“Happy People Train Harder”: Record Breaking Powerlifting Legend Reveals What It Takes to Become an Elite Athlete

Fitness can never been exclusive from mental health. But on the other hand, there are many who have to push through bodybuilding training and for the sake of their career even while they deal with mental health issues. Former powerlifter, Johnmark Blakley recently addressed this issue in a podcast.

Ranking 1st as many times as 17 times in a decade, from 1992 to 2001 Johnmark Blakley had been one of the finest powerlifters of his time.  The former powerlifter now told the fitness world how the happiness one showcases can reflect on one’s workout sessions heavily.

Johnmark Blakley says happiness is a key to optimum gym performance

In a podcast, the former powerlifter had a simple statement to make, “Happy people train harder.” However, he instantly added that the opposite is equally true as people who are unhappy and miserable have to force themselves into a routine to come to train. He stated, “And those people will do exactly the bare minimum of what you expect and then they are gone. If you want athletes to go above and beyond, you better talk to him about being happy, and getting things settled in their life.”

Blakley also suggested that if a person forcefully disciplines themselves, they would always do the bare minimum and would not like to improve more or do anything extra. This way, they cannot make much progress. Blakley reflected on how a happy fitness enthusiast should be, “He can’t wait to be there. He loves being there, and when the workout is over, he doesn’t really want to leave. He’s sad that it’s over. I’m having such a good time at the gym, all my sets are done, I’m finished for today. And those guys, you know they do sometimes hang around and talk with other people and they are happy to be there. They are not miserable.”

While Blakley’s advice does ring true with many, the fact remains that many take to fitness to better themselves psychologically as well. 22-year-old fitness influencer Sara Saffari went through that same process.

Sara Saffari’s journey to fitness

As a 20-year-old diagnosed with depression, Saffari had confessed to having McDonald’s dollar menu as her meals for days. She revealed, “I remember, like, a McDonald’s little burger, like, off the dollar menu, and a large Coke would be my meal for the day.” 

However, Saffari also realized that she was not doing much by staying in the situation she was in. Thus, she decided to change her life. “It was just, like, a switch. I was tired of spending literally every hour in bed. And I was like, you know what? Like, I have nothing better to do. Might as well hit the gym.” And that is how Saffari’s fitness journey started.

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Do you think having a fitness goal can make people better their psychological health? Or do you think they should start being happy before they approach fitness? Let us know in the comments below.

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