It’s the middle of your workout. You’re pushing harder than ever, and beginning to really feel the burn. Your heart is pounding, you’re gasping for breath. Then you hear that voice in your head.
I’m just so tired.
I think it’s time to bail.
We’ve all got a silent commentator. And many times, it’s negative. In psychology, this voice is known as “self-talk.” It can be the difference between athletic success and fitness failure, and sometimes, it proves tough to drown out.
Research is ongoing, but one thing is clear: Words have an effect on people’s confidence and performance. And there’s power in an encouraging voice.
The self-talk effect
Researchers who conducted a 10-week study on the impact of positive self-talk on athletes found that the test group’s overall performance improved, according to an article in Journal of Applied Sport Psychology.
In Greece, researchers at the University of Thessaly completed a statistical analysis of 32 studies on self-talk. Their conclusion, published in Perspectives on Psychological Science, was that positive self-talk enhances sports performance.
Still, it can be difficult to generate healthy self-talk on your own. But there’s good news: Outside voices of encouragement and guidance have a positive effect, too. A chapter devoted to self-talk in the Encyclopedia of Sport and Exercise Psychology points out that self-talk can be derived socially. Specifically, athletes often model their internal voice on their coaches’ feedback.
Instead of negative thoughts, hear a different voice in your head.
You got this.
The best workout buddy
Gold’s Gym aims to be that supportive and motivating voice. With GOLD’S AMP™, we created a digital personal training app to replace your inner critic with an encouraging fitness expert. And once you’ve evicted that negative inner voice, you can focus on reaching your goals.
GOLD’S AMP™ provides encouragement and advice from Gold’s Gym coaches for every rep, stride and stretch. Their goal is to maximize your gym time while coaching and motivating you through every workout. They’ve been through the workouts themselves and know exactly what you’re going through.
“We have a lot of real-life training experience that we’ve taken from the gym and put into this workout app,” says Lee Wratislaw, one of the GOLD’S AMP™ coaches. “As soon as you hit start, the coach is with you. You’ve got constant guidance throughout the whole workout.”
That guidance comes with lots of options. GOLD’S AMP™ users can choose from more than a dozen coaches, so it’s easy to find an expert who fits your needs. All of them, though, have one thing in common: They’re behind you every step of the way.
The variety doesn’t end there. GOLD’S AMP™ feature 12 workout categories, from stretching to running to rowing. The workouts come in a wide range of lengths and intensity levels. And, because music has been proven to enhance endurance, the app features thousands of mixes to choose from for endless workout variations.
But for anyone who has grappled with doubts while exercising, the most important sound may be the voice of a Gold’s Gym coach.
“There’s a lot of encouraging and motivating speech in this app,” Wratislaw says.
If you’re looking to get out of your head and find a fitness routine that works for you, download the GOLD’S AMP™ app through iTunes or Google Play. And for more information, go to goldsamp.com.
