Athlete's
Performance, a facility in Phoenix, Arizona, has been training NFL prospects
since 2001, with many of the top overall picks working out of their weight
room. Nick Winkelman, Director of Training Systems and Education for AP, spoke
to MF about
the process of getting these guys ready for the league. Here are his five tips
to help get yourself motivated for your own workouts.
Use a
Line of Questioning
You'd think that every NFL prospect is intrinsically (or internally) motivated.
But that's just not the case. The guys at AP are talented, but even the best of
the best need to be pushed every now and then. Even though prospects know that
they're supposed to take a plunge in a cold tub and grab a post-workout shake
after sessions, some are reluctant. "Every single year," says
Winkelman, "we struggle with certain guys who don't want to get in the
pool." And often, the guys who skip the extra work are the guys out of the
NFL in 2-3 years.
Everyone
needs a little extrinsic (or external) motivation now and then. "When I
look at extrinsic motivation, it's trying to shove a concept in their head from
your viewpoint," says Winkelman. "That's not what I try to do. I try
to create a concept from their viewpoint." Winkelman will walk guys through
a specific line of questioning, using pointed statements to help them see how
choices can benefit them.
For
you, think about your physique goal. Then break it down into smaller goals,
like getting to the gym 3 days a week for a certain number of weeks. When you
can't find the drive on a particular day, ask yourself questions like,
"will skipping this workout help me or hurt me?" You know the answer
already, but having to admit it will help you refocus on the smaller goal you
need to achieve on your way to the larger goal.
Be Positive
The type of training the prospects do at AP is very different from on-field
football work. They're trained as sprinters to get faster times in tests that
they'll take at the combine. Some guys get bogged down by the logistics of the
program, but overall the staff at AP doesn't have to do too much to keep them
motivated. "I'm not a big fan of hooting and hollering," says
Winkelman. "I will let them know when they've done something great, but I
will not come down on them hard when they've done something wrong." That
positive reinforcement helps the athletes focus on things they can change,
rather than waste time and energy being upset.
In your
own training, reframe the way you think about success and failure. Instead of
beating yourself up about missing a lift, think about the things you've done
well like, at least, getting into the gym that night and build on those
things. Simply thinking in a different way will help you realize how effective
positive reinforcement can be.
Hold
Yourself Accountable
Winkelman mentioned former Alabama wide receiver Julio Jones as one of the most
athletically gifted players he's ever been around. In one test, the prospects
will run three sprints. "As we train them over the time, their best sprint
should be #1, #2 should be the same or 5% slower, #3 should be 5-10% slower, if
they're giving 100% effort," says Winkelman. That means it's normal to
expect your production to drop off, slightly, when you're giving maximum effort
for a certain amount of time. Jones didn't, because he's a rare athlete with
outstanding genetics.
When
you fall a little short, think about how you could have done something
different. If you don't know your own potential, you'll never reach it. You
won't even come close. But pushing yourself each and every day will help you
figure out how good you can be.
Work on
Your Work Ethic
For Winkelman, who has been with AP for five years, there's one single
characteristic that he sees in all the guys who train at his facility that go
on to have successful NFL careers. "Work ethic, 100%," he says.
"The ones who will work without being told, the ones who you have to tell
to stop doing extra work, they're going to be the ones that historically have
the best careers." That may seem cliché, but it's true.
Lots of
top prospects were better than their opponents in high school and college
because of their natural ability, or because they were just bigger or stronger
than the guys on the other team. But in the NFL, everyone is natural gifted.
It's the same for you at the gym. You might have good genetics, and maybe you
can still see your abs despite a few weekends of drive-thru and too many beers.
But it won't stay like that forever, and the way you can make sure you succeed
at staying fit is continuing to work hard in the gym, and in the kitchen.
Know
Your Goals
Plenty of MF guys love training, but we suspect
some of you guys like to go through the motions and call it a day. And that's
fine, if you don't really want to get results. If you want to lose weight,
focus on that. If you want to gain muscle, focus on that. You can do both, but
it's harder to make progress when you divide your attention that way.
For the
guys at AP, their nutrition is tailored to meet their needs. Those looking to
lose weight will get most of their calories in breakfast and lunch, and they
may not be supplementing with creatine. There's a specific percentage of carbs
to protein to fat that the guys eat at each meal. "They'll usually just
drop calories more than changing the percentages," says Winkelman. For
those looking to gain weight, safely, without adding a ton of body fat, they'll
take in more calories around their workouts.
For
you, decide what you want to achieve before you get to the gym and start
warming up, and make sure you're eating the right way at all your meals.
Otherwise, you'll have a hard time seeing changes in your body.
Source: mensfitness.com
