Voluntary Discomfort - Why should you do it?
In this video, why you should partake in voluntary discomfort and how it will help you take control of your body composition or any other aspect of your life. I’m going to use a couple of studies and an anecdotal experiment I ran last week by accident.
Mental Toughness, Self-Confidence, Self-belief, willpower
These things will increase, daily, thru voluntary discomfort.
By doing something you don’t like, something that makes you uncomfy….
You will be better suited… to lose fat because the discomfort of eating a little bit less calories than you should to maintain your body weight will be a bit easier.
You will be better suited… to build muscle because the discomfort of taking a set within 3-4 reps of actual muscle failue will be a bit easier.
You will be better suited… to start cooking more and eat out less because the discomfort of preparing and cleaning up while cooking will be a bit easier.
There are even studies showing that “mental training” can boost strength in the gym.
Although, the mental training in the studies was motivational self-talk & visualization, not the accidental experiment I ran last week.
So If I’m not new to you… you’ll know I love to walk for 30-60 mins daily for cardio and advocate for others who are sedentary to do the same.
But on monday july 27th after my lift I had a little motivation and instead of walking I wanted to run.
I tried and failed.
I ran .5 miles, walked for .2 and then ran for .3
I left the gym, got in my car and laughed at my self.
I used to be able to jog 6 miles straight at the start of the panarama how is this possible.
That night I decided I’m running everyday until I run a mile.
The next day I ran a mile but going 4 mph and I forgot to write down the time…
The day after that I ran it in 13 minutes. Now I had a time I could go after with this challenge.
I got 12 minutes the next day.
11 minutes and 36 seconds the next and 11 mins 15 secs on saturday.
Sunday I ran 2 miles non-stop but at 4 mph…
and on the 8th day I ran the mile in 10 mins 32 seconds.
And yesterday on day 9 I ran it in 10 minutes and 7 seconds.
Every run I’d sprint the last tenth of a mile and every day I’d be so stoked and proud of myself for finishing it.
and In the back of my mind I’m thinking bro… didn’t your middle school self do this in half the time…people younger than you can run it so much faster, people older than you can run it so much faster.
But It doesn’t really matter does it.
What matters is thinking I couldn’t run it faster than I did yesterday, and there’s no way I’ll run thru the cramps, burning sweat in my eyes, or the gasping for air. or Last night I slept like shit there’s no way i beat my time today. And each day I did run faster, I did continue to run thru the cramps and burning sweat in my eyes, sleeping like shit didn’t stop me from forcing myself to push thru it and THATS what makes voluntary discomfort so valuable to me. It’s the daily tangible proof to yourself that you can do hard uncomfy shit over and over and over again.
I know eventually, I’ll plateau with running so I’ll have to do something else or continue with slower progress.
This voluntary discomfort thing is a big principle in a philosophy I love called stoicism by the way. So if this gets you going let me know and also look up some more stoic principles.
here are some forms of voluntary discomfort you can partake in and I like these because they can be done daily and their positively rewarding w/o knowing what voluntary discomfort is.
running
cold showers
Lifting weights
Thank you for reading or watching!
I hope this has helped you and if it has…
Please let me know via email! tedgormanpt@gmail.com
Also, if you have any questions about what we talked about today…
Email me, I’d love to answer your questions and give you some advice 🤝
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Talk soon,
-Ted :)
