The Mental Battle of Working Out: a coach’s thought

Athlete turned to coach/still athlete, The hardest part is getting yourself to show up, push through, and stay consistent, even on the days you don’t feel like it. Every athlete, no matter how skilled, faces moments of doubt, fatigue, or hesitation. But once you commit and start moving, that mental resistance fades, and suddenly, you’re in the zone. That’s why warming up your mind before training is just as important as warming up your muscles. If you can win the mental battle before a workout begins, you’ll train harder, perform better, and build habits that make you unstoppable.

“Half of working out is convincing yourself to do it. The other half is regretting you started. But hey, at least you did it!”

Of course, I know that once the workout starts, there’s a moment when you might regret it—especially when the reps start burning. But that’s the point. Growth happens when you push past that discomfort, when you keep going despite the urge to stop. The key is to recognize that your mind will always try to negotiate with you, but as your coach, I’ll remind you that you’re stronger than your excuses. So next time you feel like skipping the mental warm-up or dreading a tough session, just remember: you’ll never regret showing up, but you will regret letting doubt win.

Written by:
Kirill Vaks
BA, CSCS

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Voorhees Flyers Training center.

The Hollydell ice arena, in the main building.