Shape_Malaysia__June_2017

Mind Before Body
Jen Widerstrom/How to
talk—and curse —your
way through any routine.
Every workout is an emotional
journey. The highs can make you
feel you could hoist a car over
your head; the lows, well, you just
want to quit on the spot. And just
because I’m a fitness pro, that
doesn’t mean I’m exempt from this
seesaw. To show you what I mean,
I want to share exactly what went
through my head one recent
morning as I got to the gym for one
of my favorite classes, a mix of cardio
intervals and strength moves.
My hope is that through this
example you’ll see that we’re all
playing the same mental games to
push through, because that camaraderie
is reassuring. Plus, maybe
some of my mental chatter can
help you crush your next workout.
9:55/Ugh. I don’t
feel like moving.
Today it’s just going
to be too hard to get
this body fired up.
9:58/OK,
bailing’s not
worth it—
it’ll make me
cranky.
Focus on the
aftermath.
You’ll feel
so good—
too good
to pass up.
10:11/
What can my body
handle today? I did
so well yesterday, but
can I do that again?
I think I’m going to be
slow today.
10:16/Forget it.
I’ll just pretend I came
to buy a protein bar
and I’ll skip and go
tomorrow.
10:17/Crap.
Tomorrow is too busy.
I have to do this now.
One day off has a way
of turning into four….
OK, seriously—get
out of your head,
Jen. Stop being emo
about it. Just go.
10:20/
Oh, here’s what
we’re doing today!
I see running. OK.
Kettlebells, fine.
Jump rope, I have
the wrong hair tie.
Annnnnnnd dead
lifts, thank god! I love
a barbell! Oh, the hot
guy is here. Bonus!
10:28/Blech.
Why do I get so
nervous about how
I’ll perform? I feel
a little stupid for
worrying about
people thinking I’m
weak.
The clock
is running.
GO!
Man, there is some
bad form in this room.
10:36/I’m
cruising on the deads!
Tight grip, lean back.
Wait, what pants am
I wearing? Hot guy is
on my six o’clock, so
my stuff better not be
see-through.
10:41/Look how
good you’re doing!
Much better than
you gave yourself
credit for today. Pay
attention to that.
10:43/Getting
to well past halfway
now. Don’t slack off.
Be like you teach.
Train like you teach.
10:45/
Argh. Too many
mistakes on my
double-unders.
Go, go, go, damn.
I tripped. Shake the
arms and go. Stop
wasting time. Yes!
Forty in a row! Don’t
overcelebrate, stay
steady. Forty-nine,
fif—S**T . Tripped
again. Ha. I always
get too excited at 50.
10:46/
Focus. Calm. Clear.
Breathe. Hell,
yes. Counting just
to 20 over and
over got me past
80 double-unders.
Best round so far!
Jen Widerstrom, your
monthly get-fit motivator,
is a Shape advisory
board member, a trainer
(undefeated!) on NBC’s
The Biggest Loser, the
face of women’s fitness
for Reebok, and the
author of Diet Right for
Your Personality Type.
10:47/
I want to end
this thing
as strong as
I started it.
I will end
this thing as
strong as
I started it.
10:48/Hey, that
girl’s form got better!
Go, girl! OK, eyes off
everyone else. Eyes
off the ground. Jen,
proud posture. Come
on. Stay in your grind.
Calm. Clear.
Breathe.
10:49/I feel
like people are
watching me.
Who cares? Do
you, Jen? Focus on
improvement. Not
judgment.
10:50/I’m
proud. Happy. I feel
like a freaking Power
Ranger. Like a ninja.
10:51/I should
get mental more
often. This feels
freaking great.
SHAPE.COM.MY JUNE 2017 23