Our brain is a marvel — a sprawling network of roughly 86 billion neurons firing off messages, emotions, and thoughts at lightning speed. Much of this activity happens below the surface, automatically, as a way to conserve energy for more demanding decisions and actions.
Buried deep in the frontal lobes is a region called the anterior midcingulate cortex (aMCC). This powerhouse “hub” coordinates communication across different brain networks. According to neuroscienceschool.com, the aMCC plays a key role in willpower, resisting temptation, and pushing through difficult tasks — and, like a muscle, it can be strengthened through repeated effort.
Think about those moments when we face a modern-day “fight or flight” decision. In the past, it was wild predators or rival tribes. Today, it’s laundry, yardwork, reading, burpees — the list goes on. When discomfort arises, we still have to choose: retreat, or engage and grow. That choice is where the aMCC steps in.
Current research highlights the aMCC’s influence on grit, motivation, and persistence. It helps us calculate whether something is worth the effort — and encourages us to push through even when we’d rather quit. Every time we open the cupboard, scroll a screen, or walk into the gym, we’re reinforcing patterns in our brain. These micro-decisions either solidify existing habits or lay the groundwork for new ones. The cue sparks the behavior. Our job? To seek out opportunities that strengthen our aMCC — moments that challenge us to “embrace the suck.”
In training, that might look like running instead of biking, attempting double-unders instead of sticking with singles, even if it means missing reps. It means facing workouts that fall outside your comfort zone — not avoiding them.
By choosing challenge, we’re not just building stronger bodies. We’re training our brains to be tougher, more disciplined, and more resilient — in the gym and beyond.
Yours In Fitness,
Fitness Professional/Coach