Visual stimulus prior to heavy squats

[Mac Ward]

I could use a little visual stimulus in my current environment.

[Mark Rippetoe]

Are donations being accepted?

[Mac Ward]

That's Taylor Stallings. Gracious, humble, and exciting to watch. She competed at the RAW unity meet earlier this year.

[wes]

I train alone due to life circumstances. Nowadays I only look at the logs/videos of people who are significantly stronger than me. I've got myself pretty well brainwashed to believe that my squat will not feel heavy until its way beyond my current max. Its less than ideal but it works.

[Red Finn]

I might rather use the training motivational clip than porn. I think the dopamine spike would throw me off.

I think the most important thing is that whatever you use, you don't want it to distract you. To perform at your maximum in any athletic endeavor you are trying to use only your subconscious mind. You don't want to have to engage the conscious at all, or your flow will be interrupted.

Everything you're doing needs to be routine, on autopilot. You don't want to have to stop and think at all.

Nothing will get you ready for a PR set like a gym full of motherfuckers who are stronger than you.

I don't want to suggest this has no positive effect, but to me, if you're squatting 405 and you're like, "waaa, I need to be surrounded by stronger lifters in order to move forward," then you just ain't that motivated.

Intrinsically motivated people don't need anyone else to provide the carrot, or the stick.

[Mark Rippetoe]

They may not NEED it, Red, but there is no denying that it helps. I didn't NEED it, but I was a mediocre lifter, possibly because of this.

[Will Morris]

"waaa, I need to be surrounded by stronger lifters in order to move forward," then you just ain't that motivated.

Please point me to my post where I whined, or to a post where I said I "need to be surrounded by stronger lifters to move forward".

I too am a very below average lifter, but as it turns out, I am the strongest dude in the gym almost every day I train. I train alone in my garage, so the bar isn't set that high. But, when I venture down to WFAC from time to time, that is a prime opportunity to attempt a PR.

[Red Finn]

I probably should have added we were talking about slightly different things. You guys are talking about getting a boost for a PR set from being surrounded by strong guys.

I was talking about the day-to-day grind of becoming a great lifter, or a great anything. Someone whose life mission is to become a great lifter will have that fire burning pretty much all the time, so they'll be motivated to do everything - lifting, accessory work, diet, recovery, etc. - whether they're surrounded by other lifters or not. Hell, part of doing what it takes may just be to get your ass into a good training environment with other serious lifters.

I was just thinking of someone who isn't fully motivated but just feels that social pressure, or hormonal boost or whatever you'd like to call it, when they get under the bar in that environment. Which is fine, of course, but then I'd stand by my claim that they aren't trying to become world beaters.

I apologize if I've dragged the discussion off topic. TL;DR: I agree it has a positive effect, but for the truly motivated it is a supplement to their pre-existing inherent desire. It's like a phrase I heard years ago about the difference between training and being trained.

[Will Morris]

I probably should have added we were talking about slightly different things. You guys are talking about getting a boost for a PR set from being surrounded by strong guys.

I was talking about the day-to-day grind of becoming a great lifter, or a great anything. Someone whose life mission is to become a great lifter will have that fire burning pretty much all the time, so they'll be motivated to do everything - lifting, accessory work, diet, recovery, etc. - whether they're surrounded by other lifters or not. Hell, part of doing what it takes may just be to get your ass into a good training environment with other serious lifters.

I was just thinking of someone who isn't fully motivated but just feels that social pressure, or hormonal boost or whatever you'd like to call it, when they get under the bar in that environment. Which is fine, of course, but then I'd stand by my claim that they aren't trying to become world beaters.

I apologize if I've dragged the discussion off topic. TL;DR: I agree it has a positive effect, but for the truly motivated it is a supplement to their pre-existing inherent desire. It's like a phrase I heard years ago about the difference between training and being trained.

Ahhhh, I thought you were being a dick, but I was wrong. Yes, you are correct and I agree with what you said above. I am a pretty shitty lifter, but I would be far worse if I had to rely on other people to motivate me to get into the gym.

[Sean Herbison]

I think the most important thing is that whatever you use, you don't want it to distract you. To perform at your maximum in any athletic endeavor you are trying to use only your subconscious mind. You don't want to have to engage the conscious at all, or your flow will be interrupted.

I think I know what you mean, but I have to disagree with what you actually wrote. Yes, I get set-up by routine; bar in the same place on my back, feet the same width apart, etc, and so it's all the same each time. But when I'm coming up out of the hole, I'm sure not running on auto-pilot.

Again, I'm pretty sure I understand you, but I wouldn't really phrase it that way.