid of myself, afraid of rejection, afraid of pain.
2 to 3 months ago or so, I ate an edible and it somehow tapped into this mental state as I was writing, journaling my experience. I understood that everything I did was to run away from being hurt from the people I talk to, the opportunities I take in life, how big I dream, even how I walk, run and move through space. It was really fucked up I even started crying hysterically and I felt my lungs subsiding, failing to breath in and out that I said NO MORE!
I dropped down and did 14 push ups with the slowest tempo I could, my chest, shoulders, biceps, triceps started "shouting" in pain, everything in me was telling me to quit and right then and there I squeezed out one more rep and dropped so hard to the floor I even hurt myself and started laughing.
Only one thing was going through my mind was "It's okay! It's okay! You've healed. You needed that!"
It has transformed me. I've become more daring, more assertive, confident, masculine in a way. It's what motivated me to re-start training at the gym for about a month now.
So I'm no longer afraid of pain, I push my sets pretty hard, I'm now trying kickboxing and it's been amazing.
Now... Why's the warning at beginning of the comment? It's because it was on shrooms, not weed. I don't condone or condemn but Hey..! It exposed and healed a part of me. Perhaps there was another way to get me there but I'm grateful for the experience nonetheless.
It's crazy how psychedelics can give you big, permanent mental breakthroughs like that. Happy for you king
Thank you for sharing. I had a similar experience myself
Mushrooms can be a religious experience. Glad they helped you in a positive way, keep sharing your story! You may help someone else find their way too.
My experiences with psychedelics in the '90s had similar positive effects, but they are not for everyone and I have friends who went too deep. Be careful, and enjoy your new life my friend.
@@duncan6728do they actually give you breakthroughs, or do you just feel like that? From my experience with stoners, they are the only ones who think they have reached enlightenment, everyone else around them is just annoyed and nothing really changed in their lives, at least not for the better.
From now on, whenever Scott gets tired of the Doc's mad ramblings; the camera is about to die.
Great video guys, very interesting topic. Seeyounexttimebyeeeeeeeee!
“It’s not how you stand by the chest fly machine, it’s how you use (if at all), the chest fly machine..”
i love that ive been playing super relaxing music before the gym and then i usually dont put headphones in for my gym playlist until im halfway through the workout
I've never taken a preworkout and I bench 45kg, I think thats evidence enough that all you need is a good mindset
Do you weight like 50 60 pounds
@@constablekohler😭
Troll on a roll
For reps? Fucking beast.
💀
Best video so far, really powerful analysis of mindset and self-development through training. Hugely motivating!
The timing of this video is perfect, dr Mike you have been an enormous help for me,not just in my physical health but also my mental health. All your videos on recovery and all your videos in general have helped me grow better in the gym and in everyday life I feel more energetic and happier.
Sort of related. I've had trouble sticking to training for quite a few years, but watching your videos, regardless of the topic, always makes me hyped to train. At this point I just watch a RP video before my workout and it puts me in the correct place of mind to not skip and instead just do it. Finally starting to see progress.
Your humour has got me sold, watch a few vids but that Chris Jones debate was golden, definitely a worth a sub!
I followed a lot of psych stuff you say in this video but its all intuitive. You've finally put it into words so it clicks and made a frame, shows you had years to let it sink in and settle properly. Props for opening my eyes Dr. Mike! but poor Scott 😂
yo, this went deep! I'm saving episode to watch this every so often. Thanks for sharing your thoughts
As a relative noob to weight training ive only trained seriously this past 1 1/12 yrs this is something i never thought abt. Thank u for discussing this.
Honestly watching your videos where you're pushing other people in the gym has helped me a lot with my self talk
MORE of this please, actually beautiful to hear you speak about ❤
I'm the type eff shyt up from start to finish. I've always known the points you make here, your eloquent explanation is really encouraging for me to throw on my classical music on the way to the gym instead of my hype playlist. I'll do my best to save it for my hard sets for shoulders tomorrow but no promises 🤠
Love this🔥
Definitely up my alley. One of the best clips you have ever uploaded. Very interesting takes here
Here is a real challenge for you Doctor Mike. I had an aortic dissections in September last year resulting in emergency open heart surgery. I received a mechanical valve, and a triple bypass with a vein from my leg. In March this year it was discovered that I had an infection and had to have a redo surgery that was done in April, I had another dissection 3 days before that redo surgery but was able to be repaired via going through a vein in my groin, with no anesthesia due to the fact they didn't want it to effect my major surgery days away, so pain is no stranger for me. That said I love going to the gym and go 6 days a week for strictly weight lifting. I tend to use a lot of cable machines as I can't stand and workout easily. I have a lot of muscle loss on my right peck from the two open heart surgeries ( in the middle where my double zipper is too, but that's coming back so far so good). My question for you is what exercises can I do to build in the damaged\ lost muscle area on my right side. I do pec flys at various angles and I use a chest press machine where I can focus one side at a time and match weight and reps. It's hard for me to feel if it's working as I have a lot of nerve damage too and just can't feel it. But I feel there is more I can do to challenge my chest. I'm meticulous about my diet, I do take creatine at 5 grams a day, protein I'm around 250 a day, I weigh 190 at 6 foot 3. No sugar, low sodium, low fat intake. I suffer from a lot of overall fatigue as well and need to keep my heart rate under 125, but I can get good sets on without exceeding that probably due to the meds I take. I hit chest twice a week, arms twice a week, back twice a week, and legs twice a week. I mix in shoulders, abs and calves a few times a week as well. I'm getting good gains everywhere except my right pec.
That is truly amazing content! What Dr. Mike was referring to as "the great silence" is the so called "samadhi" in the buddist context. Huge respect for this deep discussion, and I really like how Dr. Mike has summarised the theraphy journey, and there is always some points to take home for everyone at various levels. I think this is one of the best video on youtube by far!
Before every set i imagine my son and nephews are in the gym watching me.Best motivation ever.no room for failure,if i fail they will laugh at me all day.
Well technically speaking failure is an option and agood option for muscle growth when lifting😂
But i obviously get what you mean, thats good motivation man.
A couple thoughts from a fan of the channel and someone that’s messed with psychological arousal an inordinate amount in my 15yr training career:
1. 17:00 - Don’t misinterpret Mike as thinking you can’t listen to music. I recommend ramping your song choices into the workout. Try some pre-workout ballads, you can turn on some emotions outside of caveman/cavewoman effort. Celine Dion is great, or Movie Trailer music to start building some arousal bricks before you bust out the heavy metal coming into your top sets.
2. As far as psyching up mid-set, I think this is an advanced technique that Mike is suggesting, but if you want some help, use a song that will guide your arousal. If you know the set will take 45 seconds, you can queue up a song that hits its climax around 30 seconds, etc. I think in general, most people will have an easier time psyching up for their last set and not worrying about mid-set psyching, as well as avoiding anything above 20 sets. Even though 30 is effective, as Mike suggests it’s a big undertaking to push yourself on many many exercises to the same RIR as a set with less reps
3. As far as Mike arousal methods, a sub-category of his “Ability” method is BEING someone else. Method-act yourself as Jay Cutler or Dana Lyn Bailey, etc. do the reps as great as they would, because you are them. 100lb dumbbells will feel lighter than last session because you’re fucking THE Jay Cutler.
Dr. Mike has no enemies 31:06
Amazing video. Would def want more of this. Just finished my year of training and feel like my mental game is holding me back on the big compounds. This was super helpful Dr. Mike.
I actually really appreciate this sort of guided mentality part of training. Thanks for the video.
Incredible coverage of a topic I've never seen covered. Experienced lifter and this made me realize I've been frying my nervous system by listening to hype music for the full gym sessions + ride over. Thank you, I'll use this to change my approach. ❤
I noticed that making an effort to get calm and collected right before a set helps me perform better. I noticed that psyching out just makes me fizzle out more often in the last few reps.
Dr. Mike! Our true mentor of humor, fitness and Life Lessons!
In my experience: Getting psyched for the gym, step 1: spend your entire life intensly hating yourself and your body. Step 2: give up on your life as it is. Step 3: go to the gym because you have no choice, it's the only way to change.
There's a third way to psych up. I imagine superhero savior moments...
Hercules sacrificing himself and saving Meg from the underworld and then taking off on Pegasus to rescue Mt Olympus and Zues is shooting lighting bolts at monsters but misses and Hercules jerks the bolt from the stone like king Arthur and flicks it out and it becomes a sword, etc etc.
Or
The new power ranger lost their power, and one ranger stands defenseless against Lord Zed. The ranger vows good will never surrender to his kind. Zed says we will see about that and unleashes a bolt of lightning from his staff at the ranger. Just before it hits, we see the tiger Zord leap in front of the ranger and roar, swallowing the blast. Everyone looks on in confusion as lord Zed starts to panic in anger at the implication. Etc etc etc.
i love the information on the psychological aspect, great video man. the extra information was insightful
I'd appreciate more of this type of shit.
33:52 YES YES YES YES
I CAN WIN
I FEEL GREAT
I. CAN. DO. THIIIIIIIS!!!
im 5 months in to lifting for first time ever in my life. im 35. went from 185 to 218, goal is 230. I do higher reps and go to failure almost every set except for squats for obvious reasons. I pretend im being punished and im breaking out of chains like the hulk. i think about how i have no choice and can only live to see another day if i go till the muscles cant do it any further. this is my penence for not working out earlier in my life. I want to become mamoa and the only way is through the pain. i am on a mission and i will not be stopped. wife is beside herself already, so much more sexytime lol.
Surprisingly deep stuff... Felt like therapy
This is the hardest video I’ve ever had to watch. Being hyped for my entire gym session is half the fun of going to the gym for me.
I did not expect to receive a practicable zen koan during this Dr Mike. Thank you.
The gym is very good therapy.
It just makes you feel more capable and stronger and more in control of yourself.
Very good advice.
Watching this video got me psyched up already
This video started as a lifting video and ended as a satsang, more of that would be awesome Dr.Mike!
Dr. Mike, please, MORE of this content!!
ive accidentally been doing this correctly by timing songs in such a way that the drop happens around the end of the set and it works great
First of all: Yes, I found this topic to be interesting and would enjoy more similar discussions.
Secondly: I actually had most in common with the “Icarus Frame”, which I did not expect, but I typically workout alone and still for years and years the times when a big ass smile would break across my face was deep in the burn of any exercise (but especially quad burns!)
However I do think a fairly major frame wasn’t addressed in this video (which is no surprise, Mike said himself that there is much much more to all this.) which is… kind of a “To The Rescue” frame. I don’t know if this fits into a negative or positive framework, but envisioning that someone that I care about was in trouble and their safety depended upon my effort was a HUMONGOUS well of arousal for me.
I also had to stop using this type of arousal, not because it lost efficacy, but because I have now had some real life scenarios where people’s lives were endangered and the arousal is too high and too fatiguing to be used for something as inconsequential as a workout session.
But I would be interested in hearing that frame discussed as well!
Definitely want more videos like this, deep diving into the psychology of pain and the acceptance of it, loving it, even. Reminds me of the philosophy of amor fati. Loving your fate. This set, these reps, are my fate. I GET to do this. I GET to feel this pain.
I would watch more of this type of content; it’s some of the most important on the subject.
More of this please! This is excellent! I understand more about myself now!
Love it Doc! Keep em coming
Honestly fantastic video. I've been going through a similar progression over the last few years and it's so interesting so seen in laid out so clearly.
loved this video a lot, 2 years into training and i also love philosophy
53:32 Yes please!! More of these psychological deep dives. I enjoy watching every video on your Making Progress channel too
Thanks Mike. Really appreciate your authenticity. 🎉😂
I'm an anxious person and for me it's "my entire life has come down to this, this is akin to a life or death scenario and I must unify my entire being under this one effort forgetting everything else"
Love this content Dr. Mike! I have some knowledge of psychology and naturally I've progressed mentally from the revenge frame, to gaining confidence, to now working on embracing the pain in those last sets...watching Ronnie, Tom Platz and Dorian Yates a lot recently really started to give me a better understanding of how to do so. I'll admit, as a former athlete, in football they teach you to psyche up before the game or before the set. Not knowing it's detrimental to the mindset that would be effective for when fatigue sets in. It's something I've made my younger siblings and friends knowledgeable of and it's transformed their thinking when it comes to training. Big thumbs up on this content, more please! 🤞👏
Please more of the psychological deep dives, I love it!
Wow PLEASE do more of the psychological / deep topics. This was fantastic.
The first 30 seconds of bombtrack was the bomb!
Hell yeah love these types of videos
Bless you my friend - thank you - I loved all of the versions and variations all for a similar goal and truly opening up the mind of pushing yourself in the gym - I would love more of this
Thank you for explaining the 4 frames, It was very insightful and you are very funny as always .
The only psyching up I do before the gym is a 20 minute nap.
As someone who heads up fitness for Red Bull in the UK it's awesome to see Red Bull on Mikes thumbnail ♥️
I feel like we also have the empty mind motivational mindset: "There is no pain." "Pain is temporary, the PR lasts forever", "All life is pain, I choose this pain.", "All suffering shall pass."
Crazy that he made this video free
i dont go to the gym, but homeworkout with very little equipment...i dont need to get hyped up. it is on the schedule it gets done. that simple.
You touched on it briefly, but the emotional catharsis can be the primary reason for psyching up. Especially if you've gone to the gym in a stressed state, it can be incredibly liberating to just lean into that and use it to push weight, even if it's maybe not technically the most efficient.
Personally I have 2 fave ways to psyche up:
First is to put on some intense music (trailer music is really good) and then pretend I'm in some scenario where the world is about to end unless I push this weight(usually I'll picture a meteor or something falling towards earth). Basically I convince myself on some level that if I don't push w/everything I've got then everyone is going to die and it's going to be my fault because I wasn't good enough.
Second is just to dredge up some random childhoood trauma and REALLY lean into it hard. I mean push all the buttons and go WAY across the line with yourself. It sounds awful, but it really isn't if you do it correctly.