CONSIDER THE FOLLOWING SITUATION:
Weightlifter wants to bench his 1 Rep max, which is 180 kg (400lbs). He asks his assistants to put that weight on the bar. But, for the sake of experiment, assistants decide to deceive the lifter and put 185 kg (412 lbs) instead of 180 kg (and do not tell him about it). Lifter unracks the weight and, thinking that he is lifting 180 kg, completes the lift. After that, assistants tell him that he had just been "pranked" and accidentally broke his personal record.
"DO PHENOMENA LIKE THAT REALLY HAPPEN?"
From time to time we can hear anecdotes similar to the story written above, about how mind helps or stops weightlifting performance. But for some people anecdotal evidence is not enough. Especially for scientists. Luckily, scientists are also interested in how psychological processes influence ones strength. Below are some scientific experiments, that were done in the field of “MIND OVER MATTER”. To me, it is a really interesting science topic.
"MISINFORMATION INCREASES OLYMPIC WEIGHTLIFTERS SNATCH BY 20 LBS"
Ness and Paton (1979) experiment. Beginner weightlifters lifted 7-9 kg (20 lbs) more weight on incline bench press than they "actually can". How? They were told that they are lifting the weight they are capable of lifting and didn’t know that researchers actually put more weight on the bar than they led participants to believe. You might be thinking “They are just beginners, it is not strange that their strength goes up fairly quick”. But look at Mahoney (1995) experiment results - even OLYMPIC WEIGHTLIFTERS, who didn’t know what weight they were lifting (and actual weight on the bar was higher than they usually can lift), improved their personal records and some lifters increased their snatch by as much as 20 lbs+.
"HOW IS THIS EVEN POSSIBLE - 40 LBS ADDED TO SQUAT?"
Ariel and Saville (1972) experiment . Participants were lifters who have regularly trained for years before the experiment. First phase was 7 control weeks (during this phase there was no intervention - it was used to see how much strength lifters will gain while training as they usually do). Second phase - 4 weeks with “steroids”. During those 4 weeks participants there given “steroids”, which were actually placebo pills.
RESULTS: During 7 control weeks lifters increased their lifts on average by:
-Bench press + 4,54 kg (10 Lbs)
-Overhead press + 0,73 kg (1,5 Lbs)
-Sitting military press + 2,27 kg (5 Lbs)
-Squat + 2,65 kg (6 Lbs)
RESULTS: During 4 weeks “on steroids” lifters increased their strength on average by :
RESULTS: During 7 control weeks lifters increased their lifts on average by:
-Bench press + 4,54 kg (10 Lbs)
-Overhead press + 0,73 kg (1,5 Lbs)
-Sitting military press + 2,27 kg (5 Lbs)
-Squat + 2,65 kg (6 Lbs)
RESULTS: During 4 weeks “on steroids” lifters increased their strength on average by :
-Bench press + 13,28 kg (30 Lbs)
-Overhead press + 7,59 kg (18 Lbs)
-Sitting military press + 5,30 kg (12 Lbs)
-Squat + 18,94 kg (42,5 Lbs)
"POWERLIFTERS INCREASE THEIR LIFT BY 20 POUNDS IN 10 MINUTES"
Maganaris, Collins, Sharp (2000) experiment. Participants - 11 powerlifters, who have been training for a couple of years. Participants increased each of their powerlifts on average by 10 kg (20+lbs) (total was about 60lbs+ increase in strength). You might be asking “How long did it take to get these results?” The answer is....10 minutes! It is not a typo. This result was achieved in 10 minutes. Participants were given “fast working anabolic steroids” (which were actually placebo) and after ten minutes they got gains, which usually take months and years for experienced lifter to achieve.
"THIS IS SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH"
And remember, information written above is not anecdotal evidence, this information is based on SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH. Of course, scientific experiments have their own biases and limitations, and obviously they are not something that "can't be touched". But they still are more reliable source of information than anecdotal evidence and you can also use them in your own academic research.
WHAT I AM TRYING TO SAY
What I am NOT trying to say - "You can achieve everything you want, mind is your only limitation"
What I am trying to say - "There is some scientific evidence that mind can be an important factor in your weightlifting performance"
SOURCES
Ariel, G., Saville, W. (1972). Anabolic steroids: the physiological effects of placebos.Medicine and Science in Sport and Exercise, 4, 124-126.
Maganaris, C.N., Collins, D., Sharp, M. (2000). Expectancy effects and strength training: do steroids make a difference? The Sport Psychologist, 14, 272-278.
Mahoney, M.J.(1995). Ambiguity and peak performance: an experimental study with olympic weightlifters. International journal of sport psychology, 26 (3), 327-336.
Ness, R. G., Patton, R. W. (1979). The effect of beliefs on maximum weight-lifting performance. Cognitive therapy and research, 3 (2), 205-211.
