Mental Toughness - 3 Valuable Traits Mental Toughness Will Provide For Your Fitness Program!

I once heard Emilio Estevez (as Billy the Kid) in the movie "Young Guns" say to his posse that "Everyday you should test yourself. The day you stop testing yourself is the day you'll die!" You know I must say that I have to agree with the kid. However, I'll have to agree under different circumstances. Assuming you are not running a gun slinging posse you may not die, but you'll certainly not progress in anything unless you have some self-motivation and mental toughness. This is a test in and of itself. Here are 3 valuable traits your mental toughness will provide for you in your fitness and strength program.

1. Overcoming Pain: If you have ever had to fight and push your way through any difficult training session, practice, or competitive event then you know exactly how exhaustion can beat you down. The only thing that stands between the exhaustion beating you down and you not allowing it to beat you down is your mental fortitude. The ability to push through the pain will get you a victory in the end.

2. Overcoming Injury: I think we can all agree that none of us like dealing with injuries. Injuries can certainly be a setback for any strength and weight-loss program. The key to overcoming injuries has to do totally with your mental attitude and intrinsic motivation. If you have had major injuries like myself that require serious surgery and rehabilitation you can't let it stop you. You must accept it and learn how to push forward. This is an extremely valuable trait you gain from being mentally tough.

3. Overcoming Defeat: I used to tell myself that every defeat was simply motivation to achieve more victory. Lets face it, life is great when you are on top and winning. This doesn't reveal anything about you. During my time as an assistant at UGA I heard head coach Mark Richt say that "Adversity doesn't build one's character, it reveals it!" The point is that if you are winning then that is obviously wonderful, but what will you do when you face defeat? How will you handle it? This is where the element of your mental toughness comes in.

To learn more about Kettlebells, Fitness, and achieving Total Mind-Blowing Strength come and visit me at http://www.efandps.com To be one of my members and to receive more tips on INSANE BODY CONSTRUCTION please visit me at:http://www.efandps.com/www.efandps.com/Brandons_Members_Newsletter.html I'm Brandon Richey the Strength and Conditioning Pro!

Iron Will - An Insight Into the Power of Mental Toughness!

There is an intangible trait that I notice in all of my best athletes and clients that far outweighs pure talent. It isn't something that I can document on paper or critique on a video, but it is there. The amazing thing is that you can only see it when situations in training or competing become difficult. This trait to which I am referring is what I like to call "Iron Will," otherwise known as mental toughness!

Sports psychologist have studied this very phenomenon and determined that not everyone is blessed with this particular trait, and it generally separates the great ones from everyone else. "Iron Will" is basically the ability for an athlete, competitor, or hard-driven individual to push on harder and longer than the other guy regardless of the circumstances, the odds, or pain the individual may be experiencing. It is an unrelenting drive to do better and fight harder even in the most dire situations. I have seen this same trait in the most successful athletes and clients that I have had the pleasure of working with over the past 8 years. I will say that the people with "Iron Will" are few and far between. Most of the general population isn't blessed with this powerful trait. Most people don't have that kind of intrinsic motivation to keep pushing on and willing themselves to new heights. Its not a trait that can be taught or learned. I have spent my career trying to improve peoples' individual level of performance and fitness by teaching them, but this is one trait that I can't teach nor can anyone else.

"Iron Will" is certainly the most valuable trait you can have in your strength training and fitness program. If you have the desire it will be much easier for you to obtain your goals.

To learn more about Kettlebells, Fitness, and achieving Total Mind-Blowing Strength come and visit me at http://www.efandps.com To be one of my members and to receive more tips on INSANE BODY CONSTRUCTION please visit me at:http://www.efandps.com/www.efandps.com/Brandons_Members_Newsletter.html I'm Brandon Richey the Strength and Conditioning Pro!