Gym rats are not considered ‘the sharpest knives in the drawer,’ but at least we can still appreciate the immense value of hitting the gym with a sharp mind and intensely focused mentality. After all, nothing derails a good workout quicker than a lack of focus. Mindset is extremely important when it comes to lifting weights in the gym.
Under conditions of low mental energy and high stress, the brain isn’t all that thrilled about undergoing a gruelling, challenging workout. No, the fatigued, stressed-out brain wants easy comforts and maybe a bag of salty chips.
Herein lies the underlying truth to the phrase “mind over matter”: a strong mind dominates the comfort-seeking cravings of a weak body. And so, as even some of us ‘gym bros’ know it’s important to get your mind right before tackling the body.
One of the ways to bolster a workout-ready mindset is to consider mental strength when choosing a supplement.
At the moment, I am taking the nootropic Alpha Brain. You do not have to take the same course, just endeavour to sharpen and strengthen the strongest muscle in your body, your mind.
In case you’re wondering, nootropics are a class of natural cognitive enhancers. Their purpose is to benefit the mind-body connection by first benefiting the mind.
Do they work? I believe so. However, like every other drug there are side effects. You should consult with your health practitioner before starting this or any other supplement.
What benefits the brain also benefits the body and vice versa. Typically, many of the supplements and substances classified as nootropic tend to act like this.
As such, some bodybuilders are not strictly focusing on supplements just designed for the body, such as:
Pre-Workout: supplements taken prior to exercise to quickly enhance muscular energy, endurance, strength, stamina, and circulation.
Intra-Workout: supplements taken during exercise to replenish energy reserves—e.g., carbohydrates for glycogen replenishment—and prolong exercise performance.
Post-Workout: supplements taken after exercise to kickstart anabolic muscle growth, repair, and recovery, and to combat exercise-related oxidative stress.
Maintenance: supplements taken on off-days to help optimise lean muscle growth and reduce muscle soreness.
While primarily building their bodies, thought also has to be placed on the mental factors such as motivation, intensity, focus, concentration, energy, endurance, stress management, and even cognitive relaxation during recovery.
