Proper Expectations

Was talking to my first weightlifting coach, Stan Luttrell, this evening and was talking a little bit about my training and the difference in how I perform in morning sessions versus evening sessions. As I’ve gotten more consistent training in the morning my body has adapted to that time of day and Iactually perform better in the morning rather than the afternoons. I think I perform poorly in the afternoon simply because of a caloric deficit and low energy levels from activity all day long. He and I were talking about that struggle and trying to set expectations for each session as well as minimum weights that I have to be able to lift at any given point in time. He made the suggestion that I should set minimum weights for my heavy singles that are different depending on what time of day I lift. He told me to set my expectations differently based on the training session. It was a piece of advice I had not considered previously. Specifically, I had not considered it when it came down to what numbers I should expect of myself based on the time of day.
This is a good lesson for y’all to learn. Your expectations of your training session can lead to both enjoyment of the sport as well as disdain for training. If I walk into my afternoon session with the same expectation of performance as I have from my morning sessions, most days I will leave depressed and angry. I need to set my expectations appropriately based on how my body responds to stimulus during different times of the day. Setting appropriate expectations and minimums allows me to enjoy training and excel in each specific training session.
Do some experimentation. Figure out what time of day you are able to lift effectively and what time of day you are slower or more fatigued or not as crisp. Then set your expectations or prioritize your training accordingly. It’s important that we understand when our body functions at its best and set ourselves up for success in those situations. Proper expectations allow for mental longevity in a sport that often can create psychological burnout.