The state of the central nervous system has a powerful influence on athletic ability. If the nervous system is soothed, people can find themselves feeling relaxed, calm but flat on energy. If a person's nervous system is stimulated they become aroused, more alert, their reflexes increase and their energy is boosted.
In the famous real-life scenario of where a mum lifts a car off her child, this also can relate to the CNS. She perceives the biggest threat possible, so this will cause the biggest release of adrenaline/stimulation possible. As a result she performs an incredible feat of strength that she otherwise wouldn't be able to do.
In the famous real-life scenario of where a mum lifts a car off her child, this also can relate to the CNS. She perceives the biggest threat possible, so this will cause the biggest release of adrenaline/stimulation possible. As a result she performs an incredible feat of strength that she otherwise wouldn't be able to do.
Thus, for a workout that consists of maximum intensity and bigger lifts, a stimulated nervous system is optimal. There are several ways to stimulate the nervous system before a workout. Caffeine is a powerful stimulant, that will produce an aroused nervous system. A standard cup of coffee contains, 200mg of caffeine. Another source of caffeine is dark chocolate.
Not only does dark chocolate contain plenty of antioxidants and flavanoids to help maintain optimal health, but it also contains a high level of cocoa (contrary to milk chocolate). With caffeine naturally present in cocoa, the higher cocoa % of the dark chocolate, the better for stimulating the nervous system.
Loud music can help the body produce adrenaline, which in turn can cause the nervous system to be be revved up. The volume of this music should be high and the genre should be fast-paced to produce maximum adrenaline levels. Time to get your Guns N' Roses album out!
When ingesting caffeine prior to your workout, be sure to time this close to your session so you can take advantage of the initial burst of energy and arousal. If ingested too soon, tiredness and fatigue will set in, which are all common symptoms after the initial boost that caffeine gives.
Consuming caffeine 5-10 minutes before your workout, then continuing consumption throughout your workout will prevent this crash from occurring.
Milk
Milk contains the amino-acid called tryptophan which soothes the nervous system, consequently making you tired and lethargic. Turkey is also rich in tryptophan, which explains the post-christmas dinner slump many experience!
Taking a bath
The heat from the water when having a bath will also soothe your mind, perfect for unwinding at the end of the day, promoting relaxing sleep. However, not ideal before a workout when a stimulated mind is advantageous.
Grapes
Grapes are beneficial in one sense, having one of the highest fructose sugar counts of all fruits. With sugars also possessing stimulating properties on the CNS, this is ideal. However, grapes also contain melatonin. Melatonin is also produced naturally by our bodies at night time, to help us sleep. And this stuff is powerful! Thus, melatonin levels should be minimized before the gym and grapes are a no-no.
So, there it is. Now you know exactly how to modify the structure of your nervous system in order to help you lift some heavy ass weights, cool eh?
About the Author: Erny Peibst is the founder of popular fitness blog - WorldsFittest.net. He writes posts with unique ideas/methods on how to bulk up and build muscle.
A recent post of his is titled: “Can you turn fat into muscle?” is an interesting read for all gym-goers that enjoy bulking and understanding how overeating can directly affect muscle mass.
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