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In today’s fast-paced society we’re bombarded by a thousand different things at once. As such, it’s often difficult to get anything done. And the same goes for your workouts.
I’ll explain what I mean in just a second but let me first clarify why focus – not multi-tasking – needs to be your modus operandi if you want to reach your fitness goals.
For some reason, we’ve been told that multi-tasking is good and that if we can juggle several “plates” at once, then we’ll get more done. But the reality is that mulit-tasking can take a toll on your brain – and your results.
In a study of 14 participants who underwent fMRI, researchers at Vanderbilt University found that when people try to juggle two tasks at once, a bottleneck occurs in information processing. The posterior lateral prefrontal cortex, a part of the brain that is involved in decision making, delayed one task until the other was complete.
Another study, by researchers at the University of California, Los Angeles, involved 14 participants (mean age 26) who were asked to learn a task under two conditions. They learned one task without any distractions. Then they learned another task while listening to, and trying to count, a series of beeps. Not surprisingly, their ability to recall how to do the task later on was much better when they learned it without distraction.
Preliminary research also suggests that maintaining focus, on the other hand, might help build brain tissue. Researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital conducted MRI studies of people who regularly practice meditation, and found that compared with controls, they had more gray matter (brain cells) in areas associated with attention and sensory processing.
Okay, so what does all this have to do with you achieving your health and fitness goals?
Well, everything really!
Let me give you an example of a typical person working out in the gym. They show up with no plan. Wander around trying to improvise their workout as they go. Become distracted by talking to other people, reading a magazine, or watching TV – remember we’re still in the gym here.
The result – a sub-par workout. And if this continues….sub-par results!
You see, when most people go workout they don’t have a specific workout that they’re going to follow. So they do a little bit of everything. Their workout is not focused – it is scattered.
As a result, they don’t achieve much other than being able to brag to their friends that they “went to the gym”.
I don’t know about you…
But for me, results speak louder than words any day of the week.
And, in order to get results, you need to be focused – not only on your ultimate goal – but also on the process that will take you there.
Focus is one of the qualities that will help you achieve tremendous health and fitness success.
In fact, it’s one of the greatest qualities of the world’s top fitness pros.
If it works for them, it can work for you too!
To help you get started (if you’re a little scattered)…
Here a few practical tips for fostering focus, even in distracting environments such as the gym or your home (if that’s where you workout):
1. Turn off the cell phone or e-mail
2. Review your goals before working out.
3. Write down your workout plan before you even begin to workout.
4. Visualize yourself going through your workout successfully.
5. Stay in the moment. Don’t allow your mind to drift about what you need to do after your workouts. Just enjoy the process.
Want more great tips for building the body of your dreams? Why not learn from the pros themselves?











15 Comments
Thanks to your Fitter U Fitness program, Focus at the gym is not a problem now. Gracias Yuri.
thanks for the reminder. It’s true that when one focuses on a specific activity one tends to get more out of it. Continue to give us those wonderful insights.
Hmm… I wonder why my results are often much less then other people in the gym, while I really live for bodybuilding.
In my honest opinion I’m doing almost evrything perfectly, the eating, working out, sleeping good, having focus,…
Could it be genetics or just something with a low hormone levels (like testosterone, etc.)?
Keep your head up Miguel and don’t compare yourself to others. Everyone responds differently to exercise. Just keep doing what you’re doing and you’ll reach your goals.
I disagree and agree. I disagree with just keep doing what you’re doing and you’ll reach your goals. It reminds me of
an Einstein quote, “Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.”
It’s time to focus. Really focus.
Step 1: Make a decision. An agreement. Write it down in blood if you have to. Everything you see around you is the result of a decision. An idea acted upon.
Step 2: Get selfish. Not conceded. Focus on you. Keep a written diary. Surround yourself with like minded people who are good listeners. Turn yourself into a living lab rat. Not with pills and chemicals. With nutrition.
And remember… like Yuri said, we are all energy. What types of energy are you exposing yourself to? Physically, spiritually, mentally.
Not finally but in closing, look into the energy of your water.
http://www.alivewater.net/water/depth.htm
Thanks again For putting back in track.
Hello Yuri,
Thank you for all your emails. They are very informative and a great help. I have a friend who suffers from kidney stones every couple of years. Could this be nutrition related?
Could be. Usually most diseases are. Have it checked by a physician.
yuri you are simply THE MAN…
Thanks Hussain.
Thanks Yuri this is great advice. I’ve found that I can apply all your helpful tips and advice to every aspect of my life and not just to working out in the gym and eating healthy. In general, I can apply it to any area of my life where I simply need to get stuff done (GSD) and accomplish specific goals.
I want to win a free copy and the reason why it will be good to me is the fact of my friend and coach say it works for me!
Monica
Hello,
my name is Sgt. Perkins. I am in the Army and currently in charge of trying to physically rehab more than 70 soldiers who have been injured in previous deployments. Some who can only do lowerbody workouts and some that can only do upperbody workouts. These workouts are little to no weight so bodyweight is ideal. The third group are those who are almost rehabed complete and are just about ready to return to duty but still need some fullbody bodyweight workouts. If your able to help me develope a few upper and lower bodyworkout for the upper and lower body individual that would be great.
I am acually trying to develope a monthly schedual for the upper and lower body individual with cardio for all three groups. I am new to this and I have been searching the web looking for ideals. Thank you for any advice and direction. I am asking you because out of what I have seen so far you have a better variety of workouts. I also use the 30 sec. on and off workouts prior to seeing you on You Tube.
Sgt. Perkins
Hi Yuri, you are a fountain of knowledge and inspiration! Thanks for that! You talk about eating garlic and aloe vera, they both kill bacteria. What about the good bacteria in your gut? I used to eat quite a lot of garlic but eased off because it was making me bloated. I just started on aloe vera recently so looking forward to the results.
Best wishes,
Lidia