Mental foreplay

Run with me on this one. Rewind your thoughts to your bench. Be it in your garage, in your weight room, in your gym, wherever. Once you're done setting it all up; once you've loaded the weights, once you've done your warm-ups, you get into position.

Lying back, inhaling deep breathes, ribcage heaving to your tattoo, mentally readying yourself. Perhaps music in your head. You reach out and get a good grip.

Now, personally, the grip is the most important stage of all. Once i've grabbed the bar, there's no turning back. It's not unlike a commitment to the weights i've decided on. I feel like a father who's promised his kids a trip to Disneyland and here i am keeping my word.

It's not ego at play. My formula is a fucked up concoction of pride, belief and self-awareness.

Coursing through my head at this point would be a variety of ingredients, among others, but not limited to:
10kg Frustrations,
40kg Ambitions,
5kg Pride (knowing the inability of most mortals to perform at this level),
60kg Love (for the game),
20kg Self motivation,
Misc. Add whatever the fuck spices you need, eg. mint leaves, supplements (optional, not necessary)

Stuff everything in the shaker you call your brain, mix well and move weights. Rep after rep.

Result: The right frame of mind to move the piece of shit trying it's best to crush me. Consume on a constant timetable, with appropriate diet and lifestyle.

What runs through your mind the split second before you lift?

-Trainwreck