Over the past month I have been thinking about the successful people
as well as the unsuccessful people in bodybuilding, health and fitness
in general. I have a LOT of contact with people locally as well as
worldwide and here's what I have noticed.
"There are many smart
trainees who spend way too much time pondering different strategies and
ideas regarding training and nutrition. I try and get their mind back to
reality. Don't over-think bodybuilding!"
This type of person is
very knowledgeable and reads a lot. They are well informed and have
researched all the latest training and diet information. They can
discuss all the virtues and drawbacks of the different diets and workout
programs on the market. They can also tell you the latest news about
various internet muscle building Guru's, bodybuilding champions and fit
movie stars. Unfortunately, despite all of their knowledge about
bodybuilding diets and training routines it doesn't seem to be doing
them much good - their physiques are usually subpar. This makes me
think: is too much knowledge actually disadvantageous to building a
great physique? Or could it be that they spend more time thinking about
diet and training than actually doing the diet and training.
So
what good is knowledge if the knowledge doesn't convert into muscular
gains? If you cram your brain full of information on diet and training
how are you to sort through all of this and determine what you should
and should not do? Everyone says their diet, workout, supplement or
whatever is effective or the best. The truly best diets and training
routines are rare and elusive. The over-thinking bodybuilder is
constantly trying to sift through all the information for what is "the
best" routine they should be following.
The solution to the
problem is less thinking and more action. When you over complicate
bodybuilding you actually retard your rate of progress. Too many choices
and too many high ideas create "paralysis through over-analysis" where
the bodybuilder is actually paralyzed from staying on one routine or
diet because they keep thinking that maybe they should be on a different
diet or workout routine.
So what should you do?
Train hard, heavy and often. Lift lots of weights, do your cardio
workouts. A real bodybuilder is pumping iron 3 to 5 times a week and
using all kinds of different methods for muscle strength and pump. Don't
miss a workout unless it is for a reason that you really have no
control over or an emergency.
Nutrition is the cornerstone.
Without a disciplined approach to your daily eating regimen you will
never be successful. Hearty and healthy eating is combined with intense
workouts and cardio sessions for lowering body-fat down to the single
digits. You have to eat clean foods.
Supplementation and YOU! A well thought-out nutritional supplementation program will enhance and accelerate muscle growth and fat loss.
You must have realistic, achievable and exciting goals! A
good goal is a realistic, attainable and exciting goal. We all need to
generate enthusiasm for the process and drive to attain and maintain
what needs to be done in order to obtain real and substantial results.
Set
a timeframe for reaching a goal. As an example, if you wanted to lose
15 pounds then give yourself 15 weeks to do this. Set the goal, make the
plan and say I can easily lose 15 pounds in 15 weeks. Then make a
mini-goal, say to yourself that it is a measly one pound a week weight
loss, I can do that.
