When you are doing hard things like a push-up or plank, what signs indicate to you when you’re ‘done’? Are you listening to your mind or your body when you stop? Things are always going to feel hard, and when they do, your mind will want to give up as quickly as it can! Your mind gives up before your body, which is why you should try to challenge yourself to do one more rep, even when you think you can’t.

I am constantly reminded of this when I plank. I generally plank for 1 minute (having built up to that overtime), but I’ve learned to listen to what my body can do. Any time I plank, it’s still hard, and I want to quit. I start getting that idea, the thought that I’ve done enough, that my arms are on fire, my abs in pain. That I can’t do it anymore. That is my mind telling me to quit, but more often than not I’m able to get in more than a few spare seconds when I push myself.

Exercise is always uncomfortable and hard and a challenge for anyone, so of course your mind wants you to stop! It’s in those few extra seconds in your plank, or after that one more rep even though your mind is telling you to quit, that you will find what your body is capable of.

Next time you are doing hard things, make sure you push yourself! Just one more rep when you think you can’t, another few seconds on that plank when you think you might drop. What’s the worst that could happen?

During the month of June, we are supporting the American Cancer Society and National Cancer Survivor Month by pushing ourselves to do 50 squats a day. Push yourself to do another rep! I do 51-52 a day because I always want to achieve more than I set out to. Always add one more rep!