6 Unexpected Things Your Body Can Do!

Did you think you could do this?
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Frau macht Unterarmstütz ©PPAMPicture

Humans are creatures of habit. I’m sure you’ve heard this saying before and maybe you can think of a situation or two where it might apply to you too. We like to stay in our comfort zones and do what we already know we can do. And that’s often what happens with our workouts as well. But maybe you’ve compared yourself to other people at the gym and thought to yourself, “I wish I could do that too.” So what’s actually stopping you? Everyone had to start somewhere and even top athletes only became professionals after lots of hard training. That’s why we want to inspire you and show you 6 concrete training goals that you can reach with the right mindset and discipline. You’ll be surprised by what your body is capable of. We’d also like to take this opportunity to delete the phrase “I’ll never be able to do that” from your vocabulary. Set yourself new athletic goals any time you want: they’re not just for new year’s!

Further reading: 5 Tips To Change Your Mindset.

#1 You can shake your own hand behind your back

We’ve said it before, and we’ll say it again: working on your range of motion is an essential part of any good warm up. And still, people often skip it with this excuse: “I’m just not that flexible.” But that’s exactly the reason why you should do regular range-of-motion training or something like yoga. You’re not inflexible per se. Go through the exercises enough and your body will adapt to the training stimulus, become more flexible and agile, and your athletic performance overall will improve as a result. And soon enough you’ll be able to clasp your hands behind your back.

By the way, flexibility training is one way to increase your workout performance but our Creatine powder* can help as well. That’s why it’s one of our favorite training buddies!

#2 You can do at least one pull-up

Pull-ups are the ultimate bodyweight exercise. Not only do they strengthen your upper body but, let’s admit it, they also just look cool. Think it’s impossible for you to work out on the pull-up bar? We disagree. There are many different variations of the pull-up, and the simplest is chin-ups. In a chin-up, you pull yourself up with an underhand grip. Of course, you still need discipline and you won’t reach your goal overnight, but with the right training, the person everyone admires for her pull-ups could be YOU.

This is how you learn to do a chin-up and lay a solid foundation for other pull-up variations.

#3 You don’t have to do your push-ups on your knees

So-called women’s push-ups are performed with your knees resting on the floor and are often the go-to alternative for anyone who can’t do a clean push-up yet. Which, by the way, isn’t just women. The only problem is that this variation doesn’t ever seem to lead to the next level, a clean push-up, and that’s why it comes along with a feeling of “this is never going to happen.” That’s why it’s time for a new approach! Check out our ingenious tricks for performing clean push-ups in no time, no matter your fitness level.

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#4 You can lift heavy weights

Think a heavy deadlift or bench press is only for seasoned pros? Of course, good technique is an important foundation, but once it’s in place, you shouldn’t be afraid of heavy weights. It’s often women who underestimate their strength or think they’ll turn into the Hulk with any heavy weight. What’s really happening with heavy weight, however, is that you’re exposing your muscles to an intense training stimulus that will make your muscles grow, burn tons of calories, and mean you’ll never need help carrying heavy boxes again. Defined muscles are just a great side effect of your improved strength. A creamy Whey Protein Shake will give you everything you need after your workout to get better and stronger every time**.

#5 You can do a handstand

Social media feeds are often full of fit yogis showcasing their handstands in front of stunning backdrops. What we don’t see is how long it took them to learn it and how many times even the most elegant yogis have practiced up against a wall and still fallen over. All of that is normal, and if a handstand is your goal, it’s definitely worth the journey. Unless you have shoulder problems, there’s nothing standing in the way of your handstand. All it comes down to is having the right mindset and putting aside your fear of turning the world upside down. To help you get started, here’s everything you need to know for your first yoga class.

#6 You can do the splits

It’s not just your joints that allow for more flexibility over time. Your tendons, ligaments, and muscles can also respond to that stretching stimuli. A split? Suddenly it’s no longer a problem! You’ll have to muster the discipline to get there yourself, but we’ve got the best stretching exercises to help you on your way.

More healthy living tips from foodspring:

*Creatine increases physical performance during successive intervals of short-duration, high-intensity exertion. A positive effect can be achieved with a daily intake of 3 g creatine.

**Protein contributes to an increase in muscle mass.

Sources for this article

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