Some people show up to the gym on a consistent basis but aren’t demanding enough out of themselves while they are there. It’s as if they are merely “punching a time clock” when they are in the gym. I do appreciate their commitment and consistency but to get the muscle gains they are after, they’ll have to generate more intensity during their workouts. You must realize, your training intensity dictates your results.
There is a huge difference between activity and intensity. Activity is merely showing up. That’s a start, but it’s not going to you the results they are truly after.
And if you’re taking selfies, sending texts, or posting to Instagram, you’re not training with intensity. Your mind and interests are not where they need to be. Don’t bring your phone to the gym.
Training Intensity
High intensity when training can be described as giving 100 percent of your mind, body, and soul to every repetition, every set, every exercise, and every workout. Whatever training routine or philosophy you decide to use, you must train with maximum intensity. Without enough intensity, your training efforts will produce results that are mediocre at best.
Intensity means pounding the weights so hard that every set throughout your entire workout ends in muscle failure. In other words, you have absolutely nothing left in reserve when the set is completed. You couldn’t do another rep if your life depended on it.
Mental and Physical
Intensity is just as much a mental task as it is a physical one. The mental intensity you generate in your workout has a direct effect on your physical training intensity. The mental side of the game usually takes a bit longer to develop. And it’s in constant refinement. You never stop developing your mental intensity.
Strategic Intensity
One simple strategy to use, and is an important Max-OT principle, always strive to make your current workout more intense than your previous workout. You should always aim to generate more intensity in every workout. You’ll be amazed at the new levels of training intensity you develop. What seems like high-intensity today will pale by comparison to your intensity three months from now.
